What about Bob? Glauber's NFL Blog

Great week of comments, people. It is much appreciated, and it shows we're starting to get some traction as the season approaches. The page views are doing great, too. Looks like we're in for our second biggest month ever, trailing only draft month in April. - BG

Teresa on Michael Vick's apology Monday: "I take everything Michael Vick is saying with a huge grain of salt. I'm sure that he's listening to the same news reports we are, which say that his behavior and willingness to accept responsibility will influence the judge during sentencing. So of course it's all about damage control, and everything that he's saying now has to do with self-preservation. I mean who isn't sorry after being caught?
It's not like the dog fighting was a small lapse in judgement, a quick mistake he made and instantly regretted. This is an ongoing activity. I would have respected him a lot more if he'd just admitted that he didn't have a lot of liking or compassion for animals. But that what has happened is causing him to re-evaluate and he does have remorse for his behavior. Not some "I've found God" claim, as if this adversity, caused by his own actions, is somehow for the good."

John on Vick: "When a Bad Newz Kennell dog refused to fight it was hanged, drowned, or burned alive. The coward who ran the operation, in a pathetic attempt to save his career and fortune, despite having the best lawyers money could buy and unlimited financial resources to fight the charges just rolled over on his back. The coward will have a better fate than his victoms. But no one will ever believe a carefully rehersed word this fool says. Billy Martin and a battalion of PR specialists can't save him. He won't be forgiven. He's finished as an NFL football player. He should keep his mouth shut and just go away."

Rush on our power rankings: "Teams' front lines are key to their success. That's where it all starts and over the course of the season line play is what wins or loses games for you. And from what I know Jags and Ravens front lines are far superior to that of the Eagles or Jets. To be honest I think Jets could be in very serious trouble this season. They can't pass protect or run block on their left side. 'Dabrick' is not that good he is too light and their D is not putting any pressure on QBs. This is not a good combination."

Neil Best on his trip to ESPN while on a family vacation. "It's 1:16 a.m. Thursday. I'm going to be live on ESPN in a couple of hours. If anyone out there is awake and reading this, you might want to re-evaluate your life. But while you're up you should watch me."

With just days to go before the start of the regular season, it's time for our first Power Poll. Take a look and see what you think.

1. Patriots: Bill Belichick loaded up a very, very good team with a bunch of good free agents. He’s ready to make a run.
2. Chargers: Norv Turner has inherited a potential Super Bowl team.
3. Colts: Defending champs lost a ton in free agency, more than even Peyton Manning can overcome.
4. Eagles: As long as Donovan McNabb is right, Eagles are tops in NFC East.
5. Ravens: Steve McNair has another good year left in him, and so does the defense. Addition of Willis McGahee is huge.
6. Saints: Can’t get much better than last year, but Sean Payton will figure out a way.
7. Bears: We’re not nearly as critical of Bears quarterback Rex Grossman as the next guy, but we’re still convinced the loss of Thomas Jones will be huge.
8. Rams: Why so high? Because we think the Rams will be one of the surprise teams of the season. Great quarterback-running back tandem in Bugler-Jackson. Defense has to get it done against the run.
9. Bengals: This just in: No Bengals player has gone to jail in the last five minutes.
10. Broncos: If Jay Cutler takes a huge leap forward, and if Travis Henry invigorates the running game like he should, Broncos will be fun to watch.

Bucs QB Bruce Gradkowski denies being involved in a gambling scandal now unfolding at the University of Toledo, but you can bet the NFL will be poking around looking to see what they can come up with in the case.

According to the Toledo Blade, Gradkowski and several Toledo teammates knew the Detroit-area gambler at the center of the investigation,but the quarterback said he had never heard of any point-shaving schemes while in college.

The FBI charged Toledo student Harvey "Scooter" McDougle, 22, of Detroit in March with conspiring with Ghazi "Gary" Manni, 50, of Sterling Heights, Mich., to fix Rockets football and basketball games from 2003 to 2006. The charges were dropped in April, but sources say the investigation is ongoing.

"I'm not sure who all knows [Manni] or how that got about, but one thing I do know is there's a solid program at Toledo," Gradkowski told the newspaper. "I don't care how many people know this guy, it's a solid program still. And in my mind, there [was] never anything going wrong at Toledo."

