***Disclaimer*** These are merely opinions on how to fix the mess that was our New York Football Giants this season. The opinions and moves that are suggested in this piece are just that, opinions. No one knows what Mara, Reese and Coughlin will do this off-season. Even the so-called experts get it wrong all the time, so with that being said, let us take this article as a topic of discussion and healthy debate. In the end, it’s about something we can all agree on is the important thing, ring number 5. Here it is The NY Giants Big Blueprint!

Two teams are left in the dance and in two weeks will play in our stadium for the right to be called Champions. Unfortunately for us we are forced to watch and wonder what might have been. The good news about the NFL today that if you are smart, rebuilding doesn’t have to take so long now a days. We see teams every year surprise us and come out of nowhere. The Panthers, Chiefs and Chargers all had impressive seasons. Why not us next year?

But how? The Giants team is looking at a major roster turnover, a new offensive coordinator and the nucleus that won 2 Super Bowls is sure to be blown up. So how do we get back to competing in the playoffs? How can Jerry Reese do that voodoo that he do so well? What are our options? Who do we let go? Who comes back? Who do we bring in? Who do we draft?

In order to solve this complicated quagmire we have to start with addition by attraction. Who is not going to be here and as a result of said player leaving, what is the salary cap number and the amount we have to spend? And then who do we target in free agency and the draft?

I have my opinions on what I would if I were Jerry Reese and that is what this article is going to be about. Isn’t that what we do in the off-season as fans? We debate against our own on how to fix the teams we love so much. Opinions vary and tempers flare, but in the end this about one thing we all want, to win.

Let us first to take a look at the salary cap and some Giants who probably will not be back and how their absence will help the Giants to move forward.

Cap Casualties/Giants sized savings: Assuming the 2014 salary-cap projection of $126.3 million reported by Pro Football Talk is accurate, The Giants would be approximately $17,540,324 under the cap. That figure is based on the $108,759,676 already committed to 2014’s cap, per OvertheCap.com.

Will $17.54 million be enough for New York to satisfy all of their upcoming personnel needs? No way in hell. So here are 5 guys we should start saying our goodbyes to…

Chris Snee: A former second-round draft pick in 2004, Snee is a four-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro selection and a two-time Super Bowl
champion. Snee has been a Giant stalwart over the last decade at Right Guard, but with bone chips and a labrum issue Snee is not worth the money he is due to make next season. Snee is owed 11.75 million next year. If he is cut or retires, 4.5 million of that becomes “dead money”… leaving the Giants with 7.25 million extra to spend.

Corey Webster: It is time to say goodbye to this long time Giant as well. Injuries and father time have taken their toll on the Giants long time cornerback, and with the emergence of Prince Amukamara, Webster can be said goodbye to as well. Webster is owed, 2.25 million on his contract. By cutting Webster the Giants would owe 1.25 to him, and gain an extra million on the cap.

Brandon Myers: #hugefailure The Giants were creative with Myers contract last year and thank the lord the were. Imagine if we owed this guy 4 million a year for the next 3 seasons. No thank you. Myers is sure to be gone this year. The Giants would have 1.125 million in dead money after voiding the deal, but would also save 2.875 million on the cap. #nobrainer

Mathias Kiwanuka: It’s been fun Kiwi, but don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya. Always a solid player but never a game changer, this is another long time Big Bluer that is not worth the money, especially with Damontre Moore waiting in the wings and JPP needing a new deal this year or next. The Giants would save 1.8 million against the cap by saying goodbye to this former #1 pick. Here is a fun fact…Kiwi, per Pro Football Focus, is listed as the lowest-ranked defensive end on a 4-3 front.

David Baas: Baas, who restructured his deal this past offseason that lowered his 2013 base salary from $4.25 million to $1.25 million in exchange for the $3 million difference upfront, is scheduled to count for 8.25 million against 2014’s cap. That’s a terrible number for a 32-year-old player with his medical history. If the Giants decide to cut Baas, who per OvertheCap.com is listed as having the fourth highest salary on the team in 2014, they would save 1.775 million due to a $6.45 million dead-money charge, which is not really a significant savings. What they could instead do with Baas is apply one of their two post June 1 cap designations on him to increase their savings. If they take this step, Baas’ total cap figure would remain on the books until June 1, After that, instead of being charged $6.45 million in dead cap money against their 2014 cap, they would only be charged $3.225 million. Thus, the savings on Baas if designated as a post-June 1 cap move would be $5 million.

