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Season wrap-up with Amani

Did the NFL statement following the Giants' loss to the 49ers make the players feel better or worse about the loss?

Amani: It made us feel worse. We knew at the end of the game that something was wrong but then when the NFL came out and made that statement, we felt that the whole season had been messed up. I do commend them for admitting the mistake but I feel the whole season was wasted with that admission. There isn't anything they could do to rectify it other than perhaps offer the players some of the playoff money. However, I think we would much rather have had the chance to keep playing. And, of course, the offer of playoff money isn't going to happen. You could also say we should not have blown such a big lead as the one we had at halftime.


Are you aware that you set another franchise record in the playoff game? No Giants' receiver has scored three touchdowns in postseason before.

Amani: No, I didn't know that. A win would have been a lot nicer.


Do you think players started looking ahead to Tampa Bay before the 49ers game was over?

Amani: No, we didn't unravel but were driving in the second half. At the end of the game, we were making our move to win it but we all know how that turned out. We did miss two field goals which would have put us over the top, also. I think we would have matched up better against Tampa Bay than the 49ers did. I think we match up favorably against any team.


Do you have any special plans for the off-season?

Amani: Yes, we're going to the Super Bowl and after that we'll do some traveling unrelated to football. I'll talk about my travels when I return. During the off-season, I'll comment on things that are happening within the organization. I am interested in the draft so I will be talking about that a little in April.


Discuss this season with other fans on the FORUM.

Interview with Amani, December 24, 2002

Congratulations, Amani. Two weeks ago you set one franchise record, last Sunday you set two franchise records. What can you do for an encore?

Amani: Thanks. For an encore I hope to go to the playoffs.


You really deserved to be selected for the Pro Bowl this season.

Amani: Thanks again. I felt like I should have gotten some acknowledgement, at least an alternate or some mention. I was disappointed for a day or two but I got over it quickly. A couple of things really helped me get over it. One was Coach Fassel coming up to me and explaining that you often don’t get selected until the year after you earn it. Then Mr. Mara came up to me and said, “You made my Pro Bowl team!” When an NFL Hall of Famer comes up to you and says something like that, it really means a lot!


Last week both you and Collins had brilliant games.

Amani: Thanks again. When Kerry does well, I do well so I love it when he has a great game. I think he is one of the best throwing quarterbacks in terms of accuracy, decision-making and arm strength. He’s been consistent all year; we just didn’t get enough touchdowns.


Were you aware of the score in the New Orleans-Cincinnati game as your game progressed?

Amani: I didn’t know the score at all until Cincinnati won. Kerry told us in the huddle so that was a nice way to find out.


After Shockey ran over the safety Gibson and the play was over, you walked over to Shockey and said something. What did you tell him?

Amani: I said, “That was disgusting!” I kept saying it over and over again; even in the huddle I said it again. “That was disgusting!”


Looking forward to Saturday, what would you say are the keys to a Giants’ victory?

Amani: Winning the turnover battle is going to be huge. Everything else on our offense is going pretty well. We have to eliminate mistakes and not give them a short field. If they’re going to score make them drive the whole field and make them execute a long drive. Our punting and kicking game is going to be critical.  Our cornerback situation is good. When you have a guy like Sehorn backing up, you’re in good shape. In our Super Bowl year, I think he had five or six interceptions. 

Interview with AMANI: Dec. 31, 2002

Congratulations on reaching the playoffs. In the worst moments of this season, did you ever doubt that you would reach the playoffs?

Amani: Thank you. The whole team is excited and happy. I always did believe that we were going to go to the playoffs. About midway through the season, I even gave some reporter a tongue-in-cheek guarantee that we would go. I saw that reporter today and reminded him saying, ‘See, I told you we were going to the playoffs.’ I think he had forgotten about that so I had to remind him.


Did you really believe? Even after the loss to Houston, when you were kicking garbage cans around the locker room?

Amani: I thought we could regroup even then but I believed we took a giant step backwards with that game. That’s the reason I was so frustrated.


You only had two catches in the Eagles’ game and Kerry seldom went long. You’ve had good success against the Eagles cornerbacks in the past. Was that the game plan or just the way the game evolved?

Amani: It’s just how things worked out. There were plays where I was open but I guess one of the other check-down routes opened up more quickly. Shockey was hot so that’s the way you have to go.


You made an amazing play on a deflected pass to bat the ball to the ground. How did you get into position to make that play surrounded by three defenders?

Amani: Well, I saw the ball up in the air and at first I thought maybe I could catch it. Then I realized the three defenders were all in better position so I decided to jump up and just try to knock it down without running into them. I jumped early so that I would be coming down immediately after I hit the ball and would get my feet close to the ground quickly. That way I wouldn’t be taking too much of a shot.


There were two questionable holding calls that negated your touchdown and the Stackhouse touchdown. When the team reviews the game film, is there much discussion of calls like these?

Amani: No, not really. We just move on. It would have been more of an issue if we hadn’t pulled it out and won the game. The way it worked out, we didn’t think about it much later.


You made a great block opening up Tiki’s run which in turn set up Shockey’s touchdown. You blocked one defender so that he effectively took out another defender. How did you do that?

Amani: Well, I was just following blocking rules. Often when you go inside to block a safety you don’t get there in time but I just kept going, trying to make contact, trying to do something. It was just one of those things where all the stars were in alignment. I got the opportunity to hit him and I took it.


This is New Year’s Eve. Are you going out to celebrate?

Amani: No, I went out last night. My wife and I took her sister and our brother-in-law out. It was relaxing but tomorrow we have to get to work. We’ll have a regular practice New Year’s Day and on Friday will fly out to San Francisco.

Interview with Amani, December 17, 2002

Congratulations on setting the Giants' franchise record with four consecutive seasons of over 1000 yards receiving.

AMANI: Thank you. It was exciting because you become part of Giants' history when you break a record. It's a team with about 80 years of long, proud history and it's thrilling to be a part of it.

The franchise record for yards received in a single season was set by Homer Jones thirty-five years ago. You have a chance to break that record this season. Is that a goal?

AMANI: I'm aware of that record but I'm not focusing on it at all. I feel that if it's meant to be, it will happen.

Last Sunday, against Dallas, you made an exceptional catch on the touchdown that was called back. The referees said you were down on contact although there didn't appear to be any contact after the catch. How do you view that call?

AMANI: It's tough to comment on the officiating because the refs have a very tough job. In this case though, I think they just blew a call. After all, they're just human like anybody else. I expect that if you asked them about the call right now, they would say they made a mistake.

It appeared that you were being interfered with on nearly every play. Has that become routine for you?

AMANI: Yes, it has. It's kind of funny because two weeks ago I was called for offensive pass interference. Before that call, the cornerback ripped my jersey off and the next time I ran a route he tackled me and he never got a flag. Then, in the fourth quarter, I got called for pushing off just for raising my hands. How was I supposed to react to him? He never got a flag, he wasn't playing by the rules and was interfering with my getting my job done. I know the refs are doing the best job they can but sometimes a little hand-check here and there can throw a whole route off.

This season there seem to have been a lot of very picky offensive pass interference calls and it appears to have become an area the refs are emphasizing. What's your take?

AMANI: Well, all I can do is play my game. I get called a lot because in the past I have been flagged so I guess I'm one of the guys that they look out for. I have a physical style of play. I also believe that there is an emphasis on watching out for offensive pass interference this year. I don't know why that's so. It wasn't mentioned to me at training camp but it definitely is an area of emphasis based on the amount of offensive pass interferences calls there have been this year.

Your position coach, Jimmy Robinson, said that the second Washington game might have been your best game as a pro. Coach Fassel has also singled you out for praise a number of times this season, saying that you are playing your best ball. Is that also your opinion and, if so, to what do you attribute your improved play?

AMANI: I feel like things are going my way because I made the decision that everything I was going to do in football would be because I wanted to do it. My experiences working out in the off-season and my experiences traveling around the world have all enabled me to concentrate better on what I'm doing and to better appreciate the country we live in.

Last Sunday, you were running an out around the five or ten yard line when you made a cut and slipped. I could see large divots of grass and mud coming up. Given the condition of the field, are there any areas that the coaches try to avoid in their game planning?

AMANI: No, the game plan is already so complicated that we can't also game plan for the condition of the field. I don't think the coaches knew just how bad that area of the field was. It's pretty much on the receiver to stay on his feet. Theoretically, we should be able to adjust to those things.

December 12, 2002, Interview of Amani

How would you access your performance last Sunday? Coach Fassel and your position coach, Jimmy Robinson, felt you played an excellent game.

AMANI: I thought my performance was OK but I didn't finish the game as well as I would have liked.


Did this win give you some momentum going forward?

AMANI: I think we have to approach this one game at a time rather than worry about momentum.


How do you feel about the performance of the cornerbacks?

AMANI: They did a good job. Ralph Brown was at training camp but Jason Sehorn missed practicing at camp because he was still rehabilitating his knee. Kato Serwanga was just picked up from the Redskins. So they kind of got thrown in there and they performed well.

Who will you face on Sunday and how do you feel you matchup against him?

AMANI: Probably Mario Edwards. He's just been starting since last year, I think. I've had some success against him.

Statement from AMANI:, 12/11/2002

Statement from AMANI:I thought that the defense played a terrific game against Washington Sunday. Despite all the injuries and substitutions, everyone stepped up and played smart and hard. If I had a game ball to give, it would go to the defense.

Of course, I'm still hopeful that we will get into the playoffs. With three games left to play, there will still be some surprises. Some team that looks doubtful right now may yet get in and some team that looks solid now could run into a rash of injuries which will change the whole equation.

Whether we go to the playoffs or not, we have to continue to play hard. I get paid to win games and I will do my best even if we should be eliminated at some point. Our fans still come out and watch so how can any of us do anything less than our best?

Interview with Amani, 12/03/2002

I'm sure you're really disappointed in the way the season is working out.

AMANI: I am disappointed in how the season has gone for us. As I've said before there is a lot of talent on the team but we beat ourselves with mistakes and penalties. I think the offense should be able to put more points on the board to take some of the pressure off the defense.

Last week there were a number of picky penalties called that seemed unwarranted.What was your take on the offensive pass interference call you drew in overtime?

AMANI: On the play before I ran an out route and I totally left the cornerback. He was still running backwards. The play in question, I ran the same route and my hands got extended, but not to the point that I was pushing him, certainly not to the point to warrant a call.There were numerous times during the game where I was pulled down by my shirt and another time when I was coming out of my break, the guy ripped my shirt out of my shoulder pads and they didn't call any of that.

