Tyree easy choice for Giants' best 6th-round pick

by Ed Valentine on Mar 28, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in News Comment 48 comments

We have been meandering our way through an occasional round-by-round look at New York Giants' drafts since 1970.

We have looked at the worst first-round picks, and the best of rounds 2 through 5. I have posted polls and allowed you to vote for your choice in each of the previous rounds.

Not this time. When it comes to the sixth round, there is only one possible choice as the Giants' best pick of that round since 1970.

David Tyree. No other sixth-round pick has had an impact on the franchise anywhere near that of the 2008 Super Bowl hero.

Sorry. No arguments. This is a cut and dry, easy choice.

Even without The Catch, it's entirely possible Tyree would still be the choice here. Drafted out of Syracuse in 2003, Tyree has been a terrific special teams player and made the Pro Bowl in 2005.

The Catch makes him a historic figure, and no other sixth-round pick compares.

There are a few other sixth-round selections who had decent careers. Here are some.

Scott Brunner (QB, 1980)
Doug Riesenberg (T, 1987)
Howard Cross (TE, 1989)
Corey Miller (LB, 1991)
Dhani Jones (LB, 2000)

Anybody still want to argue?

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Nope.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Mar 28, 2009 9:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I really liked Dhani Jones

until he went to the Eagles. And Scott Brunner was from Delaware, so I’ve gotta show him some love. But, no, none of them beats Tyree.

by cjmulrain on Mar 28, 2009 9:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

*

was from = went to the University of Delaware.

by cjmulrain on Mar 28, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Scott Brunner went to my high school. He graduated 3 or 4 years after me. He was a very good high school quarterback, although more as an option runner than a quarterback. He was kind of a jerk as a person though, and one of the worst Giant quarterbacks ever. I’m curious as to who people think was the worst Giant quarterback ever (at least among those who started 4 or more games). Brunner, Dave Brown, and Danny Kannell are high on my list, as is Joe Pisarcik (although that may be tainted by that ridiculous fumble against the Eagles).

by Tucker Fredrickson on Mar 28, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bobby Clatterbuck was pretty bad

by blue gonz on Mar 28, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, going back a ways, the Giants had more than their share of lousy QBs,

worse than those you cite. Actually, Brunner wasn’t that bad. At least Parcells preferred him to Simms for a while.

by blue gonz on Mar 28, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Simms was hurt

I don’t think Parcells ever preferred Brunner. I think Brunner only played because Simms was hurt. He didn’t even stick as a backup for very long after his stint as a starter was over. Did he even catch on with another team after the Giants released him?

by Tucker Fredrickson on Mar 28, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually you're right BG

I went back and looked at Brunner’s history. In 1983, Parcells did pick him over Simms to start the season. I’d forgotten that. Simms replaced Brunner in game 6 and promptly suffered a dislocated thumb, which knocked him out for the rest of the year. The GMen went 3 and 9 that year and Brunner threw 22 interceptions. He played one year for the Cardinals after that and threw 30 passes. Some sites say he also played for the Broncos and Packers, but it doesn’t look like he got into any games.

by Tucker Fredrickson on Mar 28, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember it well. When the Tuna picked Brunner

a lot of fans groaned but probably as many cheered. A lot of BBVers forget how long it took for Simms to establish himself. I think the Giants forced him out too early into retirement. As LT said, it was okay for him to retire, but Phil wanted to keep playing

by blue gonz on Mar 28, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

PS

It was good for Phil he didn’t play much that year. The Giants were terrible. Had he played on that team he might have gone the way of Brunner. Being exposed to the kind of punishment Brunner took gets into some QBs heads. Look at Carr. A better example: Joe Ferguson. He hung in there for a few years in Buffalo but finally got happy feet.

by blue gonz on Mar 28, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Purged From My Memory

I think I blocked that season out because the Giants were so embarrassing. I admit I questioned the pick of Simms when it was made, and he didn’t do much those first few years to dispel my doubts, although in fairness to him, he did get hurt a lot because the protection wasn’t very good.

by Tucker Fredrickson on Mar 28, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sometimes I think Tuna chose Scott over Phil because Scott could at

least protect himself by running ,which Phil couldn’t do. Phil would’ve taken more punishment than Scott. Of course, phil got knocked out of the box as soon as he took over from Scott, so maybe at that point Tunal was protecting Scott. At any rate, it was clear when the season started Tuna had a clear preference fopr Scott as did the majority of fansd.. Scott Clearly outplayed Phil in camp and in preseason games. Od course everyone wondered about Simms when the Giants picked him, an unknown from a college no one ever heard of. It looked like another in a long line of poor draft choices.

by blue gonz on Mar 28, 2009 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

By the time Craig Morton got to the Giants he was horrible

by giant fan since 57 on Mar 28, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, then he went to Denver

and had a fantastic season

by blue gonz on Mar 28, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, you're right...he did. I had forgotten that.