Ok, we've found the silliest contest out there ... and no, it's not the "Predict When Neil Best Will Crack" competition started right here on this blog several days ago. (More on that later).

This one is sponsored by NBCSports.com, and while the prize is decent - 2 tickets to an upcoming Sunday Night Football game, and some behind-the-scenes stuff for the TV production - the premise is as goofy as you can get: Predict how long it will take John Madden to go by bus from Indianapolis after the regular season opener to Dallas for his next assignment.

Before I go any further, I want to make it clear I have no idea who came up with this contest, on the off chance that I might know this person. But really. Couldn't they come up with something better, like, "When will Tiki Barber take his next shot at Eli Manning or Tom Coughlin?" or "Predict when Madden will bop his hilarious imitator, Frank Caliendo, in the nose for making fun of his Brett Favre adulation?"

Bill Doremus of Jericho caught our item below on the meaningless aspect of preseason games, and he e-mailed (Bob.Glauber@newsday.com) an interesting idea:

"More than ever, there's much discussion about NFL pre-season games - lack of interest, half empty stadiums, pointless injuries, etc. I can't give my 2 pre-season tickets away. There's serious talk of eliminating some of the games while expanding the regular season schedule.

"I have another solution. The pre-season games certainly have a role. How else can a team evaluate talent and prepare for the big show? What I'm suggesting is that these games be given limited value in determining team standings. For example, a pre-season win could be valued as half a win - likewise for losses. Under this scenario, Coach Mangini can weigh giving Kellen Clemens and the scrubs a good look for long range benefit versus going all out with Chad Pennington and the starters to rack up "half-wins" that could become huge at the end of the regular season. Or, he could do something in between. In any event, fan interest would be elevated to everyone's benefit. God, can you imagine the opportunity for second guessing by you guys as well as by us mere mortals?"

The final week of the preseason unfolds tomorrow night at venues across the country, and in most cases, the stakes are non-existent.

Not for the Redskins.

First off, they will get quarterback Jason Campbell back after a knee injury scare Aug. 18 against the Steelers. He was hurt when Steelers DE Brett Keisel rolled on his left knee. Campbell initially thought his season was done, although a subsequent MRI revealed a severe bruise. Every snap is important for Campbell, who goes into the regular season as the starter after replacing Mark Brunell last season.

Just as important is the possibility that the Redskins will get RB Clinton Portis back into the lineup. Portis has missed a significant portion of both the off-season workouts and training camp practices due to tendinitis in his knees. He hasn't taken a snap in a preseason game.

This is a pivotal year for the Redskins and coach Joe Gibbs, who has simply not had the coaching magic since returning to the sidelines in 2004. If things fall right for Washington, Gibbs has a chance at a .500 record or better.

If not, it could be disaster and wind up with Gibbs heading back home to hang out with the grandkids.

Just a note here: We filmed this before Thomas Jones' injury and before Kellen Clemens made things interesting with some strong preseason play. But Adam Abramson needs the face time, and Mark La Monica needs to justify his existence as Newsday.com's guru, so here goes.

... thanks for the flattering intro shot, fellas.

A potentially huge development for a Cardinals team that has plans of making a playoff run.

Starting right tackle Oliver Ross is out with an injury, putting rookie Levi Brown in the spotlight as the new starter. We'll see how it impacts the Cardinals' offense, especially quarterback Matt Leinart. Because he's a lefty, Leinart will now have his blind side protected by the inexperienced Brown.

We've got a real dilemma here.

As you know if you've been reading this blog in recent weeks, we've got a "When Will Neil Best Crack" contest going on. It's a prediction about when Best, who is on vacation and going through the dt's with his promise not to blog while on holiday, will eventually give in and post an item.

Well, yesterday morning, he did post an item, and we abruptly ended the contest. Now it seems the only reason Best posted was to explain to some confused readers about the reasons behind the blank space on his blog. For some reason, when you clicked onto it, there was nothing.

So Best posted an entry explaining that he was still away.

