Looking back at the BBV All-Time Giants Team
by Ed Valentine on Jun 29, 2009 8:32 AM EDT
in New York Giants All-Time Team
Email
PrintWe had a lot of fun last summer naming our Big Blue View All-Time Giants Team. I thought it might be interesting to revisit that team, especially since we have lots of new members around here who have never seen it.
We went position by position and voted on each spot. The team we selected is below.
Coach
Bill Parcells
Kickers
Punter -- Sean Landeta
Placekicker -- Matt Bahr
Defense
Defensive End -- Michael Strahan
Defensive End -- Leonard Marshall
Defensive Tackle -- Roosevelt Grier
Middle Linebacker -- Harry Carson
Middle Linebacker -- Sam Huff
Outside Linebacker -- Lawrence Taylor
Outside Linebacker -- Brad Van Pelt
Cornerback -- Dick Lynch
Cornerback -- Mark Collins
Safety -- Emlen Tunnell
Safety -- Spider Lockhart
Offense
Center -- Mel Hein
Guard -- Ron Stone
Guard -- Chris Snee
Tackle -- Rosey Brown
Tackle -- Jumbo Elliott
Tight End -- Mark Bavaro
Wide Receiver -- Amani Toomer
Wide Receiver -- Homer Jones
Running Back -- Tiki Barber
Running Back -- Frank Gifford
Quarterback -- Phil Simms
I disagree with a couple of the selections. The old-timers will tell you Jack Stroud deserves one of the guard spots. The deeper we get into Chris Snee's career, though, the less I can disagree with putting him here.
Another oldtimer who got dissed for a name more familiar to younger fans is safety Jimmy Patton, a five-time Pro Bowler who lost out to Spider Lockhart.
In the vote for all-time punter, Sean Landeta defeated Jeff Feagles by two -- yes, two -- votes.
So, in retrospect, how do you think we did?
39 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
How close did Carl Banks come to making it?
I loved that guy from the beginning years of being a fan
You play to win the game!
Very close
He lost the last linebacker slot to Van Pelt by two votes — 52-50. By the way, the 102 votes shows how much this site has grown. Now we get way more than 100 votes when we run polls.
If I was around
It would have been 52-51 … then again I’ve only been watching since ’84
You play to win the game!
by Simms-McConkey on Jun 29, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions
In retrospect,
I vote for Weinmeister, Patton (who was a great kick returner as well as being a great DB) and Feagles.
Weinmeister
He’s a guy who belongs on this team. An all-time great.
by Ed Valentine on Jun 29, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions
PS, take the poll now
and a lot of the old-timers who made it then probably wouldn’t make it now, maybe all. I still can’t see taking Phil over YA, but to each his own.
Tough call
I think Tittle was the superior player, but his tenure with the Giants was so short, albeit spectacular, that it’s hard to elevate him over career Giant Simms, especially in light of Simms’ near perfect performance in the SB.
by Tucker Fredrickson on Jun 29, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions
If we confined the team to those
who played more thaan five years for the Giants, there’d be no argument. Yes, Phil had the all-time best QB game in an SB. A good argument can be made that Doug Williams had the second best. Both good QBs, but neither, IMO, worthy of HOF status. Ask someone who’s not a Giants fan about Phil and you won’t get the kind of praise heaped on him by Big Blue supporters. That said, no one admires Phil more than I, not so much because of his on field accomplishments, but for his strong character, his guts, toughness and determination. In those areas, he’s right up there with Conerly, but for pure talent he doesn’t come close to YA or Tarkenton.
Good point about Tark
Tarkenton gets lost in the shuffle a bit because the teams he played with were so awful. The offense in those days was pretty much Tarkenton to Homer Jones and they kept a lot of games exciting. Some of Tarkenton’s scrambles were legendary — he might cover 40 yards and run sideline to sideline in some sort of crazy looping pattern just to keep a play alive.
by Tucker Fredrickson on Jun 29, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
After looking through the stats
You really can’t go wrong with these players. Stats aren’t everything, but more of personal gains.
Whats really odd though, throughout the course of NFL history, and with the evolution of the passing game, the Giants second all-time leader in receptions and third in yards is Tiki Barber. I think Frank Gifford rounds out the other spots for top 3 all-time. You would think WR’s, not RB’s. Historically, not an overwhelmingly star-studded list of WR’s!
Poor Toomer. If he could’ve found another 16 games of playing time throughout his career, he would’be reached the 10,000 yard milestone (503 shy).
It’s to early now, but Marshall might get the boot in another decade? Osi or Tuck? (and no, not the who’s better debate lol)
There is something missing though, seeing how a P is on here, wheres the FB? Off the top of my head, Carthon and Way came up!
Loved Alex,
but I’m not convinced he was better than Phil King. Neither could block like Carthon or Way. Way was one of the last running FBs. They’ve morphed into battering rams clearing the way for HBs.
That was a tough injury
Way had just emerged as a real force when that bone affliction essentially shut him down. He was a powerful blocker and a good enough runner to lead the team in rushing. Webster was even more of a hybrid, as much halfback as full back. A solid, but not devastating blocker. Plus he was a decent receiver too. On peak performance, I’d take Way, but on longevity and overall versatility I might go with Big Red.
Phil King was before my time, so I can’t say where I’d rank him.