On the face mask penalty on the corner covering me, I thought I was going to make that play but as soon as he grabbed the mask and twisted my head, I slowed down to get my head back straight so I wouldn't get injured. But here were a lot of penalties that weren't called. It was kind of a crapshoot, but I guess that's the name of the game

A week ago, Bill Maas was referring to how well you have been able to play despite the depleted receiver corps. He said that you were really answering the bell. He then went on to say that you were really stepping up and getting separation on tight press coverage.

AMANI: That's very nice but as I've said before, I'd rather have a win than the kind words.

Statement from AMANI: 11/27/2002

I’ve been told that I received a lot of favorable comments about my play in the Houston-Giants game last Sunday. And, while I appreciate the kind words, I would much rather have had a win.

I feel that we are the ones beating ourselves, with all the mistakes and penalties, and that has to end in order for us to succeed. Now, we’ve backed ourselves into a corner and need to run the table and win our remaining games.

Do I think we can? Yes. Do I think we will? Again, the answer is yes but we must all work together and bring our best game out onto the field.

Interview with AMANI:11/19/02

Last week you said you weren’t running any of Ike Hilliard’s routes. Now, with the additional injury to Ron Dixon, has that changed?

AMANI: Yes, I am doing a lot of different things and running some of Ike’s underneath routes.
When I first came into the league, I was playing behind Ike so I did more of that kind of thing. It’s exciting for me to be doing some new things; it’s keeping everything fresh and fun. Against Washington, the timing was a little different because I had to run some of the underneath routes and everything moves more quickly in there. But I think I got the hang of it and everything worked out pretty well.

Will Herman Moore be ready to play this week?

AMANI: Yes, I think he will. Being an eleven year vet, it doesn’t take him long to pick up an offense. Having one more person out there will help our team There are a lot of things that other teams will have to deal with now, especially with Shockey coming around the way he is.

During Sunday’s game, you supposedly told both Coach Fassel and Kerry that you were getting open on a pattern but you weren’t early in the progression. Is that being reported correctly?

AMANI: I didn’t say it like that. I just said, “I don’t want to go into your reads or anything, Kerry, but when we ran that play before, I was open both times. You might just want to give me a look.” Normally, Kerry has between three and four reads on each play and I wasn’t one of those reads in this case. I was kind of the decoy.

You made a beautiful save on that deflected pass to Dorris. How did you come to be in position?

AMANI: Thanks. I was just trying to run to the ball in case anything happened with the game being so close. It seemed like it hung up in the air for a long time and I began to think, “Maybe I can get this” And then all of a sudden it was, “I can get this!” and there it was.


Last week the play-by-play announcer referred to you as one of the great NFL receivers. He pointed out how you were able to get separation on very good, tight coverage by Champ Bailey.

AMANI: Well that’s nice. It was a tough job out there, I can tell you that! Bailey is definitely a good corner but I was having some success against him. The next matchup will be a personal battle between me and him We both really respect each other as players so it’s one of those things where it’s a good, healthy competition.


Have you talked with Tim Carter since his injury?

AMANI: Yes, I talked with him yesterday as a matter of fact. Even though both of our rookie seasons ended abruptly, my injury was more of a standard injury and isn’t a big deal anymore. With a torn Achilles tendon like Tim’s, they don’t know how it’s going to turn out. He slipped and, as soon as I saw him on the ground, I knew it was something pretty bad. He just didn’t grab it like it was an ankle injury or something like that. But, knowing Tim, I believe he’ll work hard so that it doesn’t have any long-term consequences. I definitely plan to talk with him again.


Do you still watch the Michigan games?

AMANI: Oh, yes, I still watch them. Next weekend we have Ohio State coming up and that’s a big rivalry for us. Over the last couple of years, we beat Ohio State frequently but last year they got a new coach. Now it’s a whole new ball game. We ran the former coach out of Ohio State. They let him go because he couldn’t beat us. Now they have a new coach and he beat us for the first time in a long time last year, in his first ever matchup. Now we want to start the winning trend all over again.

Interview with AMANI, 11/11/02

You have guaranteed that the Giants will go to the playoffs. How did that come about?

AMANI: I did guarantee that we’ll go to the playoffs but it happened in a rather round-about way. I was asked if I thought we were a playoff team and I said yes. I definitely think we are! We have a lot of talent and just need to stop making so many mistakes and creating so many penalties. This season it’s been a case of us beating ourselves. So I guaranteed the playoffs, why not?


With the loss of Hilliard and Carter for the season and the injury to Dixon, the Giants are getting pretty thin at WR, aren’t they?

AMANI: Yes, we are a little. But we do still have wide receiver Taman Bryant on the practice squad and Sean Bennett was recently switched from running back to wide receiver. I think we’ll be OK


Are you running any additional or different routes now with the losses at WR?

AMANI: No, I haven’t been. Ron Dixon took over Hilliard’s routes. I’m still running the same routes as before all the injuries


Last week you participated in Football 201. Can you tell me about your role in it?

AMANI: It was a class for women to get them involved in football and to teach them some football skills. It was clear right from the start of the class that the women already knew a lot and that made it more fun. I showed them how to run a couple of routes and then I demonstrated how to catch and carry the ball correctly. It was a lot of fun.

11/4/02
From "Giants Bag Jags", by Ken Palmer

"We came out with a desire to win today and played tough," Toomer said. "We had our backs up against a wall all year, but the difference tonight was that we really executed and made big plays when we needed to. We went out there and picked up the pace on offense, which is what Coach Fassel wanted us to do. It really helped us move the ball."

October 29, 2002
Amani’s comments following Philadelphia game.

I haven’t talked with anyone about the Eagles game but I know I’ll be hearing a lot about it on Wednesday.

After the game we just took the bus back to New York. Everyone was pretty upset and quiet and today (Tuesday) was our day off.

I feel like we just didn’t compete and that was the most frustrating part of the whole thing. Coach Fassel turned part of last Saturday’s practice over to Collins, Strahan and Barrow and they coached the remainder of the practice. However, I can’t say the result of trying that was a good one because we just didn’t play well at all.

We’ll look at film of the game tomorrow and on Wednesday we’ll start preparing for the game against Jacksonville on Sunday. The only game I’ve seen of Jacksonville was when they played the Eagles so I’ll have more to say about them after I’ve watched some film and done my homework.

October 23, 2002
Amani

The three day weekend Coach Fassel gave us seemed like a good opportunity to get out of town and visit my brother. On Sunday, we watched the Tampa Bay-Eagles game at his house.
I was impressed by the fact that the Eagles are a team that doesn’t beat itself. You can’t afford to make any mistakes because they take advantage of every opportunity.
We are going to have to cut down on the turnovers because I think the turnover battle is going to be very important in this game. We also will have to make some big plays of our own. In addition, we’re going to have to handle the pressure on defense.

The Eagles always throw a lot of blitzes at you, that’s their MO .They’ll try to get the quarterback confused and rattled and hit him a lot. I think Kerry makes such good decisions that

it will be hard for the Eagles to get to him. He doesn’t actually get hit a lot. Kerry knows the progressions so well that, as soon as the Eagles go somewhere, he knows exactly where to throw the ball.

You have to do a lot of film study so you can recognize when they are actually going to blitz, as opposed to when they’re just trying to make you think they will. If you look at enough film, teams sometimes will tip off when they’ll actually blitz and when they won’t.

Although one team has swept the series for the last eleven years, I don’t think that’s important or that we need to worry about whether history will repeat itself. I remember something that Coach Fassel said when he joined the Giants.
He said, “We need fewer historians and more pioneers.”

October 15, 2002
Interview of Amani

Q: I know you and the other players were disappointed with the loss to Atlanta. Do you feel that it was a series of events on offense or one particular play on which the loss pivoted?

AMANI: It was both disappointing and frustrating. We have so much going for us but there are little things that we haven’t fine-tuned yet and that’s holding this team back. I know we’re still in the middle of the pack but I feel we could have been leading the pack.
I think it was a series of events that led to the loss. You can’t really pinpoint one area. There are some plays that the fans and media may see as pivotal but they often aren’t really as important as the plays that no one ever notices; such as, a missed block or something like that.


Q: You didn’t get many balls thrown your way. Was that because of the coverages you were seeing or for some other reason?

AMANI: I don’t know. Every week I figure I will get between five or six touches. Some weeks it will be more and other weeks less. I guess this was one of the weeks with less. On some plays I was open and the ball just didn’t come my way. Maybe someone else was more open.


Q: Are you planning to do anything special during the bye week?

AMANI: You know I was thinking of going away for a few days but haven’t really made up my mind yet. I need to think about it for another hour or two. I thought it would be good to get away from it all and do something different to clear my mind of football for a couple of days. The season is long and you can get worn out by the fifteenth or sixteenth week. I don’t want to look back and wish I had done something different.


Q: Tell me about Hometown Huddle and your involvement in it.

AMANI: Basically, it’s the NFL teams giving back to the community. Each team has a Hometown Huddle and it’s a day-long event. We give equipment and money to parks so kids can go out and play. It’s an especially good idea in New York City because it really is a concrete jungle. There aren’t many places with grass where kids can play. I participated in it one day last week and it was a lot of fun. The kids were great.



October 8, 2002
Interview with Amani:

Question: Do you feel the new, simplified offense contributed to the win Sunday against Dallas?

AMANI: I don’t know what it was but I do know that everybody was on the same page Sunday.
It helped everybody in terms of their assignments. We really executed our assignments better than we have all season.
I don’t think our receiving corps had a problem with the offense the way it was but it might help us out because it just doesn’t take as long for us to study at night. I don’t think it made a huge difference with us but it might have with some other positions.
The changes weren’t as big or drastic as people are making them out to be. If you really weren’t paying a lot of attention (to the new offense) and just studied your playbook, you wouldn’t notice it. Practice was just a little quicker in the installation because there were fewer plays.

Question: What is your opinion of the new field at Dallas?

AMANI: Anytime you play on a new surface there are going to be problems. I thought it was a little on the soft side and a little too springy but I can deal with that. The first play of the game I went face first into the turf but after that it was no problem at all.
There are pieces of rubber between the fake blades of grass and it feels and looks almost like grass. Some adjustments are needed but I think they will work it out. I like that turf a lot better than the old turf they had at Dallas.