We've therefore appointed Newsday sports editor Hank Winnicki as an independent arbitrator to settle the dispute. Winnicki will come back with a written decision within 24 hours. We'll let you know whether the contest is officially over, or if we can resume taking votes.

Oh, and for those of you convinced we are obsessed with this Best stuff, you're right. We are. But just to let you know we've been offering plenty of other stuff on this blog, click the "August 2007" archives entry to the right, and you'll see many other items.

And if you're new to the blog, welcome aboard.

We received a very interesting e-mail this morning from someone who's been reading our stuff on Michael Vick, and we thought we'd pass it along.

There's an Ebay item for sale that we're told will benefit the New York chapter of the ASPCA. For sale: the web domain, MichaelVickStinks.com. The bidding starts at a penny!

Assuming the bid catches on, all proceeds will go to the ASPCA. We'll give you the link here, but as with anything like this, you're on your own once you leave here. Just be careful not to put a bid in that can't be retracted if you're not serious.

We keep hearing the phrase "could trigger a lifetime ban from the NFL" in various media reports about Michael Vick's involvement in bankrolling a gambling operation in connection with his dogfighting outfit.

But from what we're hearing from league sources, a lifetime ban isn't a realistic outcome once Vick is eventually out of prison. Remember, no one in NFL history has ever been banned for life for gambling. Former Colts quarterback Art Schlichter was suspended indefinitely for gambling and sat out the 1983 season, but was reinstated a year later. Former Lions defensive lineman Alex Karras and former Packers running back Paul Hornung were suspended for a year in 1963 for betting on games.

My sense is in talking to people around the league that Vick will certainly be sanctioned severely in connection with gambling, as well as the dogfighting operation as a whole, but that commissioner Roger Goodell will take a wait-and-see approach as to just how long the suspension will last. Once "the legal process concludes" - the catchphrase for getting out of jail - the league will revisit the situation and likely put a more definitive timetable on a suspension.

Vick would then have to meet certain behavioral benchmarks before being allowed to be reinstated. If he doesn't, then he could see himself in a similar situation to Bengals suspended linebacker Odell Thurman. Goodell suspended him for the entire 2006 season because of substance abuse problems. When Thurman applied for reinstatement for this season, Goodell turned him down because league-appointed doctors had determined that Thurman was still having alcohol-related problems. Thurman is now out for the entire 2007 season.

Of course, a lot of what happens with Vick depends on how much jail time he actually faces. Prosecutors are recommending 12-18 months, but Judge Henry Hudson told him yesterday that he will be the one deciding how long he spends behind bars.

And we still don't know the outcome of potential charges against Vick at the state level. If he is convicted or pleads guilty to animal cruelty charges in Virginia, he could face so much jail time that resuming his career would be impossible because he'd be too old.

Coming back is a risky proposition, anyway, since he'd have to find a team willing to put up with the controversy he'd be sure to engender by trying to play again.

The Michael Vick saga has clearly touched a nerve, and your thoughtful and insightful comments are well-conceived and highly interesting. Your input is both welcomed and much appreciated.

Let's keep this sucker rolling. Good or bad, have at it.

BG

It's been a long time since we've had occasion to feel anything other than contempt and anger toward Michael Vick, and surely those feelings won't disappear any time soon.

But after Vick showed some contrition just a few minutes ago for his horrible actions in connection with an illegal dogfighting operation, we saw a man who finally owned up to his barbaric behavior.

As Vick walked to the podium at a news conference in Richmond, Va. late this morning, he carried a piece of paper in hand, and we expected him to simply read a statement and walk off. But as he spoke quietly and explained that he isn't very good at public speaking, he said he'd talk from the heart. And he did just that, never once looking at the paper.

"I want to apologize for all the things I've done and I've allowed to happen," Vick said, a few mintues after formally pleading guilty to charges connected to an illegal dogfighting operation. "I want to personally apologize to commissioner Goodell, Arthur Blank, coach Bobby Petrino, my Atlanta Falcons teammates for our previous discussions that we had and I was not honest and forthright in our discussions. I was ashamed and totally disappointed in myself, to say the least.

"I want to apologize to all the young kids out there for my immature acts," he said. "I totally ask for forgiveness and understanding as I move forward to better Michael Vick the person, not the football player."

