Operation Dangerfield

They ain't get no respect.

A post by ESPN's Dan Graziano talks about how he thinks head coach Coughlin stokes the flames of his players by saying no one picks them to win (Let's call it-and the whole damn team while we're at it-Operation Dangerfield after the comedian whose most famous schtick was about getting no respect). This upcoming game against the 49ers is one example. Graziano also seems to think it's fiction that the Giants are not respected by the League. Old Graziano has a tendency to give people a little more credit than they deserve. I know for a fact that when Nike got the NFL franchise, my sweet wife who's always looking out for me, Rebecca, asked a person involved about what to expect regarding the Giants (variety of gear, player appearances, etc.). The reply was something like, "Oh, honey, not much for them," spoken with a tone of "they're not great for business." This year the talking heads at NFL Network admitted to Eli Manning in an immediate interview following the Thursday Night game against the Panthers that in pre-game programing none of them picked the Giants to win. They picked Cam Newton. I wonder why? Last year, the year before last, and on and on. I can point to numerous examples of the Giants never being the favorite to what's new and  hot and sexy and good for business. Sure, not every team will be picked to win every game, but have you heard anyone pick against the Patriots, Packers, Niners (of late), Saints, or Colts (of old) lately? They're a league of their own. The Texans are this years semi-surprise, but they're not flashy so they're hardly mentioned. No one is EXCITED about the Texans. However, no one looks at the Texans with suspicion...not like they always do with the Giants. Last year before the 49ers beat the Saints and then lost to the Giants, there wasn't much love for them like there is now. I really think the plan was for Tom Brady and the Patriots to meet either the Saints or Packers in the Super Bowl last year after the Saints and Packers played each other in the NFC Conference game. Was the media disappointed?

In the end, I think the odds are against the Giants this week against the now beloved 49ers because they're missing half their starters and not because they can't do it. But if they do, what does that say about what we think tomorrow? Nuthin'. Cuz they ain't get no respect.

ADDENDUM

Here's Peter King of Sports Illustrated and sports media high-table NFL representative on this weeks matchup (49ers 24, Giants 16):

Eli Manning's 24-5 in October, and anyone who thinks that can't continue against the hottest team in football is nuts. I watched Manning in Candlestick last January play as well as a battered quarterback could play, keeping the Giants in a game they had no business winning -- and though I like the Niners here, I don't think it'll be a rout. San Francisco has too many weapons for a battered secondary to shut down. This time, it won't come down to a muffed punt.

You could say Peter King is being fair when he mentions the Giants depletedness, but it's also a backhanded complement by sorta saying they shouldn't ever beat this 49ers team.

....