[MaDmaN]

Tom Coughlin, John Mara bristle over Plaxico Burress' guarantee

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Before the question was even finished, John Mara cringed as if someone had just kicked him in the stomach. He's a conservative man, quiet by nature, content to lurk in the background.

He'd prefer his team to be that way, too.

"Yeah, I don't particularly like to have people make guarantees and stuff like that," Mara said yesterday. "I'd like to keep it as quiet as possible. There's been a minimal amount of chirping all season and we'd like to keep it that way.

"God willing, we'll get through today without incident."

Mara's Giants did appear to get through Tuesday's media day unscathed, but that minimal chirping the Giants have done has flared up lately. Plaxico Burress, GM Jerry Reese and co-owner Steve Tisch have all issued what have been portrayed as guarantees of victory in Super Bowl XLII.

None of them was a strong, Namath-like proclamation. But they all got more attention than the Giants would have preferred.

"Are we supposed to say we're going to lose?" Antonio Pierce asked. "What do you want us to say? We're not here to play second to anyone."

Confidence is fine, but there is apparently a line that players aren't supposed to cross. Burress straddled it a few days ago when he said the Giants' receivers "do things just as well or maybe better than some of those" Patriots receivers. And he apparently jumped over it on Monday when he reportedly not only guaranteed victory, but also predicted the final score.

When asked about Burress' proclamation, Tom Coughlin was clearly upset with his star receiver yesterday.

"That's not what we aspire to do," Coughlin said. "We want to do our talking on the field. We've had a good theme all year long, which hasn't been that."

Burress, meanwhile, simply wondered what all the fuss was about.

"Are predictions guarantees?" Burress asked. "We want to win this game. It's interesting. You think of some things in life, as far as professional sports or playing in this game, and it's OK to want to win, think big and dream."

Then, without any reservation, he offered another guarantee of sorts: "We're going to take this thing back to New York City."

Somewhere, Mara cringed again.

"There's only so much you can do," Mara said. "You're constantly asked questions. You're constantly surrounded by media. There are times you're going to say things you probably shouldn't."

"I have already decided and said that I cannot control the actions of others," added Michael Strahan. "I've tried it and come to the realization that these guys are absolutely crazy, and (I'll) go along with whatever they say and laugh with it and go out and play on Sunday. If Plaxico said it, then 'Hee, hee, hee.'"

The Patriots weren't exactly laughing at the Giants, but they didn't seem bothered by the Giants' tough and confident talk. Strahan said he wasn't surprised by that, since he knows words don't really matter at all.

"You know what?" he said. "I could really care less if somebody guaranteed victory against us. You put it on the (bulletin) board and what, is it going to make me play harder? This is the Super Bowl. They are 18 and freakin' 0."

Of course, no one on the button-lipped Patriots would ever even think of guaranteeing a victory, but the talk-is-cheap Giants haven't been so shy. Maybe their words have been overblown by the media, but they're still the ones opening their mouths. They're "a confident bunch," according to Burress.

And that's not something they want to hide.

"We're a 10-6 regular-season team that made it to the Super Bowl and we got here the hard way, winning three road games," Burress said. "So hey, look at us. We didn't just get lucky to be here.

"You've got to want to win the game, man," Burress added. "You've got to want to win it. So why not us?"

What a dummy...

Tom Coughlin, John Mara bristle over Plaxico Burress' guarantee

[Iron Warrior]

It will be the biggest upset in Super Bowl history if they pull it off. Burress is confident that they'll win and any player worth his dignity would think the same thing but to brag about it is only going to make him look worse if they lose, which I expect them to.

The Giants are going to have to play a perfect game AND get some turnovers from the Patriots in order to pull this off, even then it might still not be enough.

I do find it interesting that the Giants lost to the Cowboys, Packers, and Patriots in the Meadowlands during the regular season. They already beat the Packers and Cowboys on the road. This game is a road game for both teams. I noticed this while doing little analysis and began to ask myself "why the Giants might win ?" and I noticed this.