by giant fan since 57 on Mar 28, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And was a starting QB sor six years after that.

by blue gonz on Mar 28, 2009 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Norm Snead

Snead had that frustrating habit of throwing the ball low and behind the receiver open the middle, so that any completion was for no RAC (kind of like Donovan McNabb – and everyone talks about how “accurate” he is, but completion % in a West Coast offense is no measure to me – actually DMcN does scare me with his accuracy on vertical throws, though – and used to scare me when he ran out of the pocket in his earlier years.). But I digress … I was always hoping the Giants would put in Randy Johnson over Snead, since RJ seemed to have at least some upside, but the coaches always went with that “who gives us the best chance to win this Sunday” mantra, even on teams that were going to go 3-11 if they caught all the lights …

by Shofner85 on Mar 28, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"going to go 3-11 if they caught all the lights …"

thanks for the laugh!!!

by NY17NE14 on Mar 28, 2009 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the Eagles paid him $5mil per

that’s fine with me

by queler on Mar 30, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Id think so too

Tyree was really missed Id assume last year. The Giants kickoff coverage was atrocious and while they went 12-4 and it really didn’t seem to kill them, it could of. Tyree’s absence was felt a lot on that.

I checked the Giants roster cuz I thought Michael Johnson was a 6th rounder, but like Bradshaw he was a 7th rounder.

Id like to know who were the Giants best 7th rounders, cuz really I don’t think it could get much better than that as a 7th rounder for them. A starting safety and a backup RB who I think is gonna break out this year with the inevitable Jacobs injury putting him as the starter.

by FreeBradshaw on Mar 28, 2009 10:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

7th rounders

That will be coming up in the next few days.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 28, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd like to see Tyree back on ST

but I remember Terrell Thomas making a few really good punt coverage plays that pinned the other team inside the FIVE!!!

by NY17NE14 on Mar 28, 2009 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cross & Tyree

Maybe Cross should get honorable mention? He was never a great receiver, but he had some fairly productive seasons (over 300 yards a couple of times) and over 30 catches once. He was one hell of a blocker, though, and helped pave the way for some good Giants backs.

But definitely agree that Tyree is the winner.

by potroast on Mar 28, 2009 3:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with Ed on Tyree,

but think the call over Cross is closer.

by blue gonz on Mar 28, 2009 3:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cross

was a good player. The Super Bowl catch by Tyree, though, makes him a historic figure. That’s the only reason it is no contest, in my mind.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 28, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How could it not be Cross?

He was a starter for years, whereas Tyree is largely a bum who made one spectacular play

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Mar 28, 2009 4:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A bum?

That’s a little harsh. Tyree has made his share of plays in the limited times he’s been on the field, he just doesn’s get into the game on offense all that much. And his play on special teams has been outstanding. Cross was a very solid player too but he had hands of stone. Some mention ought to be given to Riesenberg. He started for a number of years and was a solid if unspectacular player. Still, in the end, I agree that Tyree gets the nod here.

by Tucker Fredrickson on Mar 28, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your basing that on one miraculous play though

Cross was like an extra lineman on those run heavy early 90s teams, whereas Tyree wouldnt have even been on the 08 had he not made that catch

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Mar 28, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tyree vs. Cross

Simple. Which player will always be a historic figure with the Giants? It’s not Cross. Not diminishing Cross or Riesenberg, but there is only one of these guys who has made a play that will always be remembered by Giants fans.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 28, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can't argue with that reasoning. It's the same kind I had for voting for some old

timers who didn’t quite make the BBV all time team (most notably, Robustelli and Weinmeister.) Hell, if Blozis had not been killed in combat in WWII, he would’ve probaly gotten my vote as well.,

by blue gonz on Mar 28, 2009 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course you can argue with that logic

Cross had the better career, to date, making him the more productive pick, as opposed to one who made one great play-no denying that, it was amazing, but to compare one play to a reasonably successful and long career (Cross) doesnt seem apt to me.

Tyree’s play will go down as a Giants legend, if it hasnt already, but I think with the years of production we got out of Cross, he’d be the best 6th rounder in NYG draft history.

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Mar 29, 2009 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I always remind NE fans that Tyree

also caught the first NYG touchdown pass in that Super Bowl!!!!

