IN New York, we love ’em and hate ’em. And here at The Post, we rate ’em. Here is our annual review of the best and worst from our nine major pro teams.
OVERRATED
1.) D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Jets
Body of work by theoretically dominant left tackle suggests his body needs some work. Two years, no pancakes. Should eat some pancakes. Patience with an inadequate offensive line wearing as thin as the guy it is being built around.
1.) Vince Carter, Nets
Owner Bruce Ratner and GM Rod Thorn ran to re-sign this human highlight reel, failing to recall that Jason Kidd pushed the Nets up and down the floor more efficiently without a star freelancer. Feeling healthier and friskier lately. But team’s days of contention have kicked the bucket due partly to Carter’s reluctance to go to the bucket.
1.) Brandon Jacobs, Giants
At 6-foot-4, 264, with surprising outside speed, there’s a catch: He can’t catch. Therefore, Eli Manning’s completion percentage suffers for lack of a better check-down option. Missed five games in 2007 with knee and hamstring problems. Was outgained in the postseason by Ahmad Bradshaw, who had 19 fewer carries.
UNDERAPPRECIATED
1.) Chris Snee, Giants
Not as a son-in-law, obviously. But he should have been in the Pro Bowl.
1.) Chris Baker, Jets
Throw him the damn ball, please, besides just on the goal line.
1.) Aaron Heilman, Mets
Over the last three seasons, batters are hitting .222 against him, same as versus Trevor Hoffman. The batting average against Mariano Rivera during the same period is .215.
TOUGH
1.) Laveranues Coles, Jets
Lost his longest-active consecutive games streak for a wide receiver (104 games) because of a concussion. Out a week, then made seven catches despite a high-ankle sprain that forced three separate limp-offs in a meaningless – but obviously not to him – loss to the Browns. Good Guy Award winner enjoys media interrogation. Would have enjoyed military spy interrogation, too.
1.) Tom Coughlin, Giants
It took his personality longer to thaw than did coach’s face after three-plus hours in that Green Bay wind chill. But against unrelenting criticism and doubt, a 61-year-old man endured and even matured.
1.) Jaromir Jagr, Rangers
Price for losing a half-step at age 36 is a relentless pounding by opponents’ biggest, meanest defensemen. Takes it without complaint to prove he is no longer the child who pouted his way out of Pittsburgh.
FRIENDLY
1.) Jamal Crawford, Knicks
Even had the time of day for Larry Brown. Easy guy to like on a most unlikable team.
1.) Justin Tuck, Giants
Ball, and maybe Super Bowl XLII, came loose with a grab on Tom Brady’s arm. Never have to twist this DT’s arm for a big smile and a good quote.
1.) Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers
Makes a big stop on the stereotype that goalies are unto themselves. Can talk your head off in two languages.
EXCITING
1.)Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
Every at-bat builds to a crescendo. So do the postseason mea culpas, contract opt-outs, change-of-heart calls to Warren Buffett and even messages on wife Cynthia’s back. Never a dull day guaranteed for another 10 years.
1.) Eli Manning, Giants
Drive for the ages, daredevil escape of all-time. Only Ernie Accorsi woulda ever thunk.
1.) Joba Chamberlain, Yankees
Two runs allowed in 24 smokin’ innings by 20-year-old saved the season. Fans had a picnic, taking to him like flies.
IMMATURE
1.) Isiah Thomas, Knicks
Can’t help himself from making inappropriate remarks to women, ridiculous predictions of championships, or from trading for one expensive, underachieving player after another.
1.) Chris Simon, Islanders
He’s baaaaaaccccck Feb. 21. Team won’t wipe its hands, even after psycho winger wiped his skate on Penguins’ Jarkko Ruutu, only 26 games into reinstatement from attempted decapitation of Rangers’ Ryan Hollweg. Compassionate owner Charles Wang refuses to waver. NHL had better require opponents to sign a waiver.
1.) Jose Reyes, Mets
Played the fool in Game No. 161, not making sure to run out a foul chop and helping to precipitate a fight with Marlins catcher Miguel Olivo. While bombing through a .187, four-error, no-steal final 17 games, respect for him collapsed, too.
COCKY
1.) Plaxico Burress, Giants
No. 1 on the list. We guarantee it. Backed up his promise of one of the greatest upsets of all-time by catching the winning touchdown pass with 35 seconds remaining.
1.) Rick DiPietro, Islanders
Untethered ego, too. Dismisses good questions from reporters like they were pucks shot from point-blank range.
1.) Osi Umenyiora, Giants
Couldn’t keep a “dirty” little secret: Had Matt Light for lunch.
HATED
1.) Jim Dolan, MSG
Too stubborn to realize that the confetti is shredded, the convertible all gassed up and the Canyon of Heroes is awaiting if he just fires Isiah Thomas.
1.) Isiah Thomas, Knicks
Apparently now hated by Dolan, too, or he would have had the decency to cut Thomas down already. Obviously, the owner likes to let the enmity build.
1.) Kyle Farnsworth, Yankees
The dread spreads throughout Yankee Stadium from the first ring of the bullpen phone.
LOVED
1.) Michael Strahan, Giants
The harder his teammates had to work during a training camp he completely blew off, the more they missed him. Now, THAT’s charisma. Divorce and desire for a full-time TV job soon seem to have mellowed His Moodiness.
1.) David Lee, Knicks
Fans, bored, get off on offensive boards.