We'll fill you in on more Vick's comments in tomorrow's Newsday, but it was noteworthy that after all the chaos and criticism surrounding his situation - all of it justified - Vick showed his human side. It doesn't excuse anything, and it won't keep him out of jail or get him back to the NFL any sooner. But at least we saw that a man who admitted guilt to some of the most heinous actions imaginable show contrition.

We'll see how he feels after spending several months in prison. Hopefully by then, we will see a man who has genuinely transformed himself and can do some good in this world after so many years of doing harm.

I believe the official time is 9:12 a.m. today, but as predicted in this space the day he left for vacation, Neil Best has blogged while on vacation.

Of course, he did so on a day when the sports world is riveted to the Michael Vick saga and the political world is focused on attorney general Alberto Gonzalez' resignation, so perhaps he thought he'd fly under the radar and we wouldn't notice.

Nice try, Best.

PS: I will figure out who the official winner of the "Predict When Neil Best Will Crack" contest is, based on who predicted the latest date. I believe he surpassed all predictions, but I'll make sure. We'll figure out an appropriate prize.

btw, thanks to Best for the shoutout of our NFL blog. We're trying. In fact, we're gonna come up with some unique weekly goodies for the regular season, including our NFL power poll, some highlights from the week's games, and other neat stuff. All with the express purpose of giving you a more enjoyable NFL experience ... and keeping pace with Best shameless attempts at attracting hits.

(UPDATE: Anthony Reiber is the unofficial winner of the prediction contest. He guessed Aug. 31, which is pretty good. We will come to a final ruling later.)

Good news for the Patriots, who expect to have holdout cornerback Asante Samuel back with the team today. Samuel is reportedly ready to end his contract dispute and report to the club and play out his one-year contract as the team's designated franchise player.

Samuel had hoped to work out a long-term contract, but the Patriots have been so far unwilling to meet his demands. So he'll do the smart thing: Show up, play, and hope for a huge payday next year.

Chances are he'll get it - either in New England or somewhere else. Samuel might have the best ball-hawking instincts of any cornerback in the league, and his presence on a team that most - including us - feel is worthy of a Super Bowl run, is essential.

Later this morning, in a Richmond, Va. courtroom, Falcons star quarterback Michael Vick will plead guilty to charges related to an illegal dogfighting operation, the next step in what could be Vick's permanent ouster from the NFL.

Vick already submitted a written plea agreement Friday, triggering NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's indefinite suspension without pay. So today's hearing will have no further effect on his football future, which looks bleak at best.

But the worst might not be over for Vick. He still faces the possibility of being charged with dogfighting crimes at the state level, and if the prosecution is successful, Vick could be incarcerated for a period of time that would make any thoughts of an NFL comeback moot.

A sad, sad day in NFL history, to be sure. But hopefully a cautionary tale for other athletes who might consider themselves above the law because they are so physically gifted and so handsomely rewarded for playing a game. Vick thought he could get away with his heinous actions, simply because he was an NFL star. Later this morning, he will be reminded yet again that no amount of touchdown passes can wipe away the murderous behavior that will in all likelihood end his football career.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell just minutes ago handed down an indefinite suspension of Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who earlier today pleaded guilty to his participation in an illegal dog-fighting operation.

Key to Goodell's decision: He invoked a gambling reference, which means Vick might be gone from the NFL for good.

Here's a portion of the news release:

Commissioner Roger Goodell notified Michael Vick today that he is suspended indefinitely without pay from the National Football League, effective immediately.

Following are excerpts from Commissioner Goodell’s letter to Vick:

· “Your admitted conduct was not only illegal, but also cruel and reprehensible. Your team, the NFL, and NFL fans have all been hurt by your actions.”

· “Your plea agreement and the plea agreements of your co-defendants also demonstrate your significant involvement in illegal gambling. Even if you personally did not place bets, as you contend, your actions in funding the betting and your association with illegal gambling both violate the terms of your NFL Player Contract and expose you to corrupting influences in derogation of one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player.”

· “You have engaged in conduct detrimental to the welfare of the NFL and have violated the league’s Personal Conduct Policy.”

