| It's tough to top Terrell Owens in anything. On the | | | | Simply put, it wasn't difficult to score on Big Blue |
| field, off the field, in front of the cameras, in front | | | | last season. Just ask the Chargers and Redskins, |
| of a microphone, you name it. T.O. | | | | who combined for 80 points in their wins against |
| demands attention, and, because everybody | | | | New York. |
| seems to love a juicy NFL controversy in this | | | | "I think he's a shot in the arm for the whole |
| age, he usually gets it. | | | | team," Coughlin said of Arrington. "He is a guy |
| The fact that Bill Parcells, Jerry Jones and the | | | | who has great enthusiasm. He enjoys what he is |
| demonstrative Dallas Cowboys were brave | | | | doing. He shares with others his enjoyment. He |
| enough to acquire Owens this offseason only | | | | can be verbal, he can be challenging. I think, as I |
| adds to his allure. America's Team and one of the | | | | said, that you definitely notice he is in the building." |
| most arrogant yet dominant athletes in recent | | | | Coughlin is not alone in the excitement. |
| memory seem to be a perfect fit - at least until | | | | "Nobody is going to be in the right position all the |
| all of the Texas-sized egos take over in Big D. | | | | time on the football field," said Giants linebacker |
| But while some analysts and bettors are busy this | | | | Brandon Short, who played with Arrington at Penn |
| summer pondering whether or not Owens can | | | | State. "But what matters is you make plays. And |
| return the Cowboys to the franchise's glory days, | | | | the guy makes plays." |
| perhaps the most important acquisition in the NFC | | | | Arrington, who battled injuries and had five |
| East is floating along unnoticed. | | | | different coaches - Joe Gibbs, Steve Spurrier, |
| "It was clear to us," Giants general manager Ernie | | | | Marty Schottenheimer, Terry Robiskie and Norv |
| Accorsi said, "that we needed an impact player on | | | | Turner - in Washington, has 398 tackles and 22.5 |
| defense. LaVar Arrington is that." | | | | sacks in six NFL seasons. |
| And then some. | | | | "I'm exciting to watch, lot of energy," Arrington |
| Arrington, a three-time Pro Bowl linebacker who | | | | said. "I'm gonna dive to make a play. Not gonna |
| fell out of favor with the Redskins, could be the | | | | worry about getting hurt because I don't want to |
| final piece to Coach Tom Coughlin's championship | | | | lose my contract. You're going to see all-out, |
| puzzle. | | | | straight aggression. The same aggression people |
| The Giants - who went 11-5 last season and won | | | | would love to take out during the week at their |
| the NFC East only to get thrashed by Carolina, | | | | job that they can't really do." |
| 23-0, in the first round of the playoffs - allowed | | | | That's music to Coughlin's ears, seeing his team |
| too many big plays defensively last season and | | | | was already built to make the postseason, but |
| haven't had a game-changing linebacker since | | | | perhaps not the long haul. And this is an important |
| Lawrence Taylor retired in 1993. | | | | season for the veteran coach, considering his |
| But that all turned last month, when Big Blue | | | | history in the third year of a stop. |
| pounced on Arrington, who gladly signed a | | | | In his third season at Boston College, the Eagles |
| seven-year, $49 million deal to get out of | | | | went 9-3, to a bowl game and finished No. 13 in |
| Washington. | | | | the nation. In his third season in Jacksonville, the |
| "He's going to give you big-play ability," said Giants | | | | Jaguars went 11-5 and landed in the AFC playoffs. |
| linebacker Antonio Pierce, who played with | | | | So, it's clear Coughlin has a history to live up to. |
| Arrington in Washington. "That's what he is. He's | | | | And now he has a little help at linebacker to get |
| like a basketball player that looks for the last shot | | | | him there. |
| of the game. He's looking for that knockout hit." | | | | "Arrington has energized some of the guys in the |
| Which is exactly what the Giants need. New York, | | | | offseason," Coughlin said. "It has become very |
| with Eli Manning - in his second full season as the | | | | competitive, and I look forward to that |
| starter - being supported by Tiki Barber, Plaxico | | | | transcending over to the field." |
| Burress and Jeremy Shockey, should be among | | | | So, too, might some eager bettors on |
| the league leaders on offense. | | | | WagerWeb.com, who might just be interested in |
| But it's clear the Giants need to get stops. They | | | | the Giants winning the NFC. |
| need those elusive three-and-outs, especially in a | | | | And beyond. |
| division where they'll go up against Owens twice. | | | | |