1.) David Wright, Mets
For New York’s most eligible, women carry a torch. And with little help, he tried to keep it lit by hitting .352 after September 1 and .400 during the pathetic final week.
UNDERACHIEVERS
1.) Eddy Curry, Knicks
Not the most mobile of creatures on defense, true, but not the most motivated of ones from night to night, either. Pretense now fully dropped that this is a player to build around. Twenty-five pounds should be dropped, too.
1.) Zach Randolph, Knicks
Doesn’t pass or defend, or, by taking too many 15-footers, make a difference even on the nights he scores. In other words, he’s like almost everybody else for whom Thomas has traded.
1.) Patrik Elias, Devils
As free agents leave, has to be The Man now. And boy, it’s been a struggle.
OVERACHIEVERS
1.) David Tyree, Giants
Will do anything, can do anything. Against the odds, and Rodney Harrison, special teams ace and spare receiver made a catch against his helmet to shame Dwight Clark. When Ernie Accorsi drafted Tyree in the sixth round in 2003, that was using the old noggin.
1.) Marc Staal, Rangers
Might be the team’s best defenseman already at age 21. As the late, great Herb Brooks once said about young James Patrick: “The elevator goes all the way up on this kid.”
1.) Rich Seubert, Giants
Undrafted free agent’s leg broken in more places in 2003 than the connect between last year’s team and its fans. Both were rehabilitated, setting stirring examples to all. Pulled another Lazarus to play in the Super Bowl after being hurt at Green Bay.
BRIGHT
1.) Richard Jefferson, Nets
Sardonic to-the-basket slasher, sort of the Bill Maher of the Meadowlands. Comes from educated family bearing no resemblance to the one in his favorite show, “The Family Guy.”
1.) Brendan Shanahan, Rangers
Was practically the NHL’s shadow government, convening a panel to bring back an improved game from the lockout. Could be commissioner someday, seriously.
1.) Pedro Martinez, Mets
The fastball is no longer quick enough to fully offset that devastating changeup of yore. Still a winner, however, because his brain cells fire faster than ever. Hilarious when he’s in the mood, though humor not necessarily fit for a family newspaper.
DIFFERENT
1.) Madison Hedgecock, Giants
Have to hand it to a guy who never gets the ball handed to him and not only is undeterred, but takes a masochistic glee in body propulsion. Clearly not in it for the glory. Perhaps because his parents gave him a girl’s name, seems to be the most obsessive guy since A Boy Named Sue.
1.) Rick Peterson, Mets
Touchy-feely pitching coach won’t talk about the starter for that day’s game, for fear of damaged karma. Also, won’t take off that lined jacket on 95-degree days. Never gets hot under the collar, however, unless somebody messes with his all-the-colors-of-the-rainbow charts.
1.) Kyle Farnsworth, Yankees
Walks around the locker room with a headset to remain in his own world. Ball one, ball two, ball three seems to be an extension of his personality: Under siege.
ARROGANT
1.) Stephon Marbury, Knicks
“Are you getting in the truck?” he asked the female intern. Defining moment of his Knicks career.
1.) Carlos Delgado, Mets
On the classy list in 2007. That was last year. Challenged more reporters’ questions than fastballs during an awful season. For whatever reason, not the same pillar he was in Toronto.
1.) Robbie Cano, Yankees
Turns two, but also turns off when always-imposing interviewers approach. Once was reading the paper as multiple reporters queried him. If attitude doesn’t improve, won’t soon like what he’s reading there.
RESPECTED
1.) Mariano Rivera, Yankees
Been blowing ’em away for 11 seasons with his cutter and his dignity. Admired on every island in that locker room.
1.) Martin Brodeur, Devils
Won his first Cup in 1995, which was pre-Derek Jeter, Rivera and any enduring local star we know. Incredibly stable, the Old Man on the Other Side of the River keeps rolling along.
1.) Amani Toomer, Giants
Parade of wideouts have come and gone during the all-time franchise reception leader’s 12 years. There would have been no parade without this enduring, classy, smart, and athletic receiver’s 21 postseason catches. The 52-yard touchdown before the half in Dallas was the turning play of the run.
PARANOID
1.) Sean Avery, Rangers
“Darcy [Tucker] didn’t really look like he wanted to make anything of anything, and I can understand that because I’m sure it’s mentally taxing to have me [as an opponent],” the irrepressible left wing said a couple months ago. Sums him up.
1.)Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
Opponents, rubbed the wrong way more often than a five-dollar customer in a massage parlor, annually enjoy the last “Ha!” in October.
1.) Kei Igawa, Yankees
Even before he starts walking batters. Has an elaborate pre-game regimen that the Yankees think he should cut down, along with his repertoire. Not much of a listener.
ANNOYING
1.) Jim Dolan, MSG
Hates negativity so much, he only creates more by confiscating fans’ signs, muzzling his GMs, and destroying his own credibility with a stubborn loyalty to the wrong persons. Believed Isiah Thomas, not Anucha Browne Sanders. Dark spring nights increasingly a reflection of the darkness at the core of the World’s Most Infamous Arena’s soul.
1.) Eric Mangini, Jets
Nothing but generic answers about his generic team. Pleasantly and insultingly vague.
1.) Orlando Hernandez, Mets
About as open as you would expect from someone who dodged the secret police, escaped on a boat and works for the Wilpons.