· “I will review the status of your suspension following the conclusion of the legal proceedings. As part of that review, I will take into account a number of factors, including the resolution of any other charges that may be brought against you, whether in Surry County, Virginia, or other jurisdictions, your conduct going forward, the specifics of the sentence imposed by Judge Hudson and any related findings he might make, and the extent to which you are truthful and cooperative with law enforcement and league staff who are investigating these matters.”

· “I have advised the Falcons that, with my decision today, they are no longer prohibited from acting and are now free to assert any claims or remedies available to them under the Collective Bargaining Agreement or your NFL Player Contract.”

He admitted today he took part in the murder of underperforming dogs.

He admitted he bankrolled the illegal dogfighting operation at a property he owned in Surry County, Va. Gambling was a part of the operation, even if Vick denies sharing in any of the proceeds.

Your move, Commissioner Goodell.

Goodbye, Michael Vick.

Thanks to all for your insightful comments in recent weeks. Here are a few memorable ones from this week. We'll do a weekly posting of the top comments from here on in:

From "Craig" on the Tiki Barber-Eli Manning saga:

Tiki should be smart enough to see that he is misconstruing the "heart" comment, much as he claims Eli and the media missed his point re "comical." Eli said he was reading in the paper that his RB was retiring because his heart was not in it anymore. That is not claiming he had no heart on field. Yet Tiki and Ronde whined about it during their SIRI show. Enough, he started the mess, but he still has to have the last word. Is it any wonder the Giant fan base has disavowed him? He should steer clear of the Giants for a while. His hatred of Coughlin clouds every comment.

From "JHN" on the Pete Kendall saga:

I'm always amazed when the fan base turns on a player that puts his body on the line every Sunday and takes the side of management, particularly when management has acted dishonorably... i think it's clear that Kendall was 'duped' by the GM and was promised a raise this year in return for some cap help to sign the 2 high priced rookie linemen last year. All of a sudden he's a 'baby' for being pissed that he was screwed over after being a 'team player' last hear, mentoring mangold and furguson, and deferring a raise to help the team's cap issues? come on!!! Stop drinking the koolaid jet-fan and really be honest about who the bad guys in this situation really are.

From "Tom" on the Michael Strahan saga:

Coming from this unbiased Giants fan, the team is no better than 6-10 without Strahan. Goes without saying he can make the difference between the playoffs and a top-10 2008 draft pick. Hopefully, this is merely an old-school LT ploy to miss the 2-a-days; I think he'll have no problem playing a few series in next week's exhibition finale and being ready for Dallas.

I'm sure you're anxious to get an update on how Neil Best is faring in his self-imposed exile from blogging now that he's on vacation.

I've spoken to Neil a couple times this week, and he's taking it day-by-day. He says it's getting a little easier with each passing day. But he does admit there is so much fodder from a sports media standpoint - Tiki bashing Eli, Eli bashing Tiki, Michael Vick stuff 24-7, etc. - that it isn't easy staying away from the keyboard.

I have to check the contest entries, but I think we're to the point where no one had given him this long before posting another blog.

Just a few days ago, Browns cornerback Gary Baxter expressed optimism about a potentially historic comeback from not one, but two torn patellar tendons in his knees.

But the comeback might be on hold, because Baxter has experienced soreness and has missed several practices. He could be headed for injured reserve, which would keep him out for the season.

That Baxter had even gotten back to training camp was a minor miracle. Last Oct. 22, he suffered the injuries to both knees while defending a pass against Denver's Javon Walker. He vowed to make it back to the starting lineup, astounding doctors and family members with his quick recovery.

But getting back to running and exercising is one thing; getting back to the NFL is another. It might take a little more time than he'd hoped.

Strahan heard about our earlier report that he was on his way back to the east coast shortly, and e-mailed that he insists he's still in Southern California, and that he hasn't yet made up his mind about returning to the Giants.

Strahan is clearly keeping the suspense alive, although the prevailing sentiment around the league and around the team is that he'll be back with the team now that two-a-days are over. You always leave the wiggle room that he'll surprise everyone and quit for good. But we won't believe that until we see it.

Strahan wonders why we'd even care about him, when Eli vs. Tiki has dominated the news, to which we responded that Strahan is the only story right now.