What have we learned?? The Giants are $17,540,324 under cap. If Reese makes the moves above the Giants can move that number from 17 million under the cap to somewhere in the general area of 34-35 million give or take.

One more move in my opinion must be made this off-season in terms of saving money. I’ve been shouting this for months now, and have tried to communicate with the Giants brass via telepathy, but so far I’ve made no contact, I think.

Restructure Eli: Eli is on the books for 20+ million this year. I’ve said it before and I will say one more time now, the time to restructure is now. for two reasons.

1. Leverage: If you were going to resign Eli long-term and restructure his deal to lessen the hit on the cap, there is no better time than now. Eli is coming off a horrible season, and getting him an extension that makes him a Giant for life and lowers his cap number is the best of both worlds.

2. Money: If Reese can convince Manning to sign an extension now that makes him 15 million a year instead of 20, while securing him as our QB for the duration of his career, everybody wins. Hell, if Tom Brady can restructure Eli Manning can too.

OK, now let us assume that all of these moves have been made. The Giants salary cap number has now jumped from 17 million available, too a whopping 40 million. And I didn’t even need to touch Antrel Rolle’s horrendous 8 million against the cap this year…

Let’s spend some money shall we. First, let us take a look at our own and who I would bring back, at the right price. If you don’t see a name on the list, that means I have released said player…

JPP: He’s not a free agent this year, but will be next year. I apply the leverage way of thinking to JPP as well. Resign him now, JPP is coming off surgery and a less than stellar 2013 campaign. Resigning JPP to a long-term deal now while saving some money should be a priority. If he comes back and has a great year in 2014 we could end up losing him to the highest bidder.

Justin Tuck: Tuck had a great year this season and the Giants should bring him back to finish his career in his Big Blue #91 jersey. But at what price? Considering the Giants have a holes to fill all over this roster how much is Tuck really worth? I’m all for bringing him back, but if the price tag is too high, the smarter move maybe saying good-bye.

Stevie Brown: The Giants missed Brown’s play making ability in the secondary this year and it was painfully obvious. Considering his injury, it shouldn’t cost a lot to bring him back at all. Look for Brown to sign a 1 year deal with maybe an option for a second.

Josh Brown: Veteran kicker who was more accurate than his predecessor Tynes, and had a better percentage of touchbacks.

Jon Beason: Any other play making linebackers we can get for a 7th round pick? Beason wants to return and the Giants want him back, look for this to get done with a cap friendly deal that makes sense for both sides.

Kevin Boothe: Boothe may not be flashy, but he is solid and shouldn’t break the bank. He can start or fill in at either guard spot or center.

I’m sure there are some of you screaming at your computer now. I have said goodbye to Andre Brown, Linval Joseph, Terrell Thomas and Hakeem Nicks. Hey, you can’t make

an omelette without breaking some eggs people. Brown and Thomas have been injury prone and aren’t worth the money at all, any of it. Nicks was worthless this season, and giving him a dime is too much money at this point, if he couldn’t produce and play with some fire in a contract year, how do you just resign him? Joseph is a much harder decision to make, but still it makes sense. Johnathan Hankins graded out very good this season, (Per Pro Football Focus Hankins, who earned snaps as a rookie, didn’t record a single negative grade in his 195 snaps. He finished with an 8.0 overall grade and a 9.5 grade against the run), with Hankins waiting in the wings, does committing 6-8 million a year on Joseph make sense?

There is Part 1 of The BIG BLUEprint, Let the debate begin. What would you do? Who comes back and who is let go in your eyes?

In Part II we will look into potential trades and free agent targets through my warped, yet passionate Big Blue eyes. I for one can not wait to hear your thoughts…good, bad or indifferent. We care what you think here at Bleed Big Blue and we love engaging with our fans about the team we love so much.

P.S. — If part one pissed you off, wait til you read Big Blueprint Part 2.

