Author Archive

Plain and Simple, Joe Klecko Belongs in Canton

Posted: 29th March 2010 by John Fennelly in NFL
I don't usually get involved with Hall-of-Fame campaigns, but recently I have become fed-up with the continual exclusion of Joe Klecko's name from the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame ballot. I realize any campaign is political in nature. There's a lot of work to generate a buzz and a groundswell in order to launch it to the next level. You basically have to sell the candidate to ...

NFL 2010: Giants Set To Return With An Impact

Posted: 9th March 2010 by John Fennelly in NFL
Again, I am embroiled with other pundits across the Internet and in barrooms over the value of rookies. This year, the Giants will be looking for an inside linebacker in the draft (or in free agency) to become the centerpiece of their defense.  To ask a rookie to step in and lead a defense to the playoffs is highly unrealistic. That is why whoever they draft at MLB will mainly watch ...

NFL Free Agency: Giants May Stick With Goff At MLB

Posted: 8th March 2010 by John Fennelly in NFL
It’s obvious to everyone from the parking attendants at the Meadowlands to the ownership that the Giants must find a player to replace Antonio Pierce . They need to do this before the draft. Every fantasy player is telling you they should draft a MLB. I agree, but there is no rookie alive that is going to start day one of his career calling defensive signals in the NFL. As a ...

MLB 2010 Prediction: The Mets Will Make The Playoffs

Posted: 2nd March 2010 by John Fennelly in MLB
No one bashes the Mets more than I do. That is a fact. My Mets' glass is always half-empty. Lately, more and more fans and pundits have begun to feel the same way.á The Mets are going nowhere, fast.á All hope is lost. What is point of watching a team that continues to fall flat in every key situation? Well, that's the reason why I'm picking the Mets for the NL playoffs ...

For the New York Giants, Julius Peppers Is the Answer

Posted: 2nd March 2010 by John Fennelly in NFL
DE Would Put Big Blue Back on Map While everyone and their mother has been flapping their lips about which linebacker and/or safety the Giants should add to their roster this spring, the team may be focusing on bringing the best player available to East Rutherford. That player is free-agent DE Julius Peppers. Sure they need an upgrade at LB and safety, but what they need the most is veteran leadership on the ...

New York Giants’ Defense: Help Is on the Way

Posted: 8th January 2010 by John Fennelly in NFL
I never do this, but today it's snowing in New York City and I feel like thinking ahead. I normally never ask for anything, but today I am... For defensive coordinator, I am endorsing Romeo Crennel. I am not a fan of retreads, but Crennel is no ordinary retread. HeÆs an accomplished coach whose strategies are proven and effective. He is well respected and will bring this Giants defense back to ...

The Baseball Hall of Fame Voting Process Needs to Be Revamped

Posted: 7th January 2010 by John Fennelly in MLB
Excessive Politics and Subjectivity in Uneven Voting Process When someone asks me if so-and-so should be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, I have always stuck to my rule of thumb: If you can't say yes in three seconds, the guy doesn't belong. It's that simple, yet every year we argue about who belongs and who doesn't. This year, Andre Dawson got in and Roberto Alomar did not. How could that be? How ...

New York Giants Fire Defensive Line Coach

Posted: 6th January 2010 by John Fennelly in NFL
The bloodletting continued today for the reeling New York Giants, who announced that veteran defensive line coach Mike Waufle has been fired. Waufle has been the team's d-line coach since 2004, when Tom Coughlin took the reins as head coach. During his tenure, the Giants' defensive line became one of the NFL's most productive, spurred by the likes of Pro Bowlers Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and future Hall-of-Famer Michael Strahan. It was the ...

Are the Carlos Zambrano to the Mets Trade Rumors Real or Imagined?

Posted: 30th December 2009 by John Fennelly in MLB
Is He on the Block—Or Not? There is a rumor going around that Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs ace, is headed out of the Windy City via a trade. May I add that my ambiguously worded article regarding the Mets' offseason intentions may have added some legs to that rumor. The facts are—there are no facts. Which is why if you re-read my piece you will see that the trade of Zambrano to ...

Jobbed! Giants’ Steve Smith Left Off Pro Bowl Roster

Posted: 29th December 2009 by John Fennelly in NFL
Center Shaun OÆHara was the only New York Giants player to be selected to the NFCÆs 2010 Pro Bowl roster today. Wide receiver Steve Smith was thought to be a lock to be voted in, but was bypassed.á Instead, Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona), DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia), Miles Austin (Dallas) and Sidney Rice (Minnesota) will represent the NFC at wide receiver. OÆHara, who was named as a backup to Andre Gurode of Dallas will be ...