Ok, we admit it. We like the guy, and we miss his presence around here. Strahan is a terrific player, an intriguing person to write about, and always, always entertaining. Hmmm. Somehow I don't think GM Jerry Reese and the rest of the Giants' front office would agree with that entertaining part. But hey, we don't sign his checks, so what the heck.

Enjoy the afternoon swim, Michael. We'll see you in a few days.

There's no way the Jets could have kept Pete Kendall this season, not with the acrimony built up over the last several months. Kendall claimed he received verbal assurances of a $1 million raise - to $2.7 million - by the Jets, while GM Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini have been unwilling to grant the request.

Kendall responded with plenty of harsh words for the coach and GM whenever anyone asked how he felt, and there was simply no way he could have co-existed on this team this season without huge fallout.

So the Jets did the right thing by getting a draft pick from the Redskins for the 34-year-old guard, who still has a few good years left. If they weren't gonna pay him - and clearly, they weren't - then best to get something in return.

The deal also keeps Kendall away from the Dolphins, the team they were deathly afraid would sign Kendall if he'd been released at the end of the preseason.

So it's a win-win in that respect, but on the field, it's far from certain. The Jets simply don't have a replacement who provides the kind of steady leadership and solid blocking that Kendall offered. Adrien Clarke is the likely fill-in, but he has had a less-than-stellar camp so far.

All indications continue to point to Michael Strahan returning to the Giants.

According to a league source with knowledge of Strahan's plans, the Giants' 35-year-old defensive end is expected to return to the New York area from southern California as soon as today or tomorrow, which would put him on schedule to be back with the team by the weekend or perhaps Monday. He could show up in street clothes on the sidelines for the Giants-Jets preseason game Saturday at Giants Stadium. Or else he'd return when the team has its first practice at Giants Stadium on Monday.

That Strahan would return on the day the Giants break camp echoes what we've been hearing in recent days, that he'd return once two-a-days were over. According to a team official, Strahan has not informed the Giants that he's coming back to the area.

There is always the chance that Strahan will remain away from the team and continue his flirtation with retirement, even if he's back in the area. But that is a remote possibility at this point, because he has given strong indications to people close to him that he's ready to return.

Strahan has accrued close to $400,000 in fines as a result of his absence, although there are indications the team is prepared to reduce that amount if he returns to the team. The Giants do not want to further alienate Strahan by pursuing the entire amount, yet they are also sensitive to the fact that eliminating the fines entirely will send the wrong message to other players who might think about staging similar holdouts in the future.

(SEE UPDATE ABOVE)

You think you're sick and tired of the Tiki Barber-Eli Manning he said-he said soap opera? Well, Eli said yesterday's it's over and done with, and now Tiki says it's time to move on.

Barber is reluctant to say anything else, hoping the controversy will die down. It was not his intention to have it blow up like this, although he understands why it did.

But Barber did say he felt his use of the word "comical" when describing Manning's halting attempts to talk to the team before a game last season was misconstrued. It was that word that seemed to set the whole feud off.

"I was glad he made that speech," Tiki said. "He needed to do that. It was just a matter of him being uncomfortable when he first started talking, and that's where the 'comical' thing came up. It was funny, but I didn't mean it to be critical of him. That's why that whole thing was taken out of context."

And Tiki reiterated his frustration at Manning's suggestion that Tiki's heart wasn't in it last season.

"I left everything on the field," he said. "Everything."

Barber said there are no issues with what he said with the people who write his check at NBC.

"My bosses at NBC have no problems with anything I said. I was hired to be honest, and tell it like I see it, and that's what I'm going to do."

Again, he didn't really want to say much more on the record, because he doesn't want to add any more life to the story.

How he speaks in the future remains to be seen, but my sense is he's to speak his mind, but perhaps try and find a middle ground in how to say things, so as not to create such a huge furor. It's very, very early in the process for him as a broadcaster, so we'll see how it goes.

Again, I think there's a way to say things in a direct, straightforward manner without alienating people or creating these back-page scenarios. We'll see if Barber feels the same way.

Tiki Barber was clearly the team's most valuable player last year on the field, and he might just be the most valuable off the field this year.