Question: Referring to his long reception, after the game Dan Campbell said, “I couldn’t believe it when I turned around and nobody was there. It was great. Amani cleared the guy out and there was nothing over there.”
What happened on that play?

AMANI: On that play I saw a blitz so I made an adjustment and ran an inside route and the guy over me went inside with me and the safety went inside as well. Dan was running kind of an outside shallow cross and they were all looking at me and he caught it. I made a mistake that made the play a lot better than it might have been otherwise.

October 1, 2002
Interview with Amani:

Q: How has the addition of Shockey to the offense changed the coverages you see?

Amani: In the first few games there was a change in the coverage and I was getting double teamed less frequently. However, in the last game (against Arizona) the coverage was about the same as in prior years. .


Q: You’re an effective blocker. Have you studied blocking technique or is it something that has evolved over the years?

Amani: Michigan receivers prided themselves on being good blockers. At the end of each season while I was at Michigan, the coaches made a summery tape of our best catches and blocks. So, I brought that background to the NFL.
What I think is the most important aspect of blocking for a wide receiver is effort. You have to really concentrate and put forth your best effort. It’s not the technique but the effort.

September 29, 2002
Post game locker room interview with Amani:

Q: After the first score, it looked like it was going to be a good offensive day.

Amani: I thought it was, too, but they (Arizona) made some adjustments and they played well.

Q: Do you think the air went out of the balloon just before the half with the defensive touchdown?

Amani: Not really. It was 7-7; it was just like a new game. We came out the second half and they scored 24 and we didn’t score anything and basically that’s why we lost the game..

Q: How do you explain the turnovers, the penalties, the sloppy play?

Amani: We just played sloppy. It’s a tough place to play with the weather and coming out here from New York. I’m not making any excuses. We came out and didn’t do what we had to do and that’s our job. We’ll just go back to the drawing board next week. We’ve got a lot of games left.

NOTE: Amani caught four passes to keep his streak alive, with 55 consecutive games (in which he’s played) with at least one reception.

Comments by Amani September 24, 2002

The first three games (against the 49ers, Rams and Seattle) have established a good foundation for the team. We were excited about beating the Rams and, of course, Seattle. My confidence, and the confidence of the team, is very high. But it’s a long season and there are still a lot of games to play before the playoffs. It’s important for us to keep improving and to maintain our focus. If we do keep improving, the offensive problems we have had in the red zone and in short yardage situations will take care of themselves.

I’m often asked why I’m off to such a good start this year and if the weight I lost had anything to do with it. I don’t really think so. I think the big difference is that I’m not thinking on every play but just reacting. In prior years, I used to try and hit a mark or goal each season and I’m not worrying about that anymore.
Basically, I’m reacting more and thinking less.
Amani

Travels with Amani
by Gail Bahr\

It was to be a simple sightseeing trip for Amani Toomer and his then fiancée Yola Drabowski as neither had traveled outside the United States before last spring. They wanted to see Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower and of course the Louvre. However, in the process of making all the usual tourist stops, Amani decided he would like to see Brazil as well.

He visited the barrios of Rio and walked the harsh streets, where life is brutal and brief.
He went into the jungle and watched natives try to wrest a life from the earth and the turbulent waters of the Amazon.

And this wealthy young man, born to educated parents and a comfortable life, who left home a tourist, returned home a citizen of the world.

He developed a deeper appreciation of the quality of his life as a citizen of the United States.

He became aware of the waste that is our everyday life when he saw people exist and even thrive on a small portion of the food he consumed each day. And he resolved to eat what he needed, to waste little and to more fully appreciate the bounty that had been given him.

Perhaps another young man, similarly favored by nature and background, would not have been so affected.

As a child growing up in Berkeley, Amani was sent to the Montessori School. On Friday afternoons in addition to his regular school activities, Amani went on field trips, where he learned about endangered species and the fragility of the rainforests. Why? Because his parents felt that the Montessori School could teach Amani to understand both that he had a place in the world and that his place was not at it’s epicenter. Perhaps it is this background that enabled Amani to see more deeply than a tourist and to feel more deeply than a sightseer.

Returning home Amani resolved to apply what he had seen and learned to his daily life and found himself happier, more compassionate and more capable of appreciating life’s lessons.

He kept his resolve to consume only what he needed and lost fifteen pounds in the process. In the pre-season of 2002 coaches and media alike noticed that Amani was leaner, quicker, sharper in and out of breaks and seemed more focused.

It was also in the 2002 season that Amani truly emerged as one of the elite receivers in the NFL.

Coincidence or confluence?

Gail Bahr
Inside Football

As a final ironic note to the Giants' tumultuous season, on Monday the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers were informed by the NFL that a defensive pass interference penalty should have been called on the final play of their game.

What happened:
Prior to the start of the game, Giants' guard Rich Seubert(69)was reported to the officiating crew as an eligible receiver on field-goal attempts. On what was the last play of the game, Giants'Tam Hopkins(65)was illegally downfield and three penalty flags were thrown. 49ers defensive end Chike Okeafor interfered with Seubert downfield but defensive pass-interference was not called. Had the proper call been made, the result would have been offsetting penalties.The Giants would then have been given an additional untimed down at the San Francisco 23-yard line.

With one more opportunity, would the Giants have prevailed? That will never be known. What is known is that they were denied the opportunity to compete.

Post Season Stats

As he has done so often this season, Amani finished the season setting a franchise postseason record with three touchdowns and 18 points. He tied an NFL postseason record with the three touchdown receptions. Amani caught eight passes for 136 yards, the third highest total by a Giant in the postseason.
It was the second time in three games that Amani scored three touchdowns and Collins' 46-yard pass to Amani in the third quarter is one of the four longest in franchise postseason history.

So It’s Over
by Gail Bahr
Inside Football

It’s the day “after” and the memory of how it ended still rankles.

But remember, it was the season that was never meant to be. No one whispered Giants and “destiny’s team” in the same breath. This was to be a rebuilding year.

No one ever thought that the Giants could possibly reach the playoffs. Most predicted them to finish third or last in their division. Four and twelve was possible. If they overachieved, an eight and eight season would be an achievement.

An untried offensive line consisted of three free agents, backed up by more free agents.

Although the receiving corps was the deepest in years, one by one they were lost to injury, leaving Amani Toomer as the only experienced receiver on the team. Surely, defenses could find a way to stop one, solitary receiver.

There was, of course, the half-wild rookie Jeremy Shockey and the ever-dependable Tiki Barber but certainly one receiver, one running back and one rookie couldn’t do the job offensively. A quarterback must have more weapons than that.

To add to the gloom, the defense suffered a huge loss when Keith Hamilton was lost for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Then, injuries at the cornerback position temporarily weakened the defense further.

What no one considered was that those who remained, would step up.

And step up big.

Quarterback Kerry Collins had his best year as a New York Giant, setting single season records for completions and passing yards and was named the NFC’s Offensive MVP for the month of December.

The electrifying rookie, Shockey, was selected twice as Offensive Rookie of the Week and to the Pro Bowl in his first NFL season.

Tiki Barber rushed for his most productive season and was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate.

Amani Toomer, snubbed in Pro Bowl balloting, broke franchise records on a nearly weekly basis and finished the season second in the NFC and third in the NFL in yards received in a single season.

Who ever thought free agent Delvin Joyce would make the team, let alone solve the Giants’ punt and kick return dilemma?

Forget his last gaffe, who thought Omar Stoutmire, a safety who had bounced from team to team, could be so effective?

Who thought a bunch of no-name linemen could block well enough to give Collins his best season?

Who thought Amani Toomer could be so effective facing double and triple coverage?

The answer is nobody but the players themselves.

So, they went out in the first playoff game but the odds were stacked against the Giants right from the start.

They went further and achieved more than anyone believed possible and finished their season with reason to hope for a better outcome next year.


From Giants.com, January 6, 2002

The epic collapse overshadowed some brilliant individual performances. Collins completed 29 of 43 passes for 342 yards and four first-half touchdowns. Toomer had eight receptions for 136 yards and three of those scores. Tiki Barber rushed for 115 yards on 26 carries and scored a touchdown. Jeremy Shockey caught seven passes and a touchdown...........Collins touchdown passes to Toomer in the first period and Shockey in the second gave the Giants a 14-7 lead. Toomer's touchdown, a 12-yard, capped a well-executed 11-play, 65-yard drive....... The Giants led, 28-14, at the end of a first half in which Collins three four touchdown passes, including three to Toomer, plus one to Shockey. The Giants scored two touchdowns in the final 2:49 of the half to take the lead. Toomer's final touchdown, a 24-yard reception with just 10 seconds left in the half, capped a five-play, 56-yard drive that was set up by Jason Sehorn's interception, the second score in about 2 minutes following a Giants takeaway. On second-and-10 from the 24, Collins fired a pass to Toomer in the back left corner of the end zone. Toomer caught the ball while falling on his back..........The Giants premier wide receiver had scored just 2:39 earlier, on an eight-yard pass from Collins.........."It's tough," Toomer said. "It's a tough situation. They just finished the game like champions. And we didn't"

From Inside Football, January 6, 2002

Toomer is another guy who can't be covered man-to-man. As discussed back in the preseason, the presence of Jeremy Shockey means that often Toomer will get his share of single coverage. He made the most of this, as on the Giants second touchdown, he had his way with Ahmed Plummer. He is so fluid in his routes and playing with lots of confidence. After a muff on the punt, the Giants went right to work from the 49ers' eight-yard line. Again, man-to-man coverage on Toomer was no match for the Bay area native, as he easily beat Plummer on a quick out for a catch and a touchdown. Midway in the third quarter faced with a third and five at midfield, the again went deep on the 49ers, with Toomer going deep down the sideline on a flag route. He got by the corner first and then the safety to come up with the 45-yard reception to the five yard line...

Toomer Returns Home for Wild Weekend Bay Area native ready for NFC playoff in hometown.
By Michael Eisen, Giants.com, January 3, 2003

East Rutherford, N.J. - The Giants have made infrequent visits to Candlestick Park in recent years, but when they visit the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC Wild Card game tomorrow, Amani Toomer will feel right at home.

"I was a huge 49ers fan. I had a cousin on the team, they were the home team, they were a dynasty. I'd get to walk through the locker room every once in a while. They were very good when I was growing up."
- WR Amani Toomer

The Giants outstanding split end grew up in the Bay Area, and the 49ers were his team. They had Jerry Rice, the world's greatest receiver, whom Toomer loved to emulate. They had his cousin, Steve Wallace, playing tackle and providing tickets and locker room tours. And when Toomer was growing up, they had success. Lots and lots of success.

"I went to a lot of games," Toomer said this week. "I was a huge 49ers fan. I had a cousin on the team, they were the home team, they were a dynasty. I'd get to walk through the locker room every once in a while. They were very good when I was growing up. Jerry Rice was in his first prime."

Toomer has played just twice in the Bay Area as a professional, when the Giants visited both Oakland and San Francisco in 1998. He did not catch a pass against the Raiders, and just two - for 14 yards - two months later against the 49ers.

At that point in his career, Toomer was a part-time pro who had accomplished little except to frustrate and annoy head coaches Dan Reeves and Jim Fassel. When he returns this week, it is as arguably the best receiver in Giants history.


Toomer this year set team records with 82 catches and 1,343 yards. He scored a career-high eight touchdowns. Toomer has led the team in receiving and yards in each of the last four seasons. His 355 career catches are the most by a player who played exclusively wide receiver for the Giants and is 40 receptions behind Frank Gifford, who is No. 1 overall. That's about a half-season's work for Toomer.

"It means a lot to be ranked up there," Toomer said. "The Giants are an old franchise, with a lot of history. A lot of great players have played for the Giants. To be thought of at that level is a great honor."

Toomer's record-setting production this season is even more remarkable considering he has been the Giants only reliable receiver for most of the season. The Giants second, third and fourth receivers - Ike Hilliard, Ron Dixon and Tim Carter - have been sidelined most of the season with injuries. Their absence has made it tougher on Toomer, but he has thrived.

"I think the added pressure has given me more opportunities to do different things, because of them not being here," Toomer said. "I've had a lot of fun in trying to pick up the slack. I've really enjoyed this season because of the different things I've gotten to do as a receiver. I've kind of expanded my game. I usually just play the outside, but now I'm playing the inside. I'm doing stuff in the slot, so it's a lot more fun."

Toomer has never been selected to the Pro Bowl, a slight he was hoping to erase this season. However, he was overlooked again, a snub he admitted hurt, albeit briefly.

"I thought I had a chance," he said. "To not even be an alternate … I was kind of disappointed. Kind of upset. I talked to my wife, my family. They consoled me. It stayed with me for like a day. But you've got to move on."

He did just that, in extraordinary fashion. Three days after the Pro Bowl teams were announced, Toomer went out and torched the Indianapolis Colts for 10 catches for 204 yards and three touchdowns. He was the first Giants wide receiver to catch at least 10 passes in a game since Del Shofner in 1962. The 204 yards were the third-highest total in team history and the three scores were a career-high.

"Amani played great this season," quarterback Kerry Collins said. "He really stepped up his game. Obviously I'm biased, but I thought he should've made the Pro Bowl."

Such plaudits directed at Toomer would have sounded preposterous early in his career. A second-round draft choice from Michigan, he caught just one pass as a rookie in 1996 before a knee injury ended his season after seven games. Fassel replaced Reeves the following year and was quickly unimpressed by Toomer. The coach didn't like his work ethic, questioned his attitude and considered cutting him.

The best moves are sometimes the ones you don't make. Toomer began to break out in 1998 with 27 receptions and the game-winning touchdown against a 13-0 Denver Broncos team that would win the Super Bowl six weeks later. Since 1999, he has been the Giants leading receiver. By the time he retires, he could be recognized as one of the greatest players in franchise history.

Fassel is understandably happy he stuck with Toomer.

"When I saw him really early in his career it wasn't easy to have patience with him," the coach said. "We weren't getting lined up right, we weren't doing some things and he was testing my patience. But I think he made a difference after the first year when he came back and he did some things on his own that helped him. I think that is a part of that. We can do the work, we can push him, but at some point in time that player needs to realize himself what he needs to do and I think that he did that. I guess what I have always told you about every player that I have ever had a problem with in the beginning is that if they'll show me the attitude and the work ethic that they want to and they are not putting blame on somebody else then I am working with him.

"There are miles between where he was in '97 and where he is today. My feelings on Amani are that I am very proud of him because when he came in here I was probably as hard on him as on any player on this football team. I can vividly remember getting ready for a playoff game, which puts us toward the end of the season, and we were in a very basic, easy formation and in a very basic and rudimentary route for him and he can't get lined up correctly and I went off on him. In practice I kicked him off of the field and told him to go to the sideline, a couple guys went off on him because we were in a playoff hunt. It is to the point now where he is on top of everything. He can adjust, talk in the game, make the adjustments and all of that. The thing I am proud of is that he did it. He did it himself. I could be on him, pat him on the back, put my arm around him and kick him in the rear. I have done that to players and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Amani Toomer went about it himself. I thought that something was wrong and we checked him because he couldn't run through a whole practice. We were running gassers and the slowest tight end could beat him by 20 yards. I was concerned about him and had him tested and everything to see what was wrong. But he went about it that year and did things in the off-season and put it on himself. I remember talking to him about it. He took the responsibility. That is the reason he is playing the way he is. There is no other reason. He took the responsibility, said he wanted to be a good player, and he went about it."

Just as Fassel is quick to credit Toomer, the receiver is thankful the coach didn't give up on him.

"I think with coach Fassel, what I was putting on the field as a young player wasn't what he expected," Toomer said. "But I always felt I could do it. I always had this belief in myself that I could produce for this team. I just thought it was a matter of time.

"In this business, time isn't something you always get. I'm just happy the organization stayed with me and gave me the opportunity to develop into the player that I've become."

And can still grow into. Toomer believes he still hasn't hit his prime. He will be only 29 when the 2003 season begins and he plans on being in a Giants uniform for a long time.

"I don't think I've hit it (his prime) yet," he said. "I think there is a lot more that I can do. I feel like I keep getting better every year. I think this year I played more consistently than I have in the past, in terms of producing every game. I think I caught the ball better this year. But I can play better."

Tomorrow, he'll return to Candlestick with a chance to show the folks at home the great player he's become.

Thursday, January 2, 2003 (SF Chronicle)
Amani Toomer's circular route/After a slow start in the NFL, the former De La Salle star is back atop his game
Brian Murphy, Chronicle Staff Writer

Click here for the article

From BBI, January 2, 2003

Wide Receivers: Not a huge factor this week though Amani Toomer (2 catches for 57 yards) got screwed when the officials took his 43-yard touchdown reception off of the board. Amani’s other two questions (receptions)were impressive: a 33-yard reception on a deep pass down the left sideline against double coverage and a leaping catch of a high Collins’ pass on 3rd-and-7. Not only did he come down with the ball, but Amani ran for additional yardage after the play en route to a 24-yard gain.

Both (Daryl) Jones and Toomer did a good job in the run blocking department. Jones got a great block on Tiki’s 22-yard gain in the 1st quarter around right end and Toomer got a nice inside block on the safety on a Tiki run up the middle on the game-tying touchdown drive. Toomer did a great job of knocking down a tipped Collins’ pass that looked like an easy interception.

From Inside Football, December 30, 2002

Although he only had two catches for 57 yards this week, it was still a solid outing........ On one play, Toomer made a big catch over Taylor in the end zone, but a questionable holding call sent this one back.......Not having a second receiver all season has presented a challenge at times, but somehow he overcomes it. In the upcoming playoff battles don't be surprised if the opposition puts their best defender on Toomer man-to -man and sends the safety over to provide the deep help.

The Eagles Have Landed
by Gail Bahr
(Inside Football)

The Giants’ final and most important game of the regular season went as predicted, scratching and clawing into overtime and the playoffs.

In a season marked by inconstancy and injury one constant has remained, the play of wide receiver Amani Toomer.

As the only experienced receiver on the team for much of the season, Toomer did everything asked of him. And then he did more.

In the final game, against the Philadelphia Eagles, Amani only had two passes thrown to him in the first quarter. Only two passes but for a gain of 57 yards.

In an amazing play in the third quarter, Collins threw a pass, which was deflected. It fluttered down like a punt with three Eagles in position to make the play. But Amani flashed into the scene, leaping into the air and spiking the ball harmlessly to the ground, preventing an almost certain interception.

During the fourth quarter, Collins threw a perfect strike to Amani in the end zone, which was called back by a phantom holding call.

With approximately eight minutes remaining in regulation play Amani threw a key block, setting up a run by Tiki Barber, which lead directly to the Giants’ only touchdown of the game.

One receiver could not a season make but Amani Toomer came very close

From Giants.com by Michael Eisen, December 27, 2002

"The NFL sets up the schedule real well," said split end Amani Toomer, who has set team records with 80 receptions for 1,286 yards. "They knew it was going to come to us and Philadelphia, and it was going to mean something at the end of the year. The schedule-makers knew what they were doing."

From Giants.com by Michael Eisen, December 27, 2002

"The NFL sets up the schedule real well," said split end Amani Toomer, who has set team records with 80 receptions for 1,286 yards. "They knew it was going to come to us and Philadelphia, and it was going to mean something at the end of the year. The schedule-makers knew what they were doing."

From BBI, December 26, 2002

Talk about All-Pro efforts. WR Amani Toomer, who apparently is the only healthy viable receiver on the roster and the focus of constant attention by opposing defenses, came up with an incredible 10 catch, 204 yard, 3 touchdown performance..... Rather than sulk because he didn’t make the Pro Bowl, Amani made a statement. When he is double-covered, he is still making catches and when he is singled-covered, he’s toying with lesser corners now. He completely turned around the corners on his last two touchdown receptions.

Stats, December 26, 2002

Amani is second in the NFC (4 yards behind first place) and third in the NFL in total yards receiving. No Giant has ever led the conference or the league in receiving yards.

Amani is averaging 16.1 yards per catch, third in the NFC and seventh in the NFL.

He has a career high eight touchdowns. Amani's eight touchdowns puts him in a tie for third place in the NFC and a tie for seventh place in the NFL. The Giants' franchise record was set in 1967 by Homer Jones when he caught 13 touchdowns.

From BBI, December 26, 2002

Talk about All-Pro efforts. WR Amani Toomer, who apparently is the only healthy viable receiver on the roster and the focus of constant attention by opposing defenses, came up with an incredible 10 catch, 204 yard, 3 touchdown performance..... Rather than sulk because he didn’t make the Pro Bowl, Amani made a statement. When he is double-covered, he is still making catches and when he is singled-covered, he’s toying with lesser corners now. He completely turned around the corners on his last two touchdown receptions.

