Title tilt tuneup: San Francisco tight end Vernon Davis runs with the ball at practice on Thursday as coach Jim Harbaugh looks on. APWhen the San Francisco 49ers host the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game Sunday for a shot at the Super Bowl, the matchup conjures memories from a previous era of this great rivalry — even if the roles are somewhat reversed.The elite quarterback now is New York's Eli Manning, who connects on big plays to Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz in a similar fashion to how Joe Montana and Jerry Rice did for the dominant Niners in the 1980s.San Francisco's current front seven led by relentless defensive lineman Justin Smith, rookie pass-rushing specialist Aldon Smith and fierce linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman resembles that old Giants group featuring Hall of Famers Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson.And who could have predicted this surprising pairing?The Giants (11-7) toppled defending champion Green Bay 37-20 last Sunday when everybody figured the road to the Super Bowl would go through Lambeau Field. Instead, New York is traveling West to San Francisco to face the upstart 49ers (14-3) in a meeting of franchises with so many fresh faces on the big stage.Jim Harbaugh's "mighty men" as he calls them stunned Drew Brees and the favored Saints 36-32 when Alex Smith hit Vernon Davis for the game-winning 14-yard touchdown with 9 seconds remaining.Smith knows both the 49ers and Giants showed it's anybody's game come playoff time."Look at last week, I think everybody thought the road was going to go through Lambeau. I think everybody assumed the NFC Championship Game was going to get played there and look what happens," Smith said. "These teams at this point, everybody's as good as each other and it's all going to come down to how you execute on that day. We're all capable of beating each other, that's for sure."NEW YORK — Rob Lowe is taking on another role — pigskin prognosticator.The actor lit up social media Wednesday when he tweeted that Peyton Manning was done. Lowe said he'd heard from "my people" that the Indianapolis Colts quarterback would retire later in the day.No official word yet from Manning, ESPN's Chris Mortensen tweeted that Manning's father, Archie, laughed at Lowe's report and said it wasn't true.Lowe currently is on the NBC hit "Parks and Recreation" that's set in Indiana. He's also friends with Colts owner Jim Irsay.Irsay tweeted his response to Lowe, saying "sources" say Lowe will star in an "epic remake" of a porn movie.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
49ers, Giants renew playoff rivalry
SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants boasted a physical, intimidating defense with athletic linebackers and stout linemen capable of stifling the NFL's most productive offenses. San Francisco featured a high-powered passing attack led by an eventual Hall of Fame quarterback in his prime with receivers capable of turning short passes into big gains.Title tilt tuneup: San Francisco tight end Vernon Davis runs with the ball at practice on Thursday as coach Jim Harbaugh looks on. APWhen the San Francisco 49ers host the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game Sunday for a shot at the Super Bowl, the matchup conjures memories from a previous era of this great rivalry — even if the roles are somewhat reversed.The elite quarterback now is New York's Eli Manning, who connects on big plays to Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz in a similar fashion to how Joe Montana and Jerry Rice did for the dominant Niners in the 1980s.San Francisco's current front seven led by relentless defensive lineman Justin Smith, rookie pass-rushing specialist Aldon Smith and fierce linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman resembles that old Giants group featuring Hall of Famers Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson.And who could have predicted this surprising pairing?The Giants (11-7) toppled defending champion Green Bay 37-20 last Sunday when everybody figured the road to the Super Bowl would go through Lambeau Field. Instead, New York is traveling West to San Francisco to face the upstart 49ers (14-3) in a meeting of franchises with so many fresh faces on the big stage.Jim Harbaugh's "mighty men" as he calls them stunned Drew Brees and the favored Saints 36-32 when Alex Smith hit Vernon Davis for the game-winning 14-yard touchdown with 9 seconds remaining.Smith knows both the 49ers and Giants showed it's anybody's game come playoff time."Look at last week, I think everybody thought the road was going to go through Lambeau. I think everybody assumed the NFC Championship Game was going to get played there and look what happens," Smith said. "These teams at this point, everybody's as good as each other and it's all going to come down to how you execute on that day. We're all capable of beating each other, that's for sure."NEW YORK — Rob Lowe is taking on another role — pigskin prognosticator.The actor lit up social media Wednesday when he tweeted that Peyton Manning was done. Lowe said he'd heard from "my people" that the Indianapolis Colts quarterback would retire later in the day.No official word yet from Manning, ESPN's Chris Mortensen tweeted that Manning's father, Archie, laughed at Lowe's report and said it wasn't true.Lowe currently is on the NBC hit "Parks and Recreation" that's set in Indiana. He's also friends with Colts owner Jim Irsay.Irsay tweeted his response to Lowe, saying "sources" say Lowe will star in an "epic remake" of a porn movie.
Title tilt tuneup: San Francisco tight end Vernon Davis runs with the ball at practice on Thursday as coach Jim Harbaugh looks on. APWhen the San Francisco 49ers host the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game Sunday for a shot at the Super Bowl, the matchup conjures memories from a previous era of this great rivalry — even if the roles are somewhat reversed.The elite quarterback now is New York's Eli Manning, who connects on big plays to Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz in a similar fashion to how Joe Montana and Jerry Rice did for the dominant Niners in the 1980s.San Francisco's current front seven led by relentless defensive lineman Justin Smith, rookie pass-rushing specialist Aldon Smith and fierce linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman resembles that old Giants group featuring Hall of Famers Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson.And who could have predicted this surprising pairing?The Giants (11-7) toppled defending champion Green Bay 37-20 last Sunday when everybody figured the road to the Super Bowl would go through Lambeau Field. Instead, New York is traveling West to San Francisco to face the upstart 49ers (14-3) in a meeting of franchises with so many fresh faces on the big stage.Jim Harbaugh's "mighty men" as he calls them stunned Drew Brees and the favored Saints 36-32 when Alex Smith hit Vernon Davis for the game-winning 14-yard touchdown with 9 seconds remaining.Smith knows both the 49ers and Giants showed it's anybody's game come playoff time."Look at last week, I think everybody thought the road was going to go through Lambeau. I think everybody assumed the NFC Championship Game was going to get played there and look what happens," Smith said. "These teams at this point, everybody's as good as each other and it's all going to come down to how you execute on that day. We're all capable of beating each other, that's for sure."NEW YORK — Rob Lowe is taking on another role — pigskin prognosticator.The actor lit up social media Wednesday when he tweeted that Peyton Manning was done. Lowe said he'd heard from "my people" that the Indianapolis Colts quarterback would retire later in the day.No official word yet from Manning, ESPN's Chris Mortensen tweeted that Manning's father, Archie, laughed at Lowe's report and said it wasn't true.Lowe currently is on the NBC hit "Parks and Recreation" that's set in Indiana. He's also friends with Colts owner Jim Irsay.Irsay tweeted his response to Lowe, saying "sources" say Lowe will star in an "epic remake" of a porn movie.
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