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This photo gallery presents 10 observations from the Giants’ Super Bowl XLVI win over the Patriots in a nutshell. It was one of those games that have joined the “Greatest Super Bowl of All Time” debate. There were few penalties and one turnover, though the Pats having 12 men on the field in the first quarter erased a Victor Cruz fumble, and Henry Hynoski was in the right place at the right time in the third. And with the drama exceeding that of Super Bowl XLII, the number of storylines that emerged from the Giants’ second Super Bowl win in five seasons is abundant.

1) Bradshaw scored too early, or did he?
With the Giants driving down the field down by two and game time approaching one minute, they knew the Patriots defense would part faster than the Red Sea and

Eli Manning and Derek Jeter are different in obvious ways. One plays football and the other baseball. Manning is settled into married life. Jeter continues to enjoy the bachelorhood life of a New York City superstar, having dated supermodels and A-list actresses.

In more ways, the two are wholly similar. Both have reached the pinnacle of success in their respective professions. Both lead and inspire with quiet confidence in lieu of bluster or blistering braggadocio. Both have been a world champion; the only difference is Jeter’s five rings compared to Manning’s one – which will increase if the Giants defeat the Patriots (again) at Super Bowl XLVI. Both are comfortable in their own skin, adeptly handling the intense media glare of the Big Apple with aplomb. In a society

It was pretty quiet in Yankees Universe this past weekend. Brian Cashman began the Hot Stove process by contacting the agent for C.J. Wilson. Not exactly news only because Cashman is doing his job, but it’ll be interesting to see how the talks go and how far each side pushes the envelope.

Thanks to the Hot Stove season barely at room temperature, the NBA lockout and the NHL still in the infancy stage of the regular season, the Giants and Jets have dominated the back pages of the New York newspapers. Rex Ryan makes news just by being Rex Ryan, but it was the normally mild-mannered Eli Manning who created waves during the summer by giving an honest answer to a question. The question posed during training camp was if Manning thought he was in the same class as Tom Brady. Manning said

“Carpe diem” is a phrase thrown around a whole lot not just in sports but also in life. It’s creator was Horace, a Roman lyric poet who lived under the reign of Augustus, Rome’s first Emperor. The adage is translated “Seize the day,” in other words grab on what’s been presented before you with both hands and hold tight. When an opportunity for redemption or to present your finest first impression, to do everything that’s within your control, and perhaps supercede or influence external conditions, you take it and go.

Saturday August 13, 2011, a few athletes displayed the power, glory and beauty of carpe diem. Those who flourished in the moment include:

• Jorge Posada. The proud Yankees icon was banished to the bench a week ago in Boston.

If you’re a Giants fan, and not too keen on the Jets, the surprising Knicks renaissance or the NHL, you’re crossing dates off your calendar until the start of Spring Training. I’ll say this about Big Blue: Don’t blame Jay Cutler and the Bears for them missing the postseason the second consecutive year. The Giants choked two straight weeks, blowing a 21-point four-quarter lead in that debacle against the Eagles and rolling over during a win-or-in game in Green Bay. They made their bed and are forced to lay in it all winter, spring and summer.

At least Tom Coughlin rightfully retained his job. I liked what co-owner John Mara told owners regarding the importance of stability. Just look at Dan Snyder’s Washington Redskins. The impulsive owner has gone through seven

The Florida Marlins front office is cheering. With a handshake and a signature, Javier Vazquez agreed to take his talents to South Beach and the Marlins have become the instant favorites to win the 2011 World Series.

And why not? The Marlins got the National League sensation on the cheap, a one-year deal worth $7 million. Vazquez also received a full no-trade clause and the team agreed not to offer him arbitration next offseason. In 2009, Vazquez finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting. The Yankees acquired him from Atlanta for Melky Cabrera and others when the Braves were purging salary. Despite Vazquez’s Bronx failure in New York in 2004, the Yankees had nothing to lose seeing that the right-hander was entering the final season of his contract, entering a situation where unlike in

When the big Yankees news of the week is a trade with the Diamondbacks that did not bring back Justin Upton, you can conclude that the Hot Stove remains at a slow burn – for now. It’s inevitable that business will pick up. The second week of December brings the annual winter meetings, when lobby stakeouts in Orlando, Fla., will pale in comparison to the activity that will take place in nearby Lake Buena Vista.

Until we get there, here’s what’s going on:

• Upwards of 16 teams approached the Diamondbacks to inquire about Upton. The Yankees weren’t one of them, writes Joel Sherman. Tempting as it is to bring someone of Upton’s talents to New York, the Yankees’ thinking is the same with free agent Carl Crawford: At what price? Their current outfield

Okay Yankees fans, your team was bulldozed by the Texas Rangers and won’t be playing in the World Series, so allow me to offer you a nice consolation prize: The Giants’ 41-35 blistering of Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys before a national television audience. The Giants have won four straight and stand atop the NFC East at 5-2. America’s Team is 1-5, beaten up, humiliated and embarrassed. And it’s Jon Kitna, who before Monday night hadn’t taken a snap in two years, to the rescue.

Consolation to the Metroplex: The Rangers own your town and are slight favorites to win their first World Series, so enjoy the ride. That said, football is the fabric of life in the Lone Star State. The ritual begins with sold-out high school games on Friday nights, a full Saturday

The weekend brought perfect weather and the dawning of Football Sunday - and most importantly the honoring of our real heroes and those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. We Will Never Forget.

A few observations:

How perceptions constantly change. On September 4 the Yankees were winners of eight straight and nobody was stopping them en route to title No. 28. This morning, they’re in St. Petersburg, Fla., victims of a three-game sweep to the Rangers, old, slow, tired and susceptible to younger and hungrier teams – like the Rays. If not for Nick Swisher’s walk-off home run last Wednesday, the Yankees would be losers of seven straight.

The Yankees’ magic number is 12. It feels like 22.

"I guess I could go stand on my head tomorrow and see if things shake out