Tyree: From Hero to Zero

It's been a roller coaster ride for David Tyree. Right now the ride is on its downward side, hopefully to go up again. The wide receiver who made "The Catch" in Super Bowl 42 was released by the Giants. I remember it well... The Giants were down 14-10 with 1:15 left in the 4th quarter. Eli Manning did a great Houdini act and escaped the clutches of Patriots Defensive Lineman Jarvis Green then heaved the ball downfield to Tyree who made an incredible catch as he cradled the ball against his helmet while fighting off Rodney Harrison. The play went for 32 yards and set up the game winning touchdown to Plaxico Burress. The Giants were the surprise winners of Super Bowl 42. Tyree was one of the heroes, a bittersweet moment because his mother had passed away not too long before that and was not able to see her son's moment in the sun. Tyree soaked in the praise and was humbled by it, always remembering his mother and thanking God when he spoke about the play.

Fast forward 19 months. Tyree has not been able to get on the field because of various leg injuries. He missed all of last season and played in just 2 of the 4 pre-season games this year for the Giants. It became a numbers game and Tyree's number was up. I'm sure Tom Coughlin felt bad about cutting Tyree because of his past, but he made a football decision. Tyree took the news as well as could be expected, but Coughlin reminded Tyree of the magnitude of that one play. Coughlin said: "I told David he is forever etched in the annals of New York Giants history. That will never change. That moment in history will stand forever in time." Coughlin is right. Hopefully Tyree, will get another opportunity to make another great play just like that. If he doesn't, that moment is definitely a keeper.