From Inside Football, Unsung Heroes, December 23, 2002

Offense: WR Amani Toomer. He's not flashy and he is still shy about doing media interviews, but boy, can he play football. Logging his best season as a pro, Toomer has quietly topped the 1,000 mark in receiving yards for the fourth straight year and has been one of the few players who we think is truly worthy of his contract.

From Giants Insider, Ken Palmer, December 23, 2002

Collins and WR Amani Toomer were outstanding. "When he gets time, he's one of - if not the - best quarterback in the league," said Toomer, who caught three of Collins' four TDs. "He can do things that most QBs just flat-out can't do."

From BBI, December 23, 2002

The offensive heros of the game were QB Kerry Collins who completed 23-of-29 passes (and two of these were dropped) for 366 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions - a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3. WR Amani Toomer amassed an incredible 204 yards on 10 catches and scored 3 touchdowns.

From Giants.com by Michael Eisen, December 23, 2002

The Giants had plenty of heroes. Amani Toomer caught 10 passes for 204 yards and scored three touchdowns. Jeremy Shockey added seven receptions for 116 yards. Kerry Collins threw for 366 yards and four touchdowns without an interception, for a perfect rating of 158.3. Collins and Toomer hooked up for an 82-yard touchdown. Tiki Barber rushed for two touchdowns....It was in the third period, when the Giants scored three touchdowns to turn a narrow 10-3 halftime lead into a commanding 30-6 advantage. The big play of the game occurred on the first snap of the second half. With the ball at their won 18-yard-line, the Giants used a little trickery to cover the 82 yards in an electrifying instant. Collins handed the ball to Barber, who threw it back to the quarterback. While that was taking place, Toomer was racing down the center of the field, ahead of safety David Gibson. Toomer hauled in the Collins pass at the Colts 40-yard line and outraced the overmatched safety to the end zone for a shocking touchdown.....It was the longest reception of Toomer's seven-year career, and the longest pass of Collins' tenure with the Giants....."It hasn't worked that well in practice, because our defense sees it all the time," Toomer said. "But it worked pretty good for us in the game. I saw (Gibson) coming toward me, and I had to slow down a little bit for the ball. I knew I wasn't going to drop it. It was just a matter of me catching the ball and outrunning (Gibson). As soon as I took two or three steps, I knew he wasn't going to catch me. It was a fairly simple play. It's kind of a gimmick play that either works or doesn't work." Collins said, "It's one of those things where either we get behind them or they see it and they cover it. Amani got a step on the guy and we scored." Toomer's long touchdown was the game's turning point....Toomer's second touchdown reception, a 21-yarder with 6:45 left, increased the Giants lead to 37-12 and all but emptied the dome.....Collins and Toomer hooked up for their third touchdown of the game and a 44-27 advantage.

from E-Giants by Dave Klein, December 23, 2002

Collins completed 10 passes for 204 yards to wide receiver Amani Toomer, who caught three of his four touchdown passes. The yardage and the TD receptions were both career highs for Toomer. "I think Amani made a big statement today," Collins smirked. "We all thought he should have gone to the Pro Bowl. I am still not clear why he didn’t, but I think he showed that he deserved it."....Wide receiver Amani Toomer set career records for yards gained in single season as well as receptions and touchdown receptions. He has caught 80 passes for 1,286 yards and now has eight touchdown catches.... Toomer was a frightful presence for the usually tough Colts’ defense. He caught 10 passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns. His second score came on the first play of the second half, a masterful "flea flicker" trick play that called for Collins to hand off to halfback Tiki Barber, who ran to the line, then spun and threw it back to Collins. Meanwhile, Toomer was motoring downfield, and he got two steps on strong safety David Gibson, who was personally tormented by Shockey most of the day. "Amani got a little separation and I was lucky enough to put the ball up so he could get it," Collins said, characteristically modest.

Toomer Takes the Record(s)
by Gail Bahr
Inside Football, December 22, 2002

With a tinge of irony, four days after being snubbed in the Pro Bowl balloting, wide receiver Amani Toomer played his career game.

With their seasons on the line both the Colts and the Giants needed a victory to remain alive in their playoff quests. With a three-touchdown assist from Amani Toomer and a win by Cincinnati over New Orleans, the Giants remain in playoff contention.

Prior to the start of the game color commentator Chris Collingsworth said, “Amani Toomer is arguably the best receiver the Giants ever had.” Well, the argument is over. Amani Toomer is now, indisputably, the best receiver the Giants have ever had.

Homer Jones’ single season record of 1209 yards receiving, which stood for thirty-five years, fell today. Already in second place, with 1183 yards gained in 1999, Amani shattered the record with 1286 yards received and a game yet to play in the regular season.

On the first snap of the third quarter, with the Giants leading 17-3, quarterback Kerry Collins threw a perfect strike to Toomer, who ran it in for a touchdown and an 82-yard completion, the longest of Amani’s seven-year career. He finished the day with 204 yards, another personal record for Amani.

With ten receptions for a total of 80 this season, Toomer broke his own franchise record of 79 for the most receptions in a single season.

Amani currently is third on the Giants’ franchise list for the most yards gained in a single game. The record is held by Del Shofner who gained 269 yards against Washington in 1962.

Oh, well, there’s still another week and another record for Toomer to break.

Congratulations, Amani!

IT SEZ HERE
by Gail Bahr
Inside Football

Amani Toomer should be going to Hawaii in February.

Though he lacks the gaudy numbers of Joe Horn and the flamboyant, look-at-me antics of Terrell Owens, Toomer's play has been more crucial to the Giants than either selectee has been to his team.

When the Giants' receiving corps shrank, Amani Toomer's performance expanded to fill the need. As the only experienced wide receiver on the Giants for much of the season, Toomer has been a marked man and what could easily have become Amani's worst season became his best. Sunday, playing division rival Dallas, Amani set a franchise record becoming the first Giant receiver to post four consecutive 1000-yard seasons.

After that record setting game, head coach Jim Fassel said,"For him to go over 1,000 yards in this season the way it's been, means a lot."

Winning against division rivals is critical for teams hoping to make it into the playoffs and the Giants have swept both Dallas and Washington this season, despite the dearth of wide receivers left standing.

In the first Washington matchup, with the play developing on the opposite side of the field, the unwary cornerback released Toomer. However, the ball intended for Derrick Dorris was deflected. Amani said the ball seemed to hang in the air for a long time so he started running toward it, the cornerback pursuing. In Amani's words he thought,"Maybe I can catch that ball." As he closed on the unfolding play, he thought, "I can catch that ball." And catch the ball he did for a critical first down completion.

Toomer subsequently completed eight catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. Redskins' defensive coordinator, Marvin Lewis, was determined not to let history repeat itself. When the teams met for the second time on December 8th, cornerback Champ Bailey shadowed Toomer from the moment he stepped onto the field.

In the second quarter, with Bailey sticking to Toomer like a limpet, Amani sprinted down the right sideline. Quarterback Kerry Collins threw the ball behind Amani, allowing Toomer to shield the ball with his body and leaving Bailey in no position to defend the play. Bailey zigged, Toomer zagged and the result was a touchdown. Bailey, seldom bested, punched out the ground.

Toomer had three other catches in the game, seemingly having his way with Bailey, and in his press conference following the game, head coach Jim Fassel enthused saying,"Amani stepped up big against Bailey and that is the best he has played against him." Jimmy Robinson, the Giants' wide receivers' coach added that it might have been Toomer's best game as a pro.

Four catches. No, these aren't gaudy numbers but without them the Giants probably would have chalked up another loss and would now be out of the playoff hunt.

Currently, Toomer has 70 receptions and is on pace to break his own franchise record of 79 catches. He has 1082 receiving yards with two games remaining, putting him on pace to break his record of 1183 yards established in 1999. The club record is held by Homer Jones with 1209 yards gained during the 1967 season. In 1969 Homer Jones became the last Giants' wide receiver to be selected to the Pro Bowl.

Although Jones' record as the last receiver from the Giants to play in the Pro Bowl will stand for another season, Toomer is on pace to break his 35 year old franchise record. Amani said that he is aware of the record, adding,"If it's meant to be, it will happen."

Amani Toomer is competing at as high a level of any receiver in Giants' history and at as high a level as anyone selected to the Pro Bowl this season.

From BBI, December 20, 2002

The other Giant (beside Tiki Barber) who deserved consideration and was not selected was WR Amani Toomer, who is having a career season despite being the only productive, veteran receiver on the team and facing constant double-teams. Toomer leads the NFC with a 15.5-yard average per catch. He's sixth in yardage at 1,082 and seventh in receptions with 70. "I thought I had a chance, but you never know," Toomer said. "I feel like I've done a good job, made a lot of plays and helped this team a lot. So you're always a little disappointed, but I'm more happy for the others than disappointed for me."

T. Barber comments, December 20, 2002

Running back Tiki Barber said, "He's (Amani)going to go down as one of the
greatest wide receivers who ever played for us. What more can you say than
that?"

From BBI, December 19, 2002

Wide Receivers: Amani Toomer (6 catches for 99 yards) has really, really stepped up his game. Long-time readers know that for years I've been calling for Toomer to make plays when he was either covered by the opponent's best corner or double-teamed. And that's exactly what Amani is doing now. It's absolutely incredible that the Giants are moving the ball through the air as Toomer the only wide receiver on the field who concerns the defense. Toomer caught two passes on the Giants' first scoring drive and craftily created separation by pushing off in the end zone on the overthrown pass from Collins. At the beginning of the 2nd quarter, he caught a 33-yard deep pass, setting up the first field goal in the game. In the 3rd quarter, he made a spectacular, one-handed grab of a 29-yard deep pass from Collins. Toomer wasn't touched and had the presence of mind to get up and run another 37 yards for the touchdown, but the refs screwed up and blew the whistle too soon. In the 4th quarter, Toomer made another great catch - this time on a pass thrown behind him and too high from Jesse Palmer for 6 yards down to the 3-yard line.

From Dave Klein's E-Giants, December 19, 2002

there should be a spot for wide receiver Amani Toomer, who has never gone to the Pro Bowl. He has caught 70 passes this year for 1,082 yards. He needs 100 yards for the second-highest total in team history (he is second now with the 1,183 yards he amassed in 1999), and if he should catch passes worth 128 yards, he'll set a team record of 1,210 (currently held by Homer Jones, who had 1,209 in 1967). Making Toomer's performance all the most impressive this season is the fact that he has been, for all intents and purposes, the only reliable wide receiver on the team.