The post The NY Giants Big Blueprint first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

Do you have a Big Blue conscience?  Turns out I do.   He is whispering in  my ear, forcing me to look at this situation in a way that my eyes can not believe they are seeing.

He whispered to me on Monday night….”Holy shit dude, we have a shot…we are not out of it…do not give up hope…inspire it amongst the BIG BLUE sea of fans looking for a reason to believe.”

“You are suffering from “DeBLUEsions of Grandeur”.  What the hell does the Packers game have to do with us?  Looking for a reason to believe what?”

“That we are quite possibly in for a more glorious and fabulous ride then last two times…”

“You’re fucking kidding right?  To be nice about it, I don’t think it is possible,  These eyes have seen to much football, I see this team and see no light at the end of the tunnel.  I look at our record and see too big a mountain to climb.  To daunting a task lies ahead.”

Then he whispers again…“look closer… your eyes deceive you old man…look at it through my eyes…forget their record…do you see the way…do you see the light”

“Your eyes?…Uuuuh…you forget dick, your eyes are my eyes.  And this is far fetched and not worth our time. Weren’t you there when we were trying to trade for AP in our fantasy league today?…We should be focused on that right now.”

“You have disappointed me James…You have disappointed us all.  You should write about what a douche you’ve become”

“That’s not cool dude.  If you really want to have this conversation…let’s go.  It will be quick.  But first, what do you mean what a douche I’ve become?  Explain yourself inner Big Blue conscience…”

“You don’t want to hear it, you are blind to the Big Blue light.  You have lost your way”

“Bullshit!  Tell me.  Spill it dick.”

“Fine, here goes nothing.  For once in your life don’t speak, listen.  Remember all those years back?  When you were younger.  Remember the 1st 2 Super Bowls?  Remember the kid who would paint his face when the Giants played on Monday Night Football?   He would run down the hall and greet his father with an LT like tackle when he got off the elevator after a long day at the office. Remember the day you realized you were different from the other kids?  Super Bowl 21, while all your friends lost interest and were messing around during the game, your 9 year old eyes were fixated on the game.  Not missing one throw Phil Simms made, God bless his good name. Remember starving for two days because we couldn’t eat after Flipper Anderson, that son of a bitch, ran away with our Super Bowl dreams in 1989?   Remember in 1990?  None of you’re friends thought the Giants had a chance against the 49ers and the Bills that year.  You painted the picture with a Big Blue brush, intelligently making a case why the Giants had a chance.  Why our friends should cheer…why they should have hope.  During the years that followed those two Super Bowls were some of the toughest of your Fanhood, and yet you still saw the positive.  You were the one that always had hope from the beginning of each year until they were mathematically eliminated.  From Dave Brown to Kerry Collins we always believed until the season was over.  Even as recently back as 2007 you were different.  When we lived in Va Beach we were surrounded by Redskins fans…Cowboys fans…Packers fans and you still maintained steadfast in our belief that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. An ugly win is a win no less, you don’t give them back.  That we always had a chance.  We are never out if it.  It was that swagger that made even the Cowboys fans where you worked laugh after the NFC Divisional game that year.  When you brought in popcorn for all the Cowboys fans since they had told you to “get your popcorn ready” like that douche T.O. used to say.  It was your confidence and belief that saw a way to beat the Patriots and had everyone saying ‘damn, you called it” after they shocked the world.  It was your passion that gave you the memory of your two daughters tackling you after Super Bowl 42.  It meant a lot to them, because it meant a lot to you asshole.  Don’t you get it?  Somewhere between then and now you have lost that passion, that belief.  You have grown content and it makes me sick. You live off of the ghosts of Super Bowls past, and make excuses for what is in the present.  You’re ok with being 2-6 because it might get you Jedeveon Clowney, because Coach Coughlin is 67 and this may be the way to start rebuilding, because we should appreciate how hard it is to win one Super Bowl, never mind 2 in 6 years.  But here is what I don’t get…If it’s ok for this to happen now, why wasn’t it ok in 1991…1992…1993…1994 and so on when we had won 2 Super Bowls in a 4 year span between 1986 and 1990.  You are a hypocrite.  For years you’ve been shouting loud from the top of mountains for everyone to hear about the Giants, and now when you finally have a voice,  you have lost it…this team ain’t dead, you are.  Now can you take a sip of that delicious frosty beverage…I’m parched.”