His contribution was MORE than just the pin it to your head catch!

by NY17NE14 on Mar 28, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yup

I was about to say that too

by cjmulrain on Mar 30, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So he had one really good quarter of football

I know he is a local Jersey boy and all, but seriously he has not done enough over his career to warrant selection as best ever in the 6th round.

by brisulph on Mar 31, 2009 8:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree, but it makes more sense than Bradshaw

in the seventh.

by blue gonz on Mar 31, 2009 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he did go to a probowl as a special teams player

by ryanwk628 on Mar 31, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to dismiss it or nothing

but whoopity doo. His contributions pale in comparison to Cross. Entire body of work has to be accounted for, and Cross did far more in his career than Tyree has to date (even if he went to a Pro Bowl and had one really good quarter of football in the SB).

by brisulph on Mar 31, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He wasn't a true bum

Id say a bum is more like Tim Carter, or Ron Dayne. That’s a bum. You really can’t call a 6th round pick a bum if he contributes. Tyree was a Pro Bowler on Special Teams and you need only to look how horrible the Giants were on kickoff coverage without Tyree to see how much of an impact he had.

Between him and Cross, they were actually quite similar. They both rarely got a chance to be in the passing offense, but when they did they usually proved why they shouldn’t be in the pass offense. I only remeber Cross for how loud my dad used to yell at the TV when he showed his stone hands. And Tyree sans 2007 playoffs-( The CATCH was great, but he also caught a TD pass too in the playoffs) was actualyl equally stone handed. While the entire Giants receiving core usually had lapses, Tyree always seemed to drop balls.

But as a special teams player and immortal cuz of that catch, he isn;t really a bum. As an actually WR tho, yea he is a bum.

by FreeBradshaw on Mar 28, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good points

I like the comparison between the two when it comes to pass receiving skills. Also, you could get away with not counting Tyree’s SB big play & he still is probably the best of the bunch because of his ST skills … his importance to this team was painfully obvious this year as kickoff coverage was absolutely abysmal without him. No wonder he was a Pro Bowler, he was probably carrying an entire unit on his back the last few years.

by potroast on Mar 28, 2009 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good call

perhaps bum was a bit harsh, if you can get anything out of a 6th rounder its a success, that is exactly my point with Cross, they got years of production out of him; granted most of it was in the form of blocking, but he played with some pretty lousy QBs for most of his tenure here.

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Mar 29, 2009 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tyree is Pro Bowler too

by queler on Mar 30, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love Tyree

but i think Cross was the better player for the entirety of his career… No question that the Tyree catch is the greatest play in team history… but that doesn’t take away from the fact that Cross was a good player

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

http://novafacts.blogspot.com

by Hoyadestroya85 on Mar 29, 2009 1:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tyree's stats

I’m not sure why so many people think Tyree has bad hands. Subjectively, I don’t remember him dropping a lot of easy balls, so I looked up some stats. Tyree has been thrown to 95 times and has 54 catches. That means he catches over 50% of the balls thrown to him (admittedly its a relatively small sample). Amani Toomer has been thrown to over 1200 times and has 668 receptions. Their percentages of balls caught is not that different. Unless you assume that Tyree’s drops were disproportionately on balls that were well thrown and that a high percentage of Toomer’s misses were just bad passes, there’s no real evidence that Tyree has horrible hands. When you factor in that Tyree has only played intermittently on offense, I don’t think his numbers are that terrible. I’m not suggesting that Tyree is a great player by any stretch of the imagination. I assume he’s gotten less playing time because he doesn’t run routes well or get as much separation as other receivers. But what I see is an average receiver, not a stiff.

by Tucker Fredrickson on Mar 29, 2009 7:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Toomer stats: Amani should get DOUBLE BONUS points

for making ALOT of cathes that most receivers wouldn’t have been able to pull in for completions.
Toomer didn’t get to play his whole career with Eli “The LASER” Manning either.

by NY17NE14 on Mar 29, 2009 7:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he's got pretty good hands I think

Not great speed though, straight line or separation-wise

by queler on Mar 30, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cross was a great TE

I got to say he has better body of work. I would compare it to Paul Henderson (a Canadian hockey player) who had a middling NHL career (477 points in 700 games? Not HHOF worthy) but was placed in the Hockey Hall of Fame mainly based on his scoring three straight game winners versus the Russians in the ’72 Summit Series. Great moments, but only a minuscule snapshots of a career that was not worthy of entry.

by brisulph on Mar 30, 2009 8:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How old are you exactly?

It’s Riesenberg, not even close, He cleared the way for Rodney Hampton and kept Reggie White and Charles Mann off Phil, he was rarely mentioned, and for an OT that’s good thing. David made a great play, but it’s just one play.

Conan!, What is good in Football?!

Daa.. to run between the tackles,
To drive the linebackers before you,
And to the lamentations of the cheerleaders.

by The Pale Scot on Apr 1, 2009 5:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Should be..

Conan!, What is good in Football?!
Daa.. to run between the tackles,
To drive the linebackers before you,
And to hear the lamentations of the cheerleaders.

Conan!, What is good in Football?!

Daa.... to run between the tackles,
To drive the linebackers before you,
And to hear the lamentations of the cheerleaders.

by The Pale Scot on Apr 1, 2009 5:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs