# NFC East 2008 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 3, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891 "2008-09-03T17:23:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/381 "2008-12-02T19:37:53Z")
> [@storyteller0910](#): > > I’ll take that bet. > > By what mechanism would Burress wind up spending less than three months in jail, given that the mandatory minimum for his current charge is three and a half years? To what lesser charge would a New York DA, operating under a Mayoral administration that has made strict enforcement of illegal handgun laws an explicit priority, allow Burress to plead that would enable this to happen? > > I’m not being difficult, here, I’m actually interested in the answer. Are there any folks who actually know the applicable laws who could comment on this? I don’t know the law particularly well. I was basing my statement just on how offenses of this caliber involving athletes typically play out, which is probation, community service, and \*maybe \*a token jail sentence. Even when the laws say mandatory jail time, these defendants apparently have the resources (money, lawyers) to drag the process out and instill enough fear of an acquittal to force prosecutors to plead them down to a lesser offense involving little or no jail time. However, whereas public opinion is more hostile to Burress than I anticipated, and whereas the freakin’ Mayor said he should be prosecuted aggressively, therefore I’m going to back off my prediction. That said, I still think you guys shouldn’t be too shocked if Burress’ lawyers drag this out for a long time and create a multitude of hassles and roadblocks, forcing the state to take what they can get. It’s a special case, you can’t just take the standard MO of the DA’s Office and use that to predict what will happen to the multi-millionaire celebrity. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/382 "2008-12-02T20:33:00Z")
I agree, **VarlosZ**. I can only hope that Mayor Bloomberg pursues this as zealously as Martha whatshername was. Sometimes being a rich celebrity can backfire. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/383 "2008-12-02T23:50:24Z")
Well, no matter what the legal outcome, [he’s done with football for the season](http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Al5fH3KC4ge1lCkWJVdjhk0dsLYF?slug=ap-giants-burressshot&prov=ap&type=lgns). Let’s just hope Pierce can keep the stink off of himself. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/384 "2008-12-05T16:20:45Z")
Division Ranking through 13 weeks: #1 NFC East (77%) 24-7-1 #2 NFC South (75%) 24-8 #3 AFC South (63.3%) 19-11 #4 AFC East (62.5%) 20-12 #5 AFC North (45%) 13-16-1 #6 NFC North (30%) 9-21 #7 AFC West (24%) 8-24 #8 NFC West (22%) 7-25 #1 NFC (53%) 24-21-1 #1 AFC (47%) 21-24-1 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/385 "2008-12-07T18:05:25Z")
And here we go. \*\*Giants \*\*vs. Eagles is underway! \*\*Go Giants \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2008, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/386 "2008-12-07T23:28:03Z")
What. The fuck. Was that? Hey guys? You know the dude in green with the 36 on his back? It’s usually a good idea to try and keep _somewhat_ of an eye on him. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/387 "2008-12-08T00:09:55Z")
3rd downs killed the Giants on both sides of the ball. They played well enough on 1st and 2nd downs, and with just five or six more conversions/stops they probably would have been right there (ok, and it also would have helped if Hixon hadn’t dropped the perfectly thrown bomb). Anyway, they didn’t look good today, but keep in mind that the Eagles are a legitimately good team (despite the protestations of Eagles fans), which makes their play look worse than it really was. It’s comforting to know that the 1st Round bye is virtually assured. If Carolina wins tomorrow, then the Panthers @ Giants game in Week 16 will probably determine the #1 seed. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/388 "2008-12-08T01:33:36Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > What. The fuck. Was that? > > Hey guys? You know the dude in green with the 36 on his back? It’s usually a good idea to try and keep _somewhat_ of an eye on him. Well at least Pittsburgh did the job for us and beat Dallas so the Giants \*\*won the NFC East. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/389 "2008-12-08T07:29:20Z")
Another wind game, similar to the Redskins game late last year. Anyone remember that one, where both quarterbacks combined went 26 of 78? Yeah, not good. Eli seems to have one multi-pick and one wind game in him every year. Last year it was the Vikings and Redskins, this year it was the Browns and Eagles. I’m actually kinda glad they lost a game here down the stretch. The loss in Cleveland seemed to galvanize them, or at very least compelled them to stop believing their own press. No doubt they’ll hear pundits talking about how the distractions of Plaxico are starting to take their toll, and draw comparisons to the Cowboys of last year. I expect this to fuel another resurgence like after the Browns game. Didn’t like seeing Jacobs go down, though. Looked like a high ankle sprain to me. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/390 "2008-12-08T14:50:59Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Eli seems to have one multi-pick and one wind game in him every year. Last year it was the Vikings and Redskins, this year it was the Browns and Eagles. He’s had a lot more than _one_ multi-pick game in him in previous years, dude. 😃 I can’t believe people are seriously mooting Eli for MVP. The Giants are 17th in passing offense, and #1 in rushing offense; he’s not even the MVP of his own team! ---