The former Giants' running back, who is quite successfully blowing up every bridge remaining to his old team with his comments about Tom Coughlin and now Eli Manning, will probably do more to improve team chemistry with his critical remarks about the coach and the quarterback than any current player or coach could do on his own.

Manning was essentially trash-talking this afternoon when he fired back at Tiki for remarks he made on NBC's Giants-Ravens telecast on Sunday night. Barber poked fun at Manning's pre-game speech late in the season, saying it was "comical" the way the quarterback tried to rally the troops.

But this afternoon, Manning shot back:

"I guess I was just happy for Tiki that he made a smooth transition into the media world. It will be interesting to see if he has anything else to say besides the Giants and what his comments will be on that. It’s one of those deals – I’m not going to lose any sleep over what Tiki has to say."

The best line of all: "I guess I could have questioned his leadership skills last year, calling out the coach and having articles about him retiring in the middle of the season saying he lost the heart. As a quarterback you’re reading your running back has lost the heart to play the game and it’s about the 10th week, I can see that a little bit at times. I’m not going to get concerned and I’m going to go out and play ball."

Manning is getting rave reviews from Giants fans who are looking for some fire from their laid-back quarterback. But Barber is the one who deserves the credit for the latest rallying cry. If he continually bashes the coach and the quarterback, the guys in the locker room have no choice but to shout back and become a closer-knit group as a result.

I wish Barber would find a way to be more tactful as he makes the transition from player to media member. He is a bright, insightful, interesting man, but he doesn't need to be so shrill when discussing his former team. Phil Simms has done a terrific job becoming a talented broadcaster, yet all the while remaining a beloved ex-Giant. He knows how to criticize without alienating people, something Barber should learn to do more.

I believe Tiki will develop a more subdued approach, but it's obviously going to take some time. He needs to understand that you don't have to beat people over the head with your opinion; a straightforward, measured approach is far better and will serve him well over the long run. And I do believe Barber will have a long, long run in the media, just as he did in the NFL.

But Tiki is running the risk of tarnishing his legacy as a Giant, and that just shouldn't be. He needs to figure out a way to speak his mind, yet still preserve the admiration that people had for him as a player.

... for even mentioning the possibility that the Jets are worried about Chad Pennington in any way, shape or form.

Ok, so Coles didn't come out and tell specifically mention Rock yesterday during a very informative interview between practices. But the 29-year-old receiver did sound off on anyone who would suggest that Friday night's two-interception performance meant that there was cause for concern.

When I asked if there should be any issue whatsoever with Pennington as the starter, Coles said simply: "No. Cut-and-dried. No."

Why so?

"Why wouldn't he be the starter? I don't know where your loyalty lies, but I know where my loyalty lies, and it's with Chad. He's the main reason I came back [to the Jets from the Redskins]. I'm with him."

Nothing personal now, Kellen Clemens. You know how it is.

If you're a Giants' fan used to seeing Jeremiah Trotter bring down Big Blue's running backs, forget about it. Unless you think Antonio Pierce is washed up - he isn't, by any stretch - Trotter just doesn't fit in the Giants' plans. Of course, Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was the Eagles' linebackers coach before coming to New York, so he'll surely have some thoughts on Trotter.

But he can't possibly convince Tom Coughlin that Trotter is a better alternative than what the Giants already have. Besides, if he could still play, the Eagles wouldn't have released him. Spags knows as well as anyone the limitations that Trotter faces. I just can't see him lobbying to bring him to the Giants.

The Philadelphia Eagles have released veteran linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, a clear indication the 30-year-old's knees are just not up to the wear-and-tear of another NFL season.

“Jeremiah is one of my favorite guys,” said head coach Andy Reid. “There’s no question that this is the toughest part of this job. He and I met about this last night and it was very emotional for the both of us. Jeremiah and I have been together for many years and he’s played a vital role in helping this team win a lot of football games. He developed himself into a Pro Bowl middle linebacker through a lot of hard work and desire. In my mind, he will always be a Philadelphia Eagle and I’m sure he feels the same way. I wish he and his family nothing but the best in the future.”