I let my Big Blue Conscience’s words marinate a second.  Was he right?  Did he have a point  I took a swig of my frosty ale and thought for a second.  Then, I resisted.

“You know what…this is bullshit.  I know what I saw the last two games.  And despite 2 wins, we looked horrible. They don’t have a chance to comeback from this.  Tell me what light have I yet to see?  What is this way you speak of?  Where in this abyss of bad football do you see hope?”

“I can not tell you James.  For soon you shall see the light, and when you do it shall be glorious.”

“Fuck you Big Blue Conscience…Some dude just broke Aaron Rodgers and I’m going to watch Eddie Lacy run over the Bears.  Nite.”

“Oh James, before you go…let me ask you two things.  One, who do we play in 2 weeks?  And two, If the Cowboys were 7-2 right now and the Giants were 4-4 with the same remaining schedule…all things being the same except for their records, would you feel different about things?  Good night.”

I paid his words no mind again for the remainder of the evening.   Two days passed and not a word was spoken by my Big Blue conscience.  I had chalked it up as one to many frosty beverages and sat down quite happily to enjoy some Thursday Night football.  I was under no influence of alcohol when it happened.  But it happened none the less, and it was as glorious as I was told it would be.

It started quite innocently…

“The Redskins are going to lose this game James…and the Eagles and Cowboys are in tough spots on Sunday as well.  Do you see the Big Blue light yet James?”

“I see we are 2-6…now leave me alone.  I have Jordan Reed going tonight.”

“Ok James,  see you soon.”

As the game progressed I found myself drifting away in thought and pondering the words of my Big Blue conscience…

What did he mean the other night?  Why did he ask who we play in 2 weeks?  I know we play the Packers at home.  And what was that shit about the records?  If the Cowboys were 7-2 right now and we were 4-4 right now with the same remaining schedules…so what? 

Then it hit me…It was right around the time the Redskins watched the game against the Vikings slip through Santana Moss’s hand.  The light was Big…and Blue and my friends…it was glorious.

It started as simple as a thought…and snowballed into an actual rationale possibility.

We are not dead.  This season is not lost.  I now know why my Big Blue conscience tested me…there are a lot of if’s, maybe’s and needs in this scenario, but it gives us hope.  It gives us a reason to believe…

BEAT THE RAIDERS —  Giants  3-6

CHEER FOR THE SAINTS — Cowboys 5-5

Next week the Cowboys are on a bye week.

BEAT THE PACKERS — No Aaron Rodgers, not a gimmie at all, but winning is a lot more realistic now.  Giants 4-6

THAT MAKES WEEK 12 COWBOYS 5-5 @ GIANTS 4-6

It can happen.  It will happen.  Our season starts Sunday.

“But what about the Redskins and the Eagles Big Blue Conscience?”

“Answer that yourself…look deeper into the Big Blue light.”

“Of course…the Redskins are 3-6 and have already lost this week.  They go to Philly and then at home against the 49ers…”

“Which means?”

“Even if they somehow win both of those games they are 5-6..and the Eagles…the Eagles just don’t matter at all…ever.”

“Correct James, and who do we play after the Cowboys?”

“I see the BIG BLUE  light…”

“DO YOU SEE THE LIGHT?”

“YES…YES…I SEE THE LIGHT”

“Speak the words…let me hear you say it…”

“This season is just getting started.  One month.  4 games to turn it all around.  This defense has been solid of late and has stopped some pretty good running backs along the way.  JPP declared he’s 90% percent healed from the back surgery now and promises to get out of his head and start flying around like the JPP of old.  A healthy pissed off JPP is enough to make a huge difference by itself.  Add that to fact that Antrel Rolle has the defense motivated, confident and playing with a swagger again and this defense is the only one in the NFC East with the potential to impose its will.  Better late then ever.  It starts Sunday.”

“And the offense?”