Jim Fassel Press Conference, December 16, 2002

Re: Amani's change from 1997 to now.
That is a very good question because there are miles between where he was in '97 and where he is today. I think as much as anything it is his approach to the game I am going to guess. Maybe I can answer this a little bit better. My feelings on Amani are that I am very proud of him because when he came in here I was probably as hard on him as on any player on this football team. I can vividly remember getting ready for a playoff game, which puts us towards the end of the season, and we were in a very basic, easy formation and in a very basic and rudimentary route for him and he can't get lined up correctly and I went off on him. In practice I kicked him off of the field and told him to go to the sideline, a couple guys went off on him because we were in a playoff hunt. It is to the point now of where he is on top of everything. He can adjust, talk in the game, make the adjustments and all of that. The thing I am proud of is that he did it. He did it himself. I could be on him, pat him on the back, put my arm around him and kick him in the rear. I have done that to players and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Amani Toomer went about it himself. I thought that something was wrong and we checked him because he couldn't run through a whole practice. We were running gassers and the slowest Tight End could beat him by 20 yards. I was concerned about him and had him tested and everything to see what was wrong. But he went about it that year and did things in the off-season and put it on himself. I remember talking to him about it. He took the responsibility. That is the reason he is playing the way he is. There is no other reason. He took the responsibility, said he wanted to be a good player, and he went about it.

Re: Situation when Amani came in.
It might have been a little unusual and he got off on a bad foot the year before. He had hurt himself and came in and there were arguments as far as should he be drafted or somebody else. He probably got off on the wrong foot, and players lose their self esteem. They are used to success and they come in and don't have that success and lose their self-esteem and sometimes they don't regroup themselves and they find themselves out of the league. Other ones regroup themselves. Fortunately he had enough pride in himself and that is what he did.

From Inside Football, December 16, 2002

On the Giants opening scoring drive, Toomer had two receptions of 14 and seven yards, plays on which the Cowboys' cornerbacks were simply outclassed. For much of the afternoon, he was up against a rookie in Derek Ross, and Ross was just not up for the task. Toomer did a great job running a second down out pattern to pick up the easy first down. He ran about 15 yards downfield then burst to the sideline. As he proceeded to the sideline, he started back toward the line of scrimmage. He ended up catching the pass about ten yards downfield, allowing him to come up with the easy first down. Coming back to the ball in this way makes it impossible for a cornerback to defend the play. The only way for a cornerback to defend the play is to overplay the out route. If the defender does overplay the out route the receiver must follow up the play with a deep pass downfield. However, Ross, being a rookie, hasn't acquired this experience yet and Toomer was able to exploit it for all it was worth.

Amazing Amani sets Giant record
By Mistress of the Meadowlands, BBWC.com
Date: Dec 16, 2002

In the Sunday 37-7 romp of the Dallas Cowboys, Giants WR Amani Toomer became the first Giant in history with four straight 1,000-yard seasons.

"I'm just trying to go out there and catch balls. Every time I go over 1,000 yards it definitely is special".

WR Amani Toomer has performed this amazing feat four times, making him the first receiver in New York Giants history to do so.

Toomer is also third on the Giants all-time list for catches with 343 and second in yards with just over 5,000.

Toomer also has a streak of 65 straight games with at least one reception, and he's closing in on that franchise record (68) which is held by Ike Hilliard.

Stats as of December 16, 2002

Amani is 6th in the NFC and 13th in the NFL in yards receiving and is averaging 15.5 yards per catch.

Amani and running back Tiki Barber are currently tied for third on the Giants' franchise list with 343 receptions each. Joe Morrison heads the list with 395 career receptions.

With 1082 receiving yards, Amani becomes the first Giant to ever have more than 1000 receiving yards in four consecutive seasons. His career total now stands at 5048 yards, placing him currently in second place on the Giants' franchise list. He is also only the second player in Giants' history to reach 5000 career yards receiving. The record is currently held by Frank Gifford, with 5434 yards.

The record for the most yards gained in one season currently belongs to Homer Jones, with 1209 yards gained during the 1967 season. With two games remaining, that 35 year old record could fall.

Fassel's Comments, December 13, 2002

"I think having him (tight end Jermemy Shockey)is huge," Fassel said. "With three out of four of our receivers out (Ike Hilliard, Ron Dixon and Tim Carter), I think him and Amani Toomer have done a spectacular job. If we had more guys to put out there, like Ike and Carter, you never know what could happen."

Asked if he is surprised that Toomer and Shockey are open so often, Fassel responded, "We're moving them around a lot. They're playing all positions, inside and outside. It makes it a little more difficult on the defense. You try to create mismatches, you try to diffuse anything they think and do to double-team them."

Interesting Stats, 12/11/2002

With 17 more yards, Amani will become the first player in Giants franchise history with four 1000 yard seasons. Amani will have four
consecutive seasons.

His "streak" of 64 consecutive games with at least one reception is the 12th longest active streak in the NFL

Excerpt from Coach Fassel's Monday press conference , 12/11/02

Amani stepped up big against (cornerback Champ) Bailey and that is the best game he has played against him.

From Inside Football, by Traina-Duckers, Iannaconi and Folger, 12/09/2002

Toomer has turned himself into one of the better receivers in the game today. He was up against Champ Bailey early, and on two occasions, was able to make a nice cut and get open. After the Ralph Brown interception, Collins went right to the quick strike and found Toomer in the corner of the end zone after a double move. Again, Toomer beat Bailey. Considering the fact that Toomer is the only real wide out the Giants have, the work that he is doing is even more impressive.

From Giants Insider, by Ken Palmer, 12/09/2002

Two plays after Brown's pick, WR Amani Toomer (four catches, 60 yards) made Redskins CB Champ Bailey look like a chump when he turned him inside out for a 29-yard TD that gave New York a 17-0 lead.

Reprint from Giants.com by Michael Eisen 12/09/02

"Amani Toomer caught four passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. Toomer has 338 career receptions. He moved past Chris Calloway and into fourth place on the team's career list, right behind Barber. Toomer is the most prolific receiver in team history among players who were exclusively wide receivers. The top three players on the list - Joe Morrison, Frank Gifford and Barber - were/are primarily running backs.

Toomer scored his fifth touchdown of the season, and fourth in five games, matching his total for the entire 2001 season. The touchdown was the 29th of his career, tying him with Bob Schnelker for seventh on the franchise's all-time list.

Toomer has 983 receiving yards this season and needs 17 to reach 1,000 yards for the fourth consecutive season. Toomer has 4,949 career yards and needs 45 yards to pass Morrison and move into second place in team history and 51 yards to become the second Giant with 5,000 receiving yards (Gifford had 5,434.")

Reprint from Giantrs.com 12/06/02

Split end Amani Toomer said, "We still have a job to do. We have to win games. Regardless of the outcome, we have four games left and we have to make the best of them. We're paid to win games. We're going to get paid the rest of the season, so we're going to go out there and do as good a job as we possibly can.

"There are a lot of teams on the outside looking in. I think there's going to be a team this year where their playoff picture doesn't look good and maybe the last two weeks or the last week of the season it all turns around. We're not out of it. Right now we still have a chance, and if there's a chance, there's a possibility we can get in."

Excerpts From BBI, 12/05/2002

Giants' Fourth Offensive Possession: This is a 10-play, 55-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown.......... Amani Toomer gets jammed in the face at the line of scrimmage but manages to get free. Collins does a great job of reading the blitz opportunity and throws a perfect pass to Toomer who beats CB Samari Rolle for 26-yards. Great effort by Barber, Toomer, and Collins!................ On 2nd-and-3, Toomer is interfered with in the end zone.

Giants' Fifth Offensive Possession: Giants start things off right at the start of the 3rd quarter by going 62 yards in 3 plays for the touchdown................ Collins then hits Toomer over the middle for 25 yards and a face mask penalty adds another 15.

Giants' Seventh Offensive Possession: Giants go 88 yards in 9 plays and score another touchdown. Barber breaks loose for 42 yards as Shockey, Dixon, and Toomer all get great blocks.

Giants' Eighth Offensive Possession: Giants go 78 yards in 12 plays to set up another field goal................A pass to Dixon was tipped, but Collins found Toomer for 12 on the next play (Fassel is surprisingly continuing to attack with the passing game ö great job). Two plays later, Collins throws a perfect deep pass to Toomer for 34 yards down to the 1-yard line

Giants' Ninth Offensive Possession:............ Toomer caught a 12-yard pass down to the Titan 32-yard line, but he was called for offensive pass interference (the TV replay never showed the play so I donât know if it was legit or not).

Excerpts From Inside Football, 12/02/2002

The Giants, with the wind at their backs, made an immediate impact to start the third quarter. Collins connected with Amani Toomer for a 25 yard reception, but in the process also drew a 15 yard face mask penalty to give the Giants the ball on the Titans' 24

The Giants ended the third quarter driving all the way down to the Titans' six. Starting on their own 12, Tiki Barber broke free for a 42 yard run, behind some key blocking by WR Amani Toomer. An offside penalty against Tennessee gave the Giants five more yards and then Barber followed up with a 12 yard run. On a third and four, Toomer wisely found the first down marker and got out of bounds at the Titans' 16.

From Giants. Com by Michael Eisen, 11/25/2002

Toomer has overtaken Barber for the team-lead in receptions, with 55. If he is still on top at the end of the season, it will be the fourth consecutive season in which Toomer has led the Giants in receptions (he was tied with Barber last year). It would also conclude an eight-year span in which two receivers each led the Giants in receptions in four straight seasons.

From 1995-98, Chris Calloway led the Giants in catches every year (he was tied with Lewis with 53 receptions in 1996). Toomer began his streak with a team-record 79 catches in 1999. Toomer is on pace to finish this season with 80 receptions

From Inside Football, 11/25/2002

There's no question that Toomer misses having Ike Hilliard on the other

side. The Texans were playing tight man coverage at the line of scrimmage,thus taking away any type of timing routes. He was also getting jammed at the line of scrimmage, making it tough to get any depth in his routes.

