Super Bowl XLVI Countdown Begins

The highly anticipated NFL Pro Bowl was played tonight. For those who care, the AFC was victorious. Football fans now only have one game left on the schedule to look forward to. Hardcore fans who still want to see more football after tonight can look forward to some game called the "Super Bowl" that is now less than a week away.

Until then, everyone has the pleasure to enjoy an overabundance of mostly worthless media coverage that surrounds America's marque sporting event. Next Sunday can't come soon enough.

In the meantime, here is an excellent NFL Films highlight package from Showtime's Inside The NFL of the New York Giants victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.

Giant Run Propels Big Blue Back to Super Bowl

The New York Football Giants went 9-7 during the 2012 regular season....and now the G-Men find themselves in the Super Bowl. The Giants struggled with consistency all season on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the team could never find a running game while defensively a propensity to give up big plays plagued them. Only the thing the Giants could rely on was the right arm of Eli Manning and his big play receivers coming from behind and pulling games out in the 4th quarter.

After a four game losing streak in November most observers expected the Giants to continue a seemingly yearly late season collapse and fade into oblivion. Instead, with Eli leading the charge the rest of his teammates finally caught up and put things together in the nick of time. The running game improved and defensively this unit looks like an entirely different squad than the one that showed up earlier in the season. The Giants entered the playoffs peaking at the right time. The end result has been another magical run that has resulted in second Super Bowl appearance in five seasons and a rematch with the Patriots.

More analysis to follow. In the meantime, checkout the highlights from the Giants' triumphs in Green Bay and San Fransisco.

Giants - 37, Packers - 20

Giants - 20, 49ers - 17

Giant Run Erases Talk of "Coughlin Collapse"

Bleeding Sports resident General Manager Be Nasty has been a long time critic of New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin and his coaching staff. Mr. Nasty like to make reference to the annual "Coughlin Collapse" where the Giants usually start the season off fast only to fall apart during the second half of the schedule.

Earlier in the season, the Bleeding Sports GM provided the below analysis to support his incessant clamoring for the franchise to making a coaching change.

NY Giants record under Coughlin - First half of season vs. second half:

2004 - Final record: 6-10
1st Half:  5-3
2nd Half: 1-7
* No playoffs

2005 - 11-5
6-2
5-3
* Lost to Panthers at home in Wild Card round of playoffs

2006 - 8-8
6-2
2-6
* Lost at Eagles in Wild Card game

2007 - 10-6
6-2
4-4
* Spags wins them the Super Bowl  
(Notice no credit given to Coughlin)

2008 - 12-4
7-1
5-3
* Lost 3 out of last 4
* Lost to Eagles at home in Divisional round

2009 - 8-8
5-3
3-5
* Started 5-0 then lost 4 straight
* Pathetic losses to Saints, Chargers, Broncos, Panthers, and Vikings
* Charger game was a Coughlin time management blunder as usual
* No playoffs

2010 - 10-6
6-2
4-4
"You can kiss my a$$!" ~ Coughlin Collapse
* No playoffs

This season the after another strong start (6-2), the #NYG didn't fair much better going 3-5 in their last 8 contest. The difference this year is the Giants won the games they had to have down the stretch. New York won three of their last four games including the two wins against Dallas to overtake the Cowboys as NFC East champions. There were certainly reasons to once again doubt the passion of Coughlin's squad after a horrible home loss to Washington. For all their faults, however, the Giants were able to rediscover its vaunted pass rush led by monster Jason Pierre Paul and develop a component running game to complement Eli Manning, Victor Cruz and company on offense just in the nick of time.

Mr. Nasty makes some valid points, but fails to give Coughlin credit for leading the Giants to a Super Bowl championship against in '07 and division titles in 2005, 2008, and this season. The Super Bowl victory against the previously unbeaten, "greatest team ever" New England Patriots was historic and capped off the most remarkable playoff run in NFL history. Even the most passionate Coughlin haters would be hard pressed to label that season as a collapse and while the defense led the way it was a team effort led by its head coach.

As for the 2011 season, while not pretty, the Giants made the playoffs a division champions. Coach Coughlin has emphasized that its all about getting into the tournament and giving yourself a chance to win a championship. The Giants are playing their best football at the right time and how the team played two months ago is irrelevant. Right now the Giants have won 3 must-win games in a row and coming off their most complete performance of the season. There is no reason to believe the Giants can’t win come Sunday in Green Bay. If Tom Coughlin and his team can win its fourth straight game nobody will remember the Giants finished the regular season at 9-7. All the media and fans will be concerned with is how Big Blue would be just one game away from its second Super Bowl appearance of the Coughlin era.

