Eagles-Giants rivalry heats up for home opener
PHILADELPHIA - September 25, 2011
"It's a lot of intensity, a lot of trash-talking and a lot of
guys on the field that just hate each other," Eagles cornerback
Asante Samuel said. "They just want to beat each other's head in.
It's very competitive and has a long line of history behind it.
It's an ongoing rivalry that has a lot to it."
While the labor lockout kept players off the practice field
during the summer, Eagles running back LeSean McCoy and Giants
defensive end Osi Umenyiora were busy taking shots at each other on
Twitter.
McCoy said Umenyiora was "overrated" and "soft" and ranked
the two-time Pro Bowl pick as third best on New York's defensive
line. Umenyiora retaliated by calling McCoy a "girl" and referred
to him as Lady Gaga.
"I hate him, he hates me, period," Umenyiora told the Newark
Star-Ledger in June. "There's a real hatred toward Philly and
there's a real hatred for them toward us."
Umenyiora may not get a chance to tackle McCoy this week because
he's still listed as day to day after having arthroscopic surgery
on his right knee early in training camp.
His absence won't decrease the animosity between the teams. Both
clubs enter with a 1-1 record. The Eagles have won the last six
meetings, including an incredible 38-31 comeback victory last
December at the Meadowlands that helped them secure the NFC East
title.
Michael Vick rallied Philadelphia from a 21-point deficit with
8:17 left, and the Eagles won it on DeSean Jackson's 65-yard punt
return for a touchdown on the last play.
"It is what it is," Giants safety Antrel Rolle said. "It took
place last year. It's not something that we might ever forget, but
at the same time, it's a new year."
Rolle joined in on the trash-talking earlier in the week when he
said in a radio interview he wants to cover Jackson one-on-one
because he's done it before and "could handle it again."
Jackson had nothing to say about Rolle's boast, but wide
receiver Jeremy Maclin took a jab at him and the rest of the
Giants.
"A lot of times when people talk, they're either insecure or
they're scared, so you guys choose," Maclin said. "It's a new
year. We understand that we have to go out there and play. On the
other hand, they have no business talking because they haven't done
anything in the last six times. That speaks for itself. I don't
know what he's trying to do, but he's not going to intimidate, not
going to scare nobody in this locker room."
The Eagles are hoping Vick plays after suffering a concussion in
the second half of a 35-31 loss at Atlanta. Vick practiced
Thursday, and it appeared he would be ready to go unless he had a
setback.
Of course, the Giants said they expect to face Vick instead of
backups Mike Kafka and Vince Young. Coach Tom Coughlin said he
didn't even plan to prepare for a different quarterback.
"He's the best player to give them an opportunity to play their
best ball," Rolle said. "I'm the type of guy, I like going
against the best. If I don't go against the best, a win's a win,
we'll always take a win, but it's always better when they have
their better guys on the field."
Other than Vick, the Eagles have been mostly healthy. The
Giants, on the other hand, have been hit hard by injuries.
They just lost receiver Domenik Hixon for the rest of the season
after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in
the 28-16 win over St. Louis. Wideout Mario Manningham sustained a
concussion in that game, and his status is uncertain.
New York already lost starting cornerback Terrell Thomas and
starting middle linebacker Jonathan Goff for the season with major
knee injuries. Rookie defensive tackle Marvin Austin, the team's
second-round draft pick, is also out for the year with a chest
muscle problem.
"You keep going," quarterback Eli Manning said. "You keep
preparing. If everything was easy and went perfectly, it kind of
takes some of the fun out of it. It always makes it a great
opportunity for some guys to step up and show what they're made of
and how they can go out there and make plays."