“Is due.  They are to good to be this bad.  Having running backs like Hillis, Jacobs and now getting Andre Brown back will give them a power running game.  Three backs who can give you 3 yards and a cloud of dust…three backs that can get Eli into 3rd and shorts and give the offense a physical presence.  And that will help our three wide receivers take this offense to another level.  If Eli plays best in money games, then he should kill the 2nd half the season, cause each of these games are playoff games now.”

“Did you just say playoffs?”

“Bet your sexy ass I did Big Blue Conscience, I see the way.  It won’t be easy, but nothing worth winning should be.  We are the underdogs once again.  It is once again us against the world.  We are a after thought now when discussing this division…they have left for dead.  But what they forgot was that champions do not go gently into to that good night…we rage…rage against the dying of the light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTv1Dmu5CYc

NOW IM REALLY FIRED THE FUCK UP!!!!!  LETS GO!!!  WE ARE GONNA PASS THIS TEST…WE ARE THE NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS AND WE DON’T TAKE SHIT FROM NOBODY!!!

Beat Oakland.  Beat Green Bay.  Beat Dallas.  Beat Washington.  6 wins…6 losses.  4 game season.

They left the door open for us, and now it’s time to kick it off the hinges.  They had their feet on our throat, but they couldn’t take that last gasp of air….we are breathing Bleed Big Bluers.  Let the air flow into your lungs…catch your breath…and shout this Sunday for the heavens to hear.

This will not be easy, if you are going to the games make that building rock for the next week 3 weeks.  Make it louder than it’s been all season.

And Giants, give them reason to cheer.  Play inspired, play with reckless abandon, make plays.  Rattle Terrell Pryor.  Confuse Seneca Wallace.  Punish Tony Romo.  Pummel RGKnee.  Give us our season back.

One month to erase the past and make the season what we all thought it could be.  One mistake…one loss…one play can end it in a hurry.  But we have seen these Giants with their backs against the wall before.  We have seen them been told no, you can’t do it.  And we have seen them make others eat their words time and time again.

Take it Giants…make them pay for not burying us when they had a chance.  One month to make it all right in the Big Blue world.  You can do it…we believe you can and we are with you.

“Welcome back James,  I’ve missed you.”

“You had me at douche Big Blue Conscience…and thank you.  Now let’s have a frosty ale and get ready for Da Raiders…”

“DeBLUEsions of grandeur” no more…

GIANTS 30 Raiders 14     One down…three to go.

The post NY Giants Delusions Of Grandeur first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

I try to write these articles and make them as entertaining as possible. A pop culture reference here or a pop culture reference there may help to bring some life to topics that sportswriters make so mundane at times. And let’s face it, with our New York Football Giants at 0-4, I think we can use a new perspective on things. Especially, after what might be the worst month of Giants football these eyes have seen ever since the unwarranted days of Dave Brown at quarterback.

What are the Giants beat writers topics this week?

1. Antrel Rolle needs medication for thinking the Giants

can run the table….WTF is he supposed to say??

2. Da’rell Scott was cut….Riveting

3. Justin Tuck wants to punch people in the mouth if anyone turns on coach Coughlin….Hey Jusin, stop talking and punch an opposing QB in the mouth will ya!!

4. Who is to blame for this team?…Reese? Coughlin? the players?…. Uuuuh…did the season end and I am not aware of it?

Well since everyone is writing about gloom and doom, and the worst of what may happen in the future, I would like to offer a fresh perspective on the last 12 games of this season.

Think back to when we were kids. Long before Hi-definition and WiFi. Long before Iphones and Androids. Long before MineCraft and Call of Duty and stupid Candy Crush. Remember when as kids we played outside?

Growing up in the Bronx we played sports all day and night. Basketball in the morning, baseball in the afternoon and football at night, eryday eryday eryday (Drake voice). The only thing that would even get us to consider to stop playing was hearing your mother scream your name from a terrace or a window when it was dinner time or bedtime.

During those pick up games of baseball, basketball or football there were many arguments between my friends and I.

When playing baseball we’d argue balls and strikes, fair or foul.

When playing basketball we adopted the “no blood, no foul” rule, which led to argument after argument.

While playing football we’d argue if you “tagged” the guy with one hand or two or how quickly someone may have counted to 7 Mississippi…. aaaah to be young again.

Nine times out of ten these heated differences of opinions were usually decided with two little words… Do over.

