[EmpireWF]

Newsday's Arthur Staple has a great article looking at Giants first-year GM Jerry Reese and how he has built a team that is one game away from the Super Bowl.

"Reese's performance in that job, along with his scouting and pro personnel departments, his predecessor, Ernie Accorsi, and Tom Coughlin and his coaching staff, have helped bring the Giants to the brink of a Super Bowl berth. Hardly anyone believed a first-year GM and a coach with the ax poised to fall could produce a winning team, but here they are."

Reese made bold moves such as cutting Luke Pettigout (and Carlos Emmons & LaVar Arrington), moving David Diehl to left tackle, and telling Strahan to seek a trade if he wanted more money.

With the help of a great draft (each of his draft picks have played a key role this year) and solid signings (free-agent Kawika Mitchell and waiver players like Madison Hedgecock and Domenik Hixon), the Giants have been one of the more talented teams in 2007 (and 2008.).