Giants defensive line key to another run
Football Betting Lines
02/05/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - At one point in his life, Jason Pierre-Paul didn't want to be a football player. But after a broken leg ended his basketball career in high school, Pierre-Paul made a decision that sent him on a path to winning a Super Bowl.
Pierre-Paul played at two junior colleges before transferring to South Florida in 2009, where he was named a First-Team All-American.
Because he played in just 13 games for the Bulls, NFL teams were hesitant to take Pierre-Paul until the Giants finally selected him with the 15th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft.
The gamble paid off.
Just like the their Super Bowl run four years ago, the Giants got instrumental help from their defensive line during a 2011 postseason that ended Sunday in another title at the expense of the New England Patriots.
With fellow defensive ends Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck plagued by injuries all season long, Pierre-Paul emerged as one of the top players at the position in just his second season in the NFL.
Using unparalleled athleticism, Pierre-Paul recorded 16 1/2 sacks to go with 86 tackles during the regular season and was named to his first Pro Bowl.
After Tuck and Umenyiora finally got healthy once the postseason rolled around, the Giants had another fearsome threesome at the defensive end position.
Four seasons ago, it was Michael Strahan, Umenyiora and Tuck who wreaked havoc in the backfield during the Giants' memorable postseason run. Strahan was in the final year of his career while Umenyiora was still in his prime. Like Pierre-Paul this season, it was Tuck who emerged as a pass rusher that year.
During the magical ride, the Giants recorded eight sacks in the postseason, including five during their Super Bowl XLII win against the Patriots.
Against New England, the Giants at times used all three defensive ends on the defensive line at once, with Tuck playing the defensive tackle position.
Tom Brady, who was sacked just 26 times that season, had no answer as the Giants' persistent pressure knocked him down again and again.
This time, it was Umenyiora, Tuck and Pierre-Paul who terrorized their opponents in the backfield during an eerily similar postseason stretch.
The Giants notched 11 sacks during this year's postseason, with Tuck getting two in the Super Bowl.
New York didn't have the gaudy sack numbers like it had in Super Bowl XLII, but Brady was forced to continually elude pressure all game long.
Pierre-Paul was consistently getting his hands up to swat away passes. Tuck's second sack came on 3rd-and-10 with 39 seconds left in the game, which forced New England to use its final timeout. Umenyiora had a silent game, but led the Giants with 3 1/2 sacks during the postseason.
At 23, Pierre-Paul has just scratched the surface of his potential on a path that began with a broken leg.
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It took Rob Gronkowski nearly an entire half to make his first catch in the Super Bowl. The injured Patriot, who set the tight end record for receiving yards and touchdowns during the regular sea
<< Released Underwood reacts to Patriots' loss
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former New England Patriots wide receiver
Tiquan Underwood, released a day before the Super Bowl, sent dozens of tweets
during the game Sunday but didn't have much to say immediately after it was
over.
<< Again! Giants top Patriots to win Super Bowl
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eli Manning and the New York Giants did it
again, beating the New England Patriots with another game-winning drive in the
Super Bowl.
Ahmad Bradshaw scored on a six-yard touchdown run with 57 seconds remai
<< Giants lose TEs Ballard, Beckum to injuries
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Giants lost tight ends Jake
Ballard and Travis Beckum to knee injuries in Sunday's Super Bowl against the
Patriots.
Ballard went down with a left knee injury early in the fourth quarter. Re
<< Patriots lead Giants 17-15 after 3rd quarter
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tom Brady set a Super Bowl record for
consecutive completions and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Hernandez
that helped the Patriots take a 17-15 lead over the Giants after three
quarters.
Brady's
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It took Rob Gronkowski nearly an entire half to make his first catch in the Super Bowl. Later, the injured Patriots tight end was several tortured inches away from snaring a Hail Mary pass that would
Manning wins another Super Bowl MVP >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Is Eli Manning elite? That's likely no
longer a concern for the New York Giants quarterback.
Manning won his second Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award Sunday after
leading the Giants on another
FCS Giants bask in Super Bowl triumph >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - They're Super beyond the FCS level.
A contingent of former FCS players are reveling in the New York Giants' 21-17
win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI Sunday night.
The Giants' roster inc
I'll Have Another - The Overlay of the Century >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - How many times does a gambler like a horse and wish the
odds could have been much higher than they were? It does not happen that often
but when the unforeseen takes place, it's best to take the money and ask
questio
Farrington expected to become VMI's defensive coordinator >>
Lexington, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - VMI is expected to name Jeff Farrington as
the new defensive coordinator of its football program later this month.
Farrington became Mercer University's defensive coordinator last July as it
builds a program
Barry Bonds Watch: Giants Slugger Says He'll Be Back
With only 21 home runs standing between him and Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds is indeed planning on coming back for more in 2007. At least, that's what his agent told the Los Angeles Times.
"Barry's going to play in 2007," Jeff Borris of Beverly Hills Sports Council told the Times on Tuesday. "I've had many discussions with Barry and he's going to play. My intentions are to see to it he's in a big-league uniform next season. Those are my marching orders."
Contract negotiations could get started as early as next week. Let's see which team has the deeper pockets. Will MLB baseball betting lines despite allegations of steroid use? Bet On It at www.MySportsbook.com .
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