Greatest Trick Play in Football History?

Every once in a while a play comes along that defies logic and makes us all chuckle. A middle school in Texas has managed to do that for many people in the past few days.



Sometimes with all the pay for play scandals in college, steroids and drugs in the pros; it takes children to remind us of why we love this game and that any team can win on any given Friday/Saturday/Sunday.

Giants Ground Seahawks

The New York Football Giants came into their game against the Seattle Seahawks at 5-2 on a 4 game winning streak in first in the NFC East. The Seahawks flew into their home stadium in first place at 4-3 hoping their 12th man could help them glide past an explosive opponent.

The Giants' defense came in having ended the season of one quarterback and putting major dents in the season of a number of others in their last few games. How to pour fuel on that fire? Put 5 year veteran Charlie Whitehurst as the starter for Seattle in his first NFL game, add 12 new players to the roster for good measure and roll the dice.

The first quarter did not go as planned for Seattle coach Pete Carrol. When the clock hit zero the Giants had scored 3 touchdowns and took a 21-0 lead, taking the normally raucous Seattle crowd out of the game almost completely. Ahmad Bradshaw, the NFL's fourth leading rusher after a bye week allowed 3 players to pass him, started the scoring with a 2 yard touchdown run for Big Blue. 

On the Giants' next possession Hakeem Nicks dove for a 44 yard touchdown reception made possible by third down penalty on the Seahawks defense. The Giants scored their third touchdown on Bradshaw's second of the game, a 4 yard run, to give them a 3 touchdown lead as the clock hit zero. The three touchdown lead put them well on to their first win in Seattle since 1981.

Giants Readying for Monday Night Showdown in Dallas

The New York Giants roll into Dallas in a comfortable position atop the NFC East with a three game winning streak. They are playing a division rival with only one win and have a bye week afterwards. The Giants have returned to their roots running smash mouth football and knocking quarterbacks out of games at an alarming rate.


Tony Romo is on notice with his injured thumb. He should expect to spend the day running all over the place unless he wants to end up like Matt Moore, Jay Cutler, Todd Collins and Shaun Hill. "Yeah, we don’t like to see quarterbacks get knocked out," Cowboys' offensive line coach Hudson Houck told ESPN Dallas. "We faced some pretty good defenses the last three weeks. Tennessee was really good and last week [Minnesota] a really good pass rush." No disrespect to this teams, but they are not eating quarterbacks for lunch like the Giants have been. Injuries on the offensive line should make it an interesting afternoon for the Cowboys.

NFL Safety Video Sent to Teams

The NFL sent the above video to all 32 teams illustrating which types of hits are unacceptable and which types of hits are good glean football.

More than any other team, the Giants appear to be victims of both the bad hits (Kevin Boss) and the good clean hits (Ramses Barden). ""I was watching the Sunday night game a little bit and I like what (former safety) Rodney Harrison had to say about how the only time they really got his attention was when they finally suspended him for a game," said Boss in a report on FanHouse.com. Boss has suffered multiple concussions in his career from being "blown up" by defensive players in the past.


One of those players is current teammate Antrelle Rolle, who blew Boss up when he was a member of the Arizona Cardinals last season: "A lot of times it's receivers or offensive guys that maybe are ducking their head or maybe they're running up high. Who's to say what? No one is at fault. Nothing's intentional." Rolle told FanHouse.com in the same report. ""A lot of times it's receivers or offensive guys that maybe are ducking their head or maybe they're running up high. Who's to say what? No one is at fault. Nothing's intentional."


James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers threatened to retire over the new enforcement of these rules after being fined $75,000 of the millions he is to make this season over the hit in the above video, saying "I'm going to sit down and have a serious conversation with my coach tomorrow and see if I can actually play by NFL rules and still be effective. If not, I may have to give up playing football," in a report on NFL.com. 


He should ask Todd Heap, DeSean Jackson and Kevin Boss if they think they can actually play by the rules and be effective if that type of hitting is allowed. The league is doing the right thing, preventing head, neck and spinal cord injuries should be applauded. All one needs to do is follow Ray Lewis example of a good, clean, hard hit. As Sandy Alderson said "a great player making a great play."

Giants Hang on to Beat Lions 28-20

The Giants started today's game with the type of optimism that comes from being on a 2 game winning streak against the alleged elite of the league and having a team that not long ago was 0-16 and has been a wreck for over a decade next on the schedule. Not only are the Lions not a wreck anymore, but they've done reasonably well with backup Shaun Hill under center.

After only one first down and not gaining much else on the first drive of the game, Matt Dodge was called in to punt. He continued his struggles this season by fumbling the snap and allowing the Lions to recover, starting at the Giants 43 yard line. A few plays later, Hill converted the turnover into a touchdown catch by Nate Burleson on 3rd and 1 from the 14 on the left side of the end zone to make it 7-0 after the PAT. Detroit wasn't really challenged much by the Giants defense and made them pay for Matt Dodge's mistake.

Week 6-Lions vs Giants Preview

When the Lions (1-4) take the field against the Giants (3-2) this afternoon at 1:05pm, they look to build on last week's strong performance from quarterback Shaun Hill in their 44-6 dressing down of the St. Louis Rams. Hill completed 22-37 passes, amassing 227 passing yards and 3 touchdowns by the final whistle. Supporting him in his effort will be TE Brandon Pettigrew, who leads the league with 26 receptions and RB Jahvid Best, who leads the team with 4 TDs in 5 games. In order to beat the Giants they will have to block out the memory of losing 23 road games in a row. The Lions have a mountain to climb at the New Meadowlands Stadium if they are going to beat Big Blue at home.

The Giants look to continue their two game winning streak off the back of two consecutive dominating performances in beating the previously undefeated Bears with an NFL record 9 sacks in the first half and limiting the league's leading rushing attack in the Texans to only 24 yards in the Reliant Dome. The Giants' defense ranks number one overall in allowing only 244.6 yards per game and amassing 19 sacks, good for third best. With the Lions number one receiver Calvin Johnson listed as doubtful, the Giants can focus on stopping the Lions rushing attack and rushing the quarterback, a formula that has been successful the past two weeks. In addition to the best defense in the league, the Giants offense has come alive the past few weeks with Manning's increasing confidence in WR Hakeem Nicks (12 receptions for 120 yards, 2 TD vs Houston) and the dynamic running of Ahmad Bradshaw.

"You don't get discouraged by that, we believe in the stuff we're doing," said Hill on facing the Giants for the first time. The Lions lead the NFL in scoring with 25.2 points a game, the league's highest scoring offense against the leading defense, "Let's get it on!"

Other notes: Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes is out with an ankle injury, he has been replaced by Shayne Graham for today's game.