**Author:** ![Borborygmi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/borborygmi/32/217_2.png) [@Borborygmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borborygmi)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/391 "2008-12-08T21:19:42Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > What. The fuck. Was that? That, my friend, was the first 2008 Giants-Eagles game, except in a parallel universe where it was the Giants stinking it up at home yet somehow keeping the score close enough to look deceptively respectable at the end. The Giants’ loss seemed like just an aberration at the conclusion of a rough week, though… nothing that would stop them from clinching the division, say, a few hours later. The Eagles’ loss seem like the lead-up to something unimaginable, like tying the Bengals the next week. (Ha! As if there were ties in the NFL!) ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/392 "2008-12-10T03:54:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > He’s had a lot more than _one_ multi-pick game in him in previous years, dude. 😃 > > I can’t believe people are seriously mooting Eli for MVP. The Giants are 17th in passing offense, and #1 in rushing offense; he’s not even the MVP of his own team! I don’t know that the Giants have an MVP. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/393 "2008-12-10T10:07:26Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > He’s had a lot more than _one_ multi-pick game in him in previous years, dude. 😃 heh, no doubt. It was bad wording. I should have said _several_ pick game. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/394 "2008-12-10T12:23:22Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > I don’t know that the Giants have an MVP. It’s called “the offensive line”. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/395 "2008-12-10T14:58:43Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > It’s called “the offensive line”. I’d go with Justin Tuck, I think. I’ve watched four or five Giants games this season and he’s made at least one big play in each quarter of each game. I’m not impressed by Manning at all this season. He’s getting a ton of credit for their record, but all he’s really done is stopped taking chances. His interceptions are down, but all his other stats are down, too. He could have played like this in any given season but they didn’t have a defense or running game to pick up the slack. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/396 "2008-12-10T17:29:43Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > His interceptions are down, but all his other stats are down, too. He could have played like this in any given season but they didn’t have a defense or running game to pick up the slack. You should call Guinness and enter that observation as the most wrong observation ever. So far in 2008, Eli Manning has…[list=#][li]Set a career high for completion percentage[/li][li]Set a career high for Yards Per Attempt[/li][li]Has already clinched a career low for interceptions (Previously averaging 18 per season, he currently has 8)[/li][li]Has already clinched his best season passer rating (Currently 90.1; previous best was 77.0)[/li][li]Set a career high for Air Yards Per Attempt, which excludes YAC. His previous best was 5.8; this year he’s at 6.5[/li][li]Posted his second highest Yards Per Game totals[/li][li]Cut his sacks nearly in half (Previously averaging 27 per season, he currently has 15)[/li][li]With three games to play needs 5 passing TDs to surpass his career best of 24[/list]“All his other stats are down”? You’re sounding like a hater, since in actuality every single one of his stats is up. That’s _every single one_. And most of them aren’t just above his average; most are career best marks.[/li] You say his other teams didn’t have this kind of running game or defense. Really? Ignoring his rookie season, let’s look at the numbers: 2005: 6th ranked rushing attack, 24th ranked defense 2006: 7th ranked rushing attack, 25th ranked defense 2007: 4th ranked rushing attack, 7th ranked defense 2008: 1st ranked rushing attack, 6th ranked defense heh, can you spot the year Steve Spagnuolo took over the defense? Wow. Eli’s had the same stellar running game his entire career, and he had the same solid defense last year. He’s completing more of his passes while throwing the ball further downfield, and somehow taking fewer sacks in the process. Other than being wrong in absolutely every way, good observation. As far as Justin Tuck being the team MVP, I dunno. Robbins is just as valuable, IMO. And you gotta love a guy playing with two broken hands. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/397 "2008-12-10T22:16:10Z")
You’re quite right. In fairness, I made my season assessment of Manning the week before the Cards game, when he posted these numbers: @ ARI W 37-29 26/33 78.8% 240 7.3 3TDs 0 INTs 1 6 127.3 He had six straight weeks of sub-60 completion percentages before that. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/398 "2008-12-11T01:20:28Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > He had six straight weeks of sub-60 completion percentages before that. Five games, not six. Even still, why would you consider that to be “down”? You know he’s never cracked 60% completions in his career, right? ---
**Author:** ![SkyAudley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9e8a1a/32.png) [@SkyAudley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyAudley)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/399 "2008-12-12T13:01:42Z")
Don’t worry any of you with doubts. The Giants have a great all around team. Especially the run and they’re defense. Manning Rocks!!! So does my3cents dot com ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891/400 "2008-12-12T23:14:17Z")
Bring on the Foreskins, here come the mighty and feared Cincinnati Bengals, with all-pro QB and Harvard grad Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm!!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfc-east-2008/461891.md?page=21)