The Giants will surely be interested in this development, even if Trotter had played a decreased role in recent years. He remained one of the best run-stopping inside linebackers in the game - just ask Tiki Barber, who absorbed a bunch of punishment by Trotter - but he was regularly removed on passing downs. And with the NFL increasingly using spread offenses, Trotter's value simply wasn't there.

The decision is a big blow to newly acquired Takeo Spikes, who had befriended Trotter and spent countless hours in the off-season absorbing the team's defense.

We'd actually heard during the off-season that Trotter was considering retirement because of his knees, and chances are he'll do just that. There's a chance he might somehow hook on with another team, but if he does, it will be for peanuts, and will probably end badly.

Falcons quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty this afternoon to dog-fighting charges.

“After consulting with his family over the weekend, Michael Vick has asked that
I announce today that he has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors regarding
charges pending against him,” Vick’s attorney, Billy Martin, said in a statement
released shortly after 2 p.m. “Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to
those charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes
he has made. Michael wishes to apologize again to everyone who has been hurt by
this matter.”

The terms of Vick’s sentence were unknown, but reports indicate it could be a sentence
of between 18 and 36 months in federal prison. It could mean the end of Vick's
career. If he serves three years, he wouldn't be out of jail until he's
30. And he has yet to face punishment from the NFL, which has restricted him from
attending Falcons camp but has not issued any additional penalties.

All three of Vick’s co-defendants reached plea agreements in recent days. Vick was
facing a Nov. 26 trial date, and would have had to testify against the three co-defendants.
Two of them pleaded guilty on Friday and said Vick bankrolled gambling on dogfights
at a home the quarterback owned in Surry County, Va. One of the defendants said
Vick helped drown or hang dogs who did not perform well.

Quanis Phillips of Atlanta and Purnell Peace of Virginia Beach on Friday pleaded
guilty to dogfighting charges; Tony Taylor of Hampton, Va. reached a plea deal last
month.

(UPDATE: The Associated Press is reporting that prosecutors will ask for a sentence of between 12-18 months.)

Jets fans might have been more than a little quizzical about the potential motivation of disgruntled guard Pete Kendall during Friday night's preseason game against the Vikings, when he snapped the ball way over Kellen Clemens' head and led to a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Minnesota. He also had another botched snap.

Kendall is having a continuing contract beef with the Jets, and has let it be known that he's none too happy about getting snaps at center. So would he puposely botch the snap to make a point to head coach Eric Mangini and GM Mike Tannenbaum?

"No," he said after practice this morning, echoing his claim to reporters after the game that he simply played poorly. "Why would I put Kellen in that situation? It's unbelievable to me that people would ask. I guess if you take a certain position in this situation, then anything you can use to justify your position, then that's what you're going to do about it. I would not do that to my teammates on purpose."

We buy Kendall's explanation on that, and his previous problems playing center when called upon in the past lead you to believe that it's a matter of technical difficulties. Besides, the guy has said just about anything and everything to force his way off the team, so he doesn't need to make a statement on the field to justify his anger over the contract impasse. Kendall said he has had no problem with his teammates over his frustrations with the contract.

I asked Kendall what his gut feeling was about the eventual outcome of his situation, and he said he simply didn't know. I asked what he'd do if the season started and he was the team's starting left guard, which is a distinct possibility.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," he said. "I don't know what the plan is. I'm just trying to get through the day."

Stay tuned on this one. Absent a $1 million raise on his $1.7 million contract, the Kendall mess will stay ugly.

... on the exercise bike. And the Jets' injured running back looked terrific tossing a medicine ball back and forth with Jets' assistant and former defensive lineman Rick Lyle.

Jones remains week-to-week with a calf strain, but it's clear the Jets sorely need his presence if they're going to be a contender this year. They patched together a running game last year with nearly half a dozen backs, but Chad Pennington needs the workhorse type back like Jones to be at peak efficiency, especially if teams are going to crowd the box trying to defend the dink-and-dunk passes that have become his trademark.

(UPDATE: My man Tom Rock informs me that Jones was riding the stationary bike for the first time since being injured, which is good news. The bad news: When I saw him walking off the bike toward the practice huddle when the morning session ended, he was not walking too well. Week-to-week might be optimistic.)