GIANT NOTES
Driving back from Philadelphia in a chauffeured limousine late Sunday night, accompanied by his entire family, the reality of the Giants missing out on the playoffs hit Jim Fassel like a load of bricks.
That night, the wound still fresh, he did not wish to immediately share his feelings on the ride home.
“After something like that, I can become pretty non-communicative,” he said.
At this time last year, the Giants were embarking on their remarkable postseason run, but yesterday Fassel was one day removed from the 24-21 loss to the Eagles that officially eliminated the Giants from the playoffs. He was still hurting.
“You pour your whole life into something and the you go out there, everybody gives it their best effort and you see your team fight right to the last second,” Fassel said. “I mean there’s no time on the clock and they’re still fighting, and so there’s an emptiness about that.
“I don’t feel like trying to explain to somebody how I feel or what happened. If it’s kind of a passive hobby to you and it doesn’t work, you can walk away from it pretty easy. But if you pretty well commit your life to things and you fall short, it’s hard.”
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Pro Bowl selections are announced tomorrow; the only Giant expected to be honored is DE Michael Strahan, whose has a team-record 21½ sacks to put him one away from breaking Mark Gastineau’s NFL record of 22.
“We’ll all be happy for him,” Fassel said, “but he’d trade that for some wins, and so would I.”
CB Jason Sehorn (sprained ankle) will not play vs. the Packers. He will have surgery on his right knee in the near future . . . CB Will Allen (four interceptions) could become the first rookie to lead the Giants in interceptions since Sheldon White in 1988 . . . Donovan McNabb become the fourth quarterback to throw for at least three touchdown passes against the Giants this season, the first time that’s happened since 1984 . . . In two games vs. the Eagles, the Giants scored one touchdown in seven red-zone chances . . . The Giants were 2-6 on the road. Last year they were 7-1.