Late in the third quarter big play on a deep in route to Toomer, the pass protection broke down. The Giants kept tight ends Dan Campbell and Jeremy Shockey in to block. The Texans blitzed two defensive backs that were both picked up by the Giant tightends. This gave Collins time to throw and connect on the deep in route to Toomer. On the pass catching end, Collins found that Toomer was the only one who could provide any type of consistency. Toomer ran a deep in and against traffic made the catch, bounced off a couple of defenders and found himself in the end zone. 

From Giants. Com by Michael Eisen, 11/24/2002

I don't want to take anything away from them - they played a good game and made the plays they needed to make," Toomer said. "But this has nothing to do with their plan. It is all in this locker room."

The Giants had taken a 14-13 lead on Toomer's brilliant touchdown reception with 13:10 remaining in the fourth period.

On second-and-10 from the Houston 31, Toomer was held by cornerback Aaron Glenn, who grabbed his jersey and held on as the two players ran down the field. Despite that, Toomer caught Collins' pass, bounced off an attempted tackle by safety Eric Brown at the 10, then stepped into the end zone.

From E-Giants by Dave Klein, 11/24/2002

Wideout Amani Toomer followed his big game last week (eight for 95 yards) with another, catching eight for 113 yards and a 31-yard touchdown.

Interesting Stats

Against Washington, Amani scored his 27th career touchdown, putting him in a tie for 9th place on the Giants’ career list. With one more touchdown, he will tie Mark Bavaro, currently in 8th place with 28. 

The record is held by Frank Gifford, who scored 78 times during his Hall of Fame career

From Jim Fassel's Monday News Conference, 11/18/02

Question: Did you think that you would be able to get Toomer and Shockey that open?

Fassel: Well we based some things on it and we had to formate some more things...we had to formate them, you just have to formate them. Toomer, that's the same play that we ran at the end of the first half that I really thought that we would get Barber. The thing was that Barber was wide open and Kerry got a little rushed throwing the football and we missed it. So what I said to this team, and I got great input during the game when Amani came to the sideline and said, 'Hey coach, I'm open on that.' He goes to Kerry, he goes to me, and then I end up in a similar situation in almost the same spot on the field and here comes the call again. Kerry has got him locked in and remembers Amani was open last time and there's a touchdown. That's what I'm talking about with guys taking ownership of their job. Be into the game and let us know. Now saying that I opened up a Pandora's Box and had every wide receiver around saying, 'I'm open on this, I'm open on that... throw me the ball over here, throw me the ball over there.'

Question: Is Amani the type of player who would tell you that he is open?

Fassel: Yeah, it think that Amani is pretty realistic with things and he will tell you what he can do. During the game I will ask him if he can get inside this guy, or outside, can he do this or that? He was pretty coherent. You get to learn the players pretty quickly and when you ask them, 'What can you beat him on?' they'll say, 'anything.' Well, right now we're not getting open on anything. There are guys that give you better information than others.

From "Giants Scalp Skins" by Ken Palmer, Giants Insider, 11/18/02

After Washington's James Tuthill hit a 31-yard field goal, the Giants stormed 72 yards in nine plays to tie the score before halftime. Collins hit WR Amani Toomer (eight catches, 95 yards) for five on third-and-four, then connected with Shockey for 15 more. Collins capped the drive when he hit Toomer on a post route for a 35-yard TD. Toomer got behind Redskins S David Terrell for the easy score.

"I told Kerry in the huddle not to go out of his reads or anything, but the last time we ran that, it was open," Toomer said. "It was there."

Collins didn't need to be told twice.

From Inside Football, by Pat Traina-Duckers and Bob Folger, 11/18/02

Amani Toomer

Starting off slow against the press coverage of Pro Bowl corner Champ Bailey, Toomer eventually worked his way into the offense to the tune of eight very productive catches for 95 yards. All of the "damage" vs. Bailey was of the short variety, but Toomer still managed three of his catches against Bailey……………. His 35-yard touchdown reception came when the Giants put him in motion (perhaps to get him away from Bailey). At the snap he ran right at safety David Terrell and then cut off of him to the corner, getting wide open for the easy TD. Toomer was open on a similar play, but since he was not the primary receiver, Collins did not throw him the ball. He also managed some short catches against Fred Smoot, but recorded another very important reception against Darrell Green on a huge fourth-and-ten conversion. This pattern was an up-and-out, or a down-and-out. Toomer received a beautiful Collins bullet and made a huge catch in the rain for the first down that got the offense in position for another one of its critical fourth quarter field goals. We didn't expect as much production as the team got from Toomer today, as the loss of so many receivers really put a target on his back, being the lone proven wide out on the field. 

From E-GIANTS by Dave Klein, 11/18/02

Amani Toomer, the only healthy wide receiver (until next week, perhaps, when Herman Moore is unleashed against the expansion Houston Texans), caught eight passes for 95 yards and the Giants’ only touchdown.

“It was really fun,” Toomer said, and you must understand football players to know what they mean about running around in raw, chilling cold under an increasing downpour on a field that is not stable and often causes players to slip. “I love running routes that Ike (Hilliard, out for the season) usually runs, and I love running them against (cornerback) Champ Bailey, who is arguably (Toomer is from Michigan, he can use words like that) one of the best corners in the league.”

See? That’s fun for a football player, but only after they win a game like this.

From: Giants.com by Michael Eisen, 11/15/02

According to Amani Toomer's definition, what the Giants accomplished the last two weeks does not constitute a winning streak. "It's not a winning streak until you win three games in a row," Toomer said. The Giants can reach that modest yet vital milestone on Sunday, when they host the Washington Redskins in Giants Stadium. Victories over Jacksonville and Minnesota the previous two weeks improved the Giants record to 5-4, one game behind Philadelphia in the NFC East and one game ahead of the 4-5 Redskins.

From E-GIANTS by Dave Klein, 11/14/02

The Giants play the Washington Redskins Sunday in Giants Stadium, and if they don’t pass the ball for at least 300 yards something is very wrong. What’s that, no receivers remain healthy? That’s nonsense. There is Amani Toomer. There is tight end Jeremy Shockey. Do not make the mistake of discounting the “other” tight end, Dan Campbell. And the kid who’s going to start Sunday, rookie Daryl Jones, has speed and good hands and is intelligent and knows all the plays. Who’s to say he isn’t going to have a big game?………………………. Toomer always has a good game against the Redskins. Last year in the two games he had 16 catches for 206 yards and a touchdown. If memory serves, Bailey and Smoot were there then, too. Smoot is this little guy at 5-11 and 168 (honest, 168 pounds) and Toomer stands 6-3 and weighs in the neighborhood of 215. They’re going to have to bring somebody over to help out, especially if he starts catching passes early, and that’s what you call an over-balanced, over-shifted defense.

From Giants.com by Michael Eisen, 11/13/02

Amani Toomer has 39 receptions this season, increasing his career total to 312. That places him sixth on the team's career list, but second among wide receivers. He needs 25 receptions to pass Chris Calloway, who holds the team record for most catches by a wide receiver, with 334. Calloway is third on the team's career list, behind Joe Morrison (395) and Gifford (367). Morrison and Gifford were primarily running backs during their careers.

Amani Toomer (From Inside Football) Nov. 11, 2002

Midway through the second quarter faced with a first and ten on their own 25,Toomer went deep down the left sideline and had single coverage with the cornerback. He maintained good position and slightly pushed off the defender, giving him enough room to make the grab. It was a nice veteran play that resulted in a 46-yard game. On third down on the same drive, Toomer ran a quick slant route and drew the pass interference call. The call was a tough one, but a good hard route helped create the call and move the chains.

The Viking cornerbacks just could not stay with Toomer as they were holding him all afternoon.

Football 201 Scores a Touchdown!" (Reprint with permission from Giants.com)

Giants put women through on-field drills
By Peter Newmann, New York Giants

November 7, 2002

Last night, in the New York Giants practice bubble, Lois Kelly high-stepped through ropes, side-stepped pylons, hurdled would-be tacklers, put a vicious hit on a tacking dummy and recovered her first fumble. She is a 67-year-old retiree.


Former Giants TE Howard Cross runs some Football 201 participants through one of several drills.
The drill, in which close to 300 women participated, was part of the second annual Giants Football 201 clinic for women. The women were instructed by current and former Giants in a hands-on lesson of the game. Coaches included Will Allen, Delvin Joyce, Dhani Jones, Quincy Monk, Amani Toomer, Ottis Anderson and Howard Cross. The women learned a variety of skills, everything from how a defensive back backpedals to how an offensive guard pulls on a running play.

Kelly, a physical education teacher for 25 years and a business professional for an additional 23, displayed an enthusiasm and passion for the sport that was echoed by all of the attendees.

"The drills were excellent and the instruction was good," Kelly, a Fairfield, N.J., native said. "I'm athletic and I love sports, especially football. The Giants are my team and I am glad to support them."

The participants were not the only ones who had a great time at Football 201. Monk, the rookie linebacker, saw the energy the women exuded and said it was contagious.

"When you see almost 300 women running through drills as if they were Giants, it excites you," Monk said. "I thought the way the women cheered for each other was terrific. This was such a positive event."

One of the highlights was Kelly's maneuverability through the running back agility drill. She took a handoff, high-stepped through ropes, weaved through pads, hurdled over pylons, high-stepped through more ropes, before leaping into the air and diving across the goal line.

Touchdown.

Proceeds from Football 201 go to My Sister's Place/Giants Courage House, a domestic violence shelter located in Westchester, New York. The Giants partnered with My Sister's Place in 1997 and have been raising funds for the organization since that time. The event was sponsored by Fiji Water and Steve Madden.

11/4/02
From "Giants Bag Jags", by Ken Palmer

"We came out with a desire to win today and played tough," Toomer said. "We had our backs up against a wall all year, but the difference tonight was that we really executed and made big plays when we needed to. We went out there and picked up the pace on offense, which is what Coach Fassel wanted us to do. It really helped us move the ball."

GIANTS vs Jaguars By Gail Bahr, Inside Football

Was it the change in play calling responsibility that made the difference Sunday in Giants’ Stadium? Though pundits will doubtless debate that endlessly, the real answer is that no one can ever know for sure.

What is certain is that the tempo of the Giants’ offense was quicker and the execution crisper than has been seen this season. On the first drive of the game the Giants marched down the field to score, presaging the end to a long-term scoring drought. They were in and out of the huddle far more quickly and most of the pre-snap motion was eliminated.

Quarterback Kerry Collins ran some plays he had selected, also a departure from earlier weeks. In the opening play of the first series he called an eleven-yard play action pass to wide receiver Amani Toomer. The pass protection was excellent throughout the game and Collins had plenty of time to go through his progressions.