One thing I wouldn't expect is a blowout. The Patriots haven't put a bad whooping on anyone during the Play-Offs and the Giants seem to be able to keep their games close. I think the Patriots win 31-21. Moss and Faulk are going to eat them alive, if they play it safe then Welker and Watson will own the middle of the field. The Giants don't have the linebackers to protect the middle of the field on pass defense consistently. I'm talking about the 5-15 yard range before you get to the safeties.

[mcour1226]

I am a big Giants fan and I think this game could go either way..... I agree that the G men have to play a flawless game to have a shot. This one could come down to a field goal. The Pats always take it to the very end and never give up, so this will be a sick game!

[Mulletsoldier]

I think this was overblown a little bit. He just said he's confident they'll win and lightly predicted a score. He didn't say 'guarantee'.

[MaDmaN]

Originally Posted by Mulletsoldier

I think this was overblown a little bit. He just said he's confident they'll win and lightly predicted a score. He didn't say 'guarantee'.

He said and I quote "We WILL WIN THE GAME AND THE SCORE WILL BE 23-17" sounds like a guarantee to me..

What he should of said was It will be a tough game and if well play good enough maybe we can win..Nothing wrong with that

It's Funny the Patriots would could talk smack becasue they have won 3 superbowls dont,only the teams who have not won anything in a while that like to talk.I never understood that.

[Mulletsoldier]

Originally Posted by MaDmaN

He said and I quote "We WILL WIN THE GAME AND THE SCORE WILL BE 23-17" sounds like a guarantee to me..

What he should of said was It will be a tough game and if well play good enough maybe we can win..Nothing wrong with that

It's Funny the Patriots would could talk smack becasue they have won 3 superbowls dont,only the teams who have not won anything in a while that like to talk.I never understood that.

I don't think he's going to say he should lose. Any team, I think at least, that goes into the SuperBowl thinking 'maybe we could win' is already going to lose. He's just showing some confidence in his team, not too much wrong with that I think.

[MaDmaN]

Originally Posted by Mulletsoldier

I don't think he's going to say he should lose. Any team, I think at least, that goes into the SuperBowl thinking 'maybe we could win' is already going to lose. He's just showing some confidence in his team, not too much wrong with that I think.

No one is saying he should say we are going to lose..

The Pats are favored huge,has anyone come out and said we are going to win on that team ? No, and do you know why ?

[Mulletsoldier]

Originally Posted by MaDmaN

No one is saying he should say we are going to lose..

The Pats are favored huge,has anyone come out and said we are going to win on that team ? No, and do you know why ?

I don't think there's any need to be condescending. You're confident in your team, and that's fine. Many of the Patriots have said they are going out there to win the SuperBowl, they'll do whatever they need to in order to win, etc.,

You're taking his comments a little bit out of context, IMO. I've seen the clip numerous times, and it was honest confidence in his team and said in a somewhat joking manner.

[MaDmaN]

Originally Posted by Mulletsoldier

I don't think there's any need to be condescending. You're confident in your team, and that's fine. Many of the Patriots have said they are going out there to win the SuperBowl, they'll do whatever they need to in order to win, etc.,

You're taking his comments a little bit out of context, IMO. I've seen the clip numerous times, and it was honest confidence in his team and said in a somewhat joking manner.

That is your opinion,even his own coach didn't like it I wonder why..it lacks professionalism.

[Mulletsoldier]

Well I think we just have differing philosophies on what constitutes acceptable behaviour. I wouldn't expect a player to say anything but.

[Alexander]

Originally Posted by MaDmaN

That is your opinion,even his own coach didn't like it I wonder why..it lacks professionalism.

His own coach doesn't like anything. Come on man, it was as innocent as could be. He thinks they're gonna win and he predicted a score.

[Mulletsoldier]

Originally Posted by Alexander

His own coach doesn't like anything. Come on man, it was as innocent as could be. He thinks they're gonna win and he predicted a score.

Coughlin doesn't even like air.

[Trauma1]

Personally i say let burress and the giants talk all the "confidence" they want. Come sunday night, the giants' are going to experience the same consolation prize that every other team has this year.......a oneway ticket home

[Alexander]

Some teams get a round trip ticket? Naw, I agree, the Giants are gonna get stomped.