Bye Bye Tom Bye Bye

Get your trash together because Tom Coughlin is going to get canned

The Talented Mr. Hamilton

Josh Hamilton started the 2010 Major League Baseball season slowly hitting for a decent average, but lacking in the power and run producing departments. The 2008 AL RBI leader had been overshadowed by new teammate Vladamir Guerrero and outfield buddy Nelson Cruz. All that has changed thanks to Hamilton's torrid June where the Texas slugger is batting .476 with 8 HRs and 26 RBIs to go along with a current 17 game hitting streak. This current exhibition has catapulted Hamilton back into spotlight among baseball followers and will now likely find himself once again starting in the outfield at the All-Star Game in Anaheim come July.

Make no mistake, Hamilton is the centerpiece of the Texas line-up and been the catalyst for the Rangers' current 9 game winning streak. After coming out of nowhere in 2008, Hamilton struggled through nagging injuries all of last season and again early on this year. His offensive outburst has silenced any naysayers who believed that his 2008 breakout season was a fluke. Hamilton's story is well documented, but still no less amazing. He continues to defy the odds and mesmerize fans with his all-around play. Despite everything he has battled through, the 29 year old Hamilton has performed at such a high level it is hard to argue against him as being one of the most gifted players in the game today. The financially strapped Rangers will need to rely on Hamilton to continue being one of the most dominant hitters at the plate if they hope to be playing in October.

St. Louis Should Deal Top Pick

Jimmy Clausen > Sam Bradford. This is what Bleeding Sports believes.

Everyone else? The consensus from NFL GMs, coaches, scouts, water boys to "experts" in the media to draft prognosticators is that Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford is the top quarterback and will be the first selection in tonight's NFL Draft. Inspired by the slogan of one of America's "most innovative" companies, Enron, we must ASK WHY? Sure, Bradford threw for 50 TDs passes in 2008 while playing in perceived competitive Big 12 conference. A conference where gimmick offenses and the lack of any semblance of defense (except at Texas) has turned college football into some bizarre hybrid between the Arena League and pee-wee football where coaches stand on the field and spoon-feed instructions to the offense prior to the snap. Are there any quarterbacks playing in the Big 12 who have lacked successful in recent years. Guys like Chase Daniel, Todd Reesing, Zac Robinson, and whoever Texas Tech decides to put under center on a given day have shredded Big 12 defenses and posted mind-boggling statistics. Yet none of these quarterbacks are or project to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.

If it's not on-field production that has everyone so convinced that Bradford is the man, then what is it? His size and strong arm, ala JaMarcus Russell? Let's hope not. On the other hand, Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen was the best quarterback in the nation in 2009 playing against tougher, more diverse competition overall while playing in a pro-style offense led by Charlie Weis. Clausen was successful despite being surrounded by a lack of talent most glaring was the pathetic offensive line that couldn't block anyone for three years. Clausen made big plays, consistently led the Irish from behind, and played nearly mistake free all year. His mechanics are flawless and his deep ball is insanely accurate. Compared to Bradford, draft analysts readily admit that Clausen is the more polished, NFL-ready of the two based on his experience in an offense that translates to NFL success and his ability to actually read a defense and call an audible at the line. These are vital tools that Bradford has no experience implementing from playing in the almighty Big 12. Is it weird that not one NFL starting quarterback today is a product of that conference? What are the odds that both Bradford and Texas' Colt McCoy end up having successful NFL careers?

Back to the issue at hand, is Bradford worthy of being the top quarterback let alone the top pick? A telling sign are the rumors that the Rams are looking to trade down in the draft. And they should. A compelling sales story for drafting Bradford over Clausen is mythical. The biggest knock on Clausen is his Hollywood ego and lack of leadership. Interesting criticism for someone who consistently rallied his team late in games, had his skill players stay with him in the summer so they could practice together, and has a three-time Super Bowl championship offensive coordinator who raves about his ability and character. Oh, and with Bradford, there is also that tinny, tiny issue concerning the fact that he barely sniffed the field last year due to a shoulder injury that required season ending surgery. He has looked healthy and thrown well during pre-draft workouts, but what is going to happen when somebody like Shaun Rogers drives him into the ground. It's tough to rely on a quarterback if he can't throw the football and game tape of Bradford post shoulder surgery doesn't exist to suggest he can sustain live action.

The Rams have the right idea by considering moving out of the top spot. Now they have to pull the trigger. Trade down with a team like Cleveland, collect some extra draft picks, and still get your franchise quarterback at the 7th spot. Regardless of how much everyone prefers Bradford, the difference between him and Clausen is minimal. The talk that Bradford will go first while Clausen could potentially be bypassed in the first round is insane. The value added by trading down and taking Clausen is much greater than sticking at the top spot and selecting Bradford. You're on the clock St. Louis. Time to put the onus on some other disillusioned franchise.

The Giants will pick Rolando McClain. Take it to the bank.

By GM Be Nasty
Special to Bleeding Sports