How great was that back in the day? Do Over. No matter what happened we had the ability to erase the past and replay the down, pitch or basket.

Well allow me to welcome you to week 5 of the NFL & The New York Giants Do Over. Wait lets call it Blue-Over!

Can’t run the ball for the first month of the season…BLUE-OVER

Can’t put pressure on the QB…BLUE-OVER

Can’t run block or pass block worth a shit…BLUE-OVER

Get out scored through the first four games 146-61…BLUE-OVER

Start 0-4 for the 1st time since the strike year of 1987… BLUE-OVER

Remember the movie SPACEBALLS? (If you haven’t seen it I apologize and may God have mercy on your soul.)

Remember when Dark Helmet and Col. Sandurz are trying to locate Lone Star and the Druish Princess? They do this by using an “instant cassette” which helps them see the entire movie before it’s even done being filmed. While fast forwarding, they stop at that precise moment in time and see themselves searching through the video.

Take a minute and a half and click here: Spaceballs Video

So what’s one thing have to do with the other? BLUE-overs and SPACEBALLS??? I don’t get it James.

Honestly neither do I, but I’ve been sick as a dog all week, we are 0 and 4 and I’m f’d up on Nyquil…so roll with me here will ya.

Let’s examine closer shall we…

Through four weeks our team sucks. Straight up no excuses about it, we are putrid in all three phases of the game.

The last two Super Bowl runs were amazing and we as Giants fans will never forget.

But how long can you live in the past?

How long do you make excuses when it’s right in front of your eyes?

When do we accept reality? That maybe we all over estimated the talent on this team…

So what are we to do as Giants fans? Give up?… Throw in the towel in October?

Do we boo the coach and the quarterback that gave us two playoff runs that we will tell our grandchildren about years from now?

No… We believe they can do it again. One more time. We believe because we don’t turn and run when things get tough, and because we have no other choice. We didn’t turn our backs in 2007, or in 2011 and we were given memories to last a lifetime.

We pretend that the NFL extended the preseason by 4 games… that on Sunday we get the Eagles in our season opener. 1st game of a 12 game season.

1st four games we cant get back, nor should we want to. BLUE-over…

YOU: But what happened to them?

ME: We passed them.

YOU: When?

ME: Just now. We are at now, now

YOU: But when will then be now?

ME: Sunday at 1pm

2 games out of 1st with 12 to play. That is what matters now.

Beat the Eagles first. Watch Denver beat Dallas second.

1-1 in the division and 1 game out of first with 11 to play.

They have fired Coughlin time and time again. They have insulted Eli with no remorse for a decade. They have written us off again Giants fans.

All the talking heads, all the opinion givers that we read and listen to, they have made funeral arrangements for us before the calendar turned to October. Will they ever learn their lesson?

We as fans can not buy into the negative…it’s too long a season and this team has proven them wrong time and time again…one more time…BLUE-over.

If you are going to the game this Sunday please BRING IT for those of us that can’t be there with you… for those of us that will be pacing in our living rooms.

BLUE-OVER BIG BLUE… Give the fans that will be in attendance a reason to scream. A reason to have to explain to their bosses on Monday why they have no voice. Hit Vick like he Clark Griswold’d your dog. Swarm to Shady McCoy like he talked bad bout your mama. Lower the boom on Desean Jackson…well…because he’s Desean Jackson.

Offense, fellas, Come the fuck on. When the defense sets the tone on the flashy Eagles who are sure to turn the ball over, do not let them off the hook. Execute. Score. Finish.

WHEN WILL THEN BE NOW?

SUNDAY 1pm – #BLUE-OVER

The Cowboys, the Redskins and the Eagles have unbelievably left the door open. It’s cracked. It will not be for long.

1-1 in the division – one game out of first…and a trip to Chicago on Thursday Night Football. Hopefully by Sunday at 4 things look a whole lot different for us BLEED BIG BLUERS…and hopefully I’m not fucking sick anymore. They have written us off again Giants fans, but if you had to pick one team in this entire league that could shock the world…again..who would it be?

LETS GO GIANTS — GET UP YOU SONS OF BITCHES…CAUSE JIMMY LOVES YA.

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