Tuck still hates Cowboys, but harbors discreet respect

In another world, Giants defensive end Justin Tuck learned to accept and even love the Dallas Cowboys. No longer the enemy, he embraced "America's Team" and all the good things they represent.

This is not that world.

Justin Tuckhates the Cowboys. He hates the Cowboys in the way real-life cowboys hate men's satchel purses. This isn't going to change, especially with a Week 17 "loser leaves town" showdown with Dallas looming.

“I’ve been quoted many times saying I hate the Cowboys, and that’s still true,” said Tuck, who has a slightly better approval rating than Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas. “I don’t like the Cowboys and they don’t like me, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

Just when you thought he had exhausted all methods of psychological warfare in the rivalry, Tuck changed gears and went into the classic "We're not so different, you and me" Hollywood Bad Guy angle.

“In the Dallas weeks, we probably trash-talk a little bit more,” Tuck said, according to the New York Post. “But I think it has a lot to do with respect. Those Dallas teams, they just seem to do it as close to the right way as we do ... with their owner (Jerry Jones), their past championships and past (great) players.

“The two teams are probably more similar than we like to give each other credit,” he added. “That’s one of the reasons why these games are so embraced. Both teams have a lot of respect for each other.”

You can almost picture Tony Romo bursting out of the trainer's room. "We'll never be like you, Tuck! NEVER!"