Collins leads the NFC with 2,041 passing yards with an average gain of 7.70 yards-per-attempt. He is on pace to throw for 4,082 yards this season, which would break the franchise team record set by Phil Simms in 1984.

Pass protection was initially the strength of this young offensive line but in recent weeks the run blocking has been opening holes.

The running game looked revitalized with Ron Dayne having his most productive game of the season. He totaled 52 yds on 13 carries with his only gaffe a fourth quarter fumble resulting in a Jaguars’ touchdown.

Tiki Barber looked powerful and crisp cutting his way through Jaguars’ defenders for a total of 101 yds. rushing and 62 yds. receiving and increasing his career total to 8,019 yards. Barber is the fifth player in franchise history to gain more than 8,000 yds.

In the third quarter, Barber broke a long run facilitated by some excellent downfield blocking by offensive guard Rich Seubert and receivers Amani Toomer and Ron Dixon.

A scare came late in the game when Barber left with an injury. Initially the injury appeared serious but x-rays later revealed only a bruise

Amani Toomer, who usually runs the deep routes, looked strong although there were no particularly long passes thrown. The Jacksonville cornerbacks, respecting Toomer’s speed and shiftiness, played off Amani, giving him the 8-10 yd. range to work in.
Toomer is particularly effective on out routes, where he goes downfield before breaking for the sideline and Collins connected with him three times on this route.

Often seeming to travel under a dark cloud, Ron Dixon had the best game of his career. Overall, his routes looked crisper and more certain. Starting for the first time, he made an excellent catch for a touchdown in the third quarter though some tense moments followed while the play was reviewed to ensure that he came down with both feet in bounds.
On Dixon’s scoring drive, rookie Tim Carter kept the drive alive with a brilliant fully extended catch.

It will be important for Dixon and Carter to continue to improve this season so that teams are unable to devote all their attention to Toomer, the surest of the Giants’ receivers.

Tight end Dan Campbell, with his shoulder problems seemingly behind him, turned in an excellent game blocking. His hands are solid and he caught two balls for a total of 19 yds. Rookie Jeremy Shockey is not the blocker Campbell is but makes up for it in other ways. He has the hands and moves of a wide receiver and always attracts a great deal of attention. On two of four defensive penalties drawn by Shockey, he still managed to catch the ball. Hobbled by a torn ligament in his toe, he managed to have a positive impact in the game.

Though offense was the story of this game, a few words must be said about the defense. It is clear that the Giants miss long time stalwart defensive tackle Keith Hamilton. However, this week the Jaguars were not able to freely run through the spot vacated by Hamilton.

Defensive coordinator Johnnie Lynn, recognizing that the right side of the defensive line was weakened, called for more blitzes than Giants fans have seen this season. Though all of the defensive backfield played very well, as is their wont, Shawn Williams benefited most from the increased blitzing. Coming on a number of blitzes, he registered one sack.

The “Wills” at cornerback played another solid game and seem to be developing into a tandem that will go to Hawaii frequently in years to come.

It was a necessary win and it was a good-looking win but it’s only one game. The Giants have had difficulty this season stringing together successive wins and, with a soft spot in their schedule, must make the most of this opportunity. Whether it’s the game plan, the play calling or the execution, this team has too much talent not to compete for the division title.

Will they do so? Stay tuned.

11/7/02
(Reprinted of excerpts from Big Blue Interactive)

Now that was fun. It’s been a long time since the Giants have taken a huge lead on a team like that. The only thing that irritated me is that the Giants let the Jaguars make the end much more interesting than it should have been.


The stats for the wide receivers don’t look impressive, but these guys did their job.


Amani Toomer (4 catches for 36 yards) did all of his damage on short underneath stuff, helping to keep the chains moving. His first reception was his best, a diving 11-yard reception along the sidelines

11/5/02
(Reprinted with permission from Inside Football)

The Jacksonville corners were playing off him (Toomer), thus giving him the 8-10 yard range to work in underneath. On three occasions, Collins found Toomer on the out route. This is a timing route where Toomer goes about 12 yards downfield and makes his break for the sideline. The play is thrown even before he makes his cut, making this route almost impossible to defend. We would like to see Toomer also used on the crossing routes over the middle. With yet another team in Jacksonville applying so much pressure on Shockey with the safeties, the middle of the field was often wide open.

Toomer Takes a Giant Step
By Gail Bahr
(Inside Football)

On October 19, 2002, in a private ceremony, Amani Toomer married Yola Drabowski.

“We met in college but didn’t date each other while we were at Michigan,” Amani said. “Unknown to each other, we both ended up in New York City, where we met again in a club one night. We started talking that night and have been seeing each other ever since.”

It wasn’t to avoid the media blitz attendant to a large wedding that the couple decided to elope. Rather, after a three-year engagement, “We felt it was time.”

October 25, 2002
(Reprinted with permission from BBWC.com and GiantInsider.net, written by Ken Palmer, TGI)

Toomer Ties the Knot
WR Amani Toomer and his finacee of three years tied the knot during the bye week.

WR Amani Toomer certainly made the most of his bye week. He got married.

He and his fiance of almost three years, Yola, got on a plane Friday night and flew to Las Vegas, then got married on Saturday, Oct. 19.

The couple decided to Friday that they wanted to exchange vows, planned for about 30 minutes and then tied the knot the next day at the Chapel of the West.

"It was good this way," Toomer said. "It was private. We liked the fact it was just us two. We're going to have something for the families afterward. We wanted to do it this way.

"It was a nice intimate type thing, as intimate as you can get in Vegas."

Excerpts from Giants.com, 10/15/02
compiled and written by Michael Eisen

Collins has thrown 54 regular-season touchdown passes since he became the Giants starting quarterback with six games remaining in the 1999 season. Amani Toomer and Ike Hilliard have been his most frequent scoring targets, with 17 apiece.


Hilliard leads the NFC in third-down receptions with 12 for 176 yards and a touchdown. Toomer is tied for second with 10 for 191 yards.


Barber is tied with Deuce McAllister of New Orleans for third in the NFC with 29 first downs. Barber has run for 21 first downs and caught passes for eight more. Toomer is second on the Giants with 22 first downs, and Hilliard is third with 21. All of Toomer and Hilliard’s first downs have been via receptions.

(Reprinted with permission from Giants.com)

October 10, 2002
(Reprinted with permission from Big Blue Interactive)

His (Toomer’s) 56-yard touchdown reception was huge because Dallas had just scored and this play regained the all-important momentum for the Giants.
(Reprinted with permission from Big Blue Interactive)

Excerpt from Coach Fassel’s Monday press conference, 10/07/02:

Question: Could you talk about your receivers, especially the play of Amani Toomer?

Fassel: I thought Amani played an outstanding game. I thought he really played an outstanding game and I think all our receivers have played well. But, I think that Amani looks like he's playing fresher, both mentally and physically. He's playing with a lot of enthusiasm. He's excited and playing. He's into the game and he can analyze the game for you.

October 7, 2002
Stats from Dallas game

Amani’s second quarter 56 yd TD reception was the Giants longest play this season.

With 98 yards received on Sunday Amani moved into 6th place on the Giants career list with a total of 4422 yards receiving.

He has 299 receptions for his career, with only six Giants before him recording 300 career receptions.

October 7, 2002

In the second quarter, it was Toomer on the 56-yard touchdown reception
on the post route. He beat the cornerback and also got past Darren Woodson for the touchdown. Toomer also has been highly effective at the mid range slant routes. This is an important route as it is a good way to pick up the third-and-mid range conversions. The Giants now have a passing attack that is not afraid of third and long.

(Reprinted with permission from Inside Football)


September 30, 2002

Toomer is really playing well. It is the offensive board of strategy who
appears to be holding him back as they are just not getting him the ball
enough downfield. The Cardinals were playing a lot of zone on first down, and were giving up a ton of yardage underneath. As evidenced by the second play of the game, when Toomer easily made a first quarter 10-yard reception, he was given tons of room underneath. On second and third downs, the Cardinals used a combination of man and zone coverages, and it appeared the Giants could have gone deep, but didn’t. In the fourth quarter the Giants finally went deep to Toomer, who beat the defender only to have the pass sail way past his outstretched hands. Toomer is getting open; the coaches must get him the ball more.

(reprinted with permission from Inside Football)

September 27, 2002

After being sent home from practice on Wednesday with flu type symptoms and a fever, Amani was back practicing with the team Thursday. “I felt a little weak on Wednesday but I expect to be ready by game time. I will have to concentrate on getting my body rehydrated, especially in that heat coming up (in Arizona)……I think I’m better now. I’m just a little weak but taking Wednesday off helped a lot.”


Coach Fassel added, “He’s doing fine. He practiced without any side effects. I didn’t see him tired or anything else.”

Excerpts from
Inside Football, 9/16/02
by Bob Folger, Mike Innaconi and Patricia Traina-Duckers

“Amani Toomer
Toomer is running very good routes which are putting him with a three or four step advantage on the defensive back...... He is also catching everything in sight and is having his way against man-to-man coverage.”

(Reprinted with permission from Inside Football)

AMANI TOOMER: Taking it up a Notch by Gail Bahr (Inside Football)
Wednesday, September 18, 2002

In recent years, Amani Toomer has given Giants’ fans a great deal of pleasure with his dependable performance.

This season, however, Toomer seems to have taken his game to an even higher level, and around the NFL, it has not gone unnoticed.
In the week prior to the Giants-Rams game, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch referred to Amani as belonging to an “elite” class of receiver.

Albeit with only two games played, Toomer is 11th in the NFL in total receptions (13) and 5th in receiving yards (226). His average yards per carry are 17.4 with a long of 32 yards.

Amani runs effortlessly, with flawless biomechanics and feet that lightly touch the earth. His routes are crisp; his hands sure. He’s confident of his ability and excited about the season.

In the third quarter of the Giants-Rams match-up, second and five, Toomer, running a precision route, made an “in” move before breaking to the sideline. The result was a long gain, setting up a field goal.

He has even become a credible blocker.

At the beginning of the second quarter of the game, Toomer threw a key block helping to open a lane which resulted in one of running back Tiki Barber’s best efforts of the day.

Following the Rams game, in the Seattle locker room, cornerback Dre Bly was overheard mournfully saying, “Amani Toomer is playing great football.”

Yes, he is.

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