Faith Hilling

South Park hit it out of the park again this week, with the episode Faith Hilling, poking fun at the "Meme" craze. It's been said before ad nauseam, but whenever they spoof something current, it's great.

Meanwhile, The Simpsons will do a show on this subject in 2017, and it will be about "Bavaroing."

QB musical chairs almost over

In non-Giants news, here are some brief thoughts on each significant quarterback move over the past week.

Peyton Manning signs with Denver - The Broncos are instant Super Bowl contenders. And they make a soft landing out of Tebowmania with pretty much the only QB who could make it acceptable to Bronco fans. If Manning is healthy - and we'll certainly find out more definitively over the next few months, beyond the grainy, bigfootesque cell phone video footage of him throwing a couple weeks ago - I see no reason he can't resume being in the elite class of QBs, where his two-time Super Bowl MVP brother Eli resides.

Alex Smith re-signed by San Francisco - After missing on Manning, and after Smith's flirtation with Miami, the 49ers are lucky to have Smith back. Six months ago, who'd have thought that could be said?

Matt Flynn signs with Seattle - He could be the next Matt Hasselbeck, a capable starter for a long time who learned as a Packers' backup. Or, he could be Scott Mitchell, given way too much money based on a couple good games. It was curious that the Dolphins, with his former offensive coordinator Joe Philbin the new head coach there, didn't want him. That might point to Flynn being more Mitchell than Hasselbeck.

Tim Tebow traded to New York Jets - I try to evaluate each move regardless of a team's track record. Otherwise, I'm no different than ESPN talking heads who, when the Patriots acquire a known bum, jerk, and/or has-been like Albert Haynesworth or Chad Ochocinco, fawn all over the move. Whereas if it was any other team, especially the Redskins, those same pundits would have lambasted the move. But because it's the Patriots, who are soooooo much smarter than any other organization, they praise it for being super brilliant and shrewd. Which is fine, because it's even more fun to laugh when the move is a failure. Anyway, I bring this up here because I had to fight my initial urge, which was to say, "Typical post 2006ish Jets, not having a real plan or vision. Still just throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks, and playing fantasy football with big names, like when they brought in Favre, Tomlinson, Holmes, and Mason, and traded up to draft Mark Sanchez." But what I'm saying here is, don't do that. We know Tebow doesn't throw very well, but we don't yet know how the Jets will use him. At most he's competing for the starting QB job, and at least he brings enthusiasm, leadership, and let's face it, Tebowmania.

UPDATE: After the initial posting of this entry, the trade of Tebow to the Jets hit a snag, as apparently the Jets either weren't aware of a $5 million advance they would have to pay on Tebow's salary, or are had second thoughts about it...making this all even more typical post 2006ish Jets.

The harsh reality of free agency

The Giants lost another player to free agency this week, with cornerback Aaron Ross signing with the Jaguars. This after Mario Manningham headed to San Francisco last week, and the likelihood that Brandon Jacobs and Kareem McKenzie won't be back with the team.

It's not all bad, as Terrell Thomas is back, as is Steve Weatherford. But this is the nature of free agency, especially coming off of a championship. Guys are going to get big deals elsewhere, and you can't possibly keep them all. The disappointing part to me, is that the Giants don't get a chance to defend their title as the exact same group. But, of course, that's just not practical in the NFL, and it's understood going in that Super Bowl or not, your team isn't going to be the exact same one the next season.

So, to Ross, Manningham, and the inevitable others who won't be back with Big Blue, I say thank you. You'll always be remembered fondly for what you did as Giants, on such a special 2011 team - and in Ross's case, a special 2007 team as well. And I certainly can't begrudge them their massive free agency paydays.

However, these guys are all replaceable. Jerry Reese proved this last offseason, after Kevin Boss and Steve Smith left, and he'll again find players to step right in this year. For Manningham, it could be Domenik Hixon, Jerrel Jernigan, Ramses Barden, Devin Thomas, or none of the above. For Ross, it will be probably be Terrell Thomas or Prince Amukamara.

On a somewhat related Giants note, after struggling with worries of 5-11 last season, I have learned to never have that fear again. No matter who gets injured, or who leaves in free agency, between now and September. The reason is simple. As long as they have Eli Manning, they always have a chance. So many times during last season, I was thinking either, "Eventually this isn't going to work out," or at the very least, "Do they have to make it so difficult on themselves every time?" But what a joy it was to watch him lead the Giants to the game winning score, every single time they needed it.

NFL Free Agency, and the Peyton Manning chase

The Giants have been predictably quiet in free agency so far, and figure to continue to be. They did sign former Cowboys' TE Martellus Bennett this week, but otherwise it's been a matter of taking care of as many of their own as they have room for.

NJ.com has a nice Giants "Free Agent Tracker," it's nice to see all the info on one page there.

I've been pretty wishy-washy on Peyton Manning - I have no idea where he's going, and while it seems to be narrowed down to Denver and San Francisco right now, at this time last week it was looked like the Redskins, Cardinals, and Dolphins were the candidates. In a couple days, if he's not signed by then, who knows what other team(s) will emerge?

South Park did it

The Simpsons got around to doing an Inception parody in last night's episode. It's funny because the movie came out two years ago, and South Park did an Inception parody a year and a half ago. And in a podcast recorded two weeks ago, at about the four minute mark, I said this...

"They had an episode once, 'Simpsons Did It...' Since that episode, it's become 'South Park did it.' Even to the point where, the Simpsons are doing things South Park did a couple years prior."

(I promise I didn't know this Simpsons episode was coming. And even if you aren't buying that, hey, I've been noticing this for years.)

Anyway, the sad thing for me about last night's episode was, in spite of a strong start, it was the first time in 23 seasons that I completely lost interest in an episode. Sure, there have been plenty of times over the past three or so seasons when I've sat there and said, "Meh, this isn't very good." But I'd keep sitting there watching with undivided attention. Last night, I simply turned my back and starting putzing around on the PC.

Still, I hang on, out of obligation. In spite of being way, way over the TV/radio entertainment time salary cap, I keep a starting roster spot open for the Simpsons, which at this point would be like the Giants keeping Carl Banks at linebacker out of loyalty. And I don't mean Carl Banks when he was past his prime with the Redskins and Browns from 1993-95...I mean Carl Banks, right now.

Note: "Putzing around on the PC" is not a euphemism for viewing pornography.