I loved Carthon too, although he was not a great runner. I do remember one game, I think it was on a snowy field against Denver maybe, where he got six or seven straight carries on a fourth quarter drive that led to a winning score.
by Tucker Fredrickson on Jun 29, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd take Way,
another sad tale of an RB career cut short by injury.
How dare they
leave the immortal Phiilliiipppiii Sparks? He was one of the hearts of some atrocious defenses in the early 90’s.
Homer: Aw, twenty dollars! I wanted a peanut!
Homer's Brain: Twenty dollars can buy many peanuts!
Homer: Explain how!
Homer's Brain: Money can be exchanged for goods and services!
Homer: Woo-hoo!
by bigbluethruandthru on Jun 29, 2009 11:31 AM EDT reply actions
Not to mention
the father of an American Idol. How many NFL stars can lay claim to that accomplishment?
I didn't vote
for any of the positions where i wasn’t sure of.. The front seven were easy for me.. Carson, LT, Strahan, Marshall, Van Pelt and Huff are some of the great all time giants. I voted Simms for Quarterback, and Landeta for punter. Although Feagles is great.. Landeta was the key to an NFC championship.
By the way Ed- Do you have any plans to do something like this in the Future?
President of the Ramses Barden Fan Club
Almost...
…Big Blue fan for almost 50 years, so I’ve seen quite a few of ‘em. Two I’d change for sure. First, Banks over VanPelt…while VP was very good, Banks is borderline HoF but was overshadowed big time by LT and Harry. Second is Fred Dryer over Marshall. Dryer only played a few seasons with NYG but was superb. Tarkenton/Simms argument is tough too…like Dryer on defense, Tark kept Giants respectable in his years.
I was always a big fan of Freddie's,
a real free-spirited surfer-tyope guy and a hell of a crashing end. Another guy who spent too little time with the Giants. Never understood why they let him go, but know he was dying to get back to CA. His TV show was pretty good to.
borderline HOF
VP almost got in a few times. Anyway he was a Pro bowler 5x in his ten years with the Giants; Banks, once.
because
The greatest Giant ever played his entire career in the 3-4 and most giants fans identify with it because they identify with the great parcells defenses.
President of the Ramses Barden Fan Club
by Hoyadestroya85 on Jun 29, 2009 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Huff and Carson
We determined that Huff and Carson both “had” to be on the team. We also looked at the defensive tackle options there and realized there weren’t good ones. If we had gone 403, Keith Hamilton made the team and Sam Huff did not. That would have been wrong.
by Ed Valentine on Jun 29, 2009 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Preferences
I have been a Giants fan for 50 years and disagree with some of the selections. I think that Tarkenton was a better QB than Simms but got stuck on bad teams. Is the all-time list determined by ability and individual accomplishments or by team success? If the latter, then only the 1956 team and the three super bowl winners count, which is not really fair.
Other suggestions:
Andy Robustelli over Leonard Marshall
Jack Stroud was as good as Ron Stone; I like Chris Snee, but I think it is a little early in his career for “all-time”.
Carl Banks vs Brad Van Pelt is a tossup. It was amazing how quickly Banks’ skills deteriorated after 1990.
I think the biggest mistake is the omission of wide receiver Del Shofner, a five-time all-pro who was Y A Tittle’s favorite target and was better than either Amani Toomer or Homer Jomes.
Mickey C
Fun debate
I figured some folks who didn’t get a chance to vote would enjoy this. That has turned out to be the case.
by Ed Valentine on Jun 29, 2009 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree re
Robustelli. I’d call shofner and Jones a toss-up. Both were more dangerous than Amani. Amani gotfor two reasons:
He played more rcently. Most BBVers don’t remember Del or Homer.
He played more years with the Giants than the other two combined. Therefore, his overall stats are better than either.
i think about half way though
you convinced me I should have gone Robustelli over Marshall. I don’t feel bad about Simms and Toomer, to me those guys define all-time and Giant
Old School
Wow, some of you guys have been Giants’ fans longer than I’ve been alive. I’m a huge Giants’ fan myself but you guys make me realize how much of the history I still don’t know. My hat is off to you “All-Time” fans. I’m sure sitting a table with you guys would be endless hours of great Giant information.
School is now in session
I’m with you on that those thoughts. For instance, Tucker Fredrickson. I didn’t know he was a RB, i thought he was someone, like myself, just posting away. Same with Shofner, an actual Giants player. Kind of like i know Simms-McConkey and Bradshaw.
As for these all-time players that have been brought up, or others for strong consideration, you have to stop and look into these players from the past. Obviously, they must have been the best at the time. They’ve been carried into the memories of some on here for years. It’s really impressive. Thanks!
Hopefully i can do the same in 20 years and will be mentioning Strahan and L.T.!
More preferences
The Giants have had several good punters. I would submit Dave jennings for consideration – four pro bowls. I have a soft spot for Jennings because he went to a Div III school, as I did. However, I would vote for Landeta, one of the few players who was voted to two NFL All-Decade teams – 1980s and 1990s – a recognition that neither Jennings nor Feagles can match.
I understand how Toomer was elected instead of Shofner, but stats can be misleading. I remember a lot of people declaring Barry Bonds the greatest hitter of all time, with me arguing vehemently that he was not in the same league as Ted Williams. If I could set up a 47-man roster of all-time Giants, I would be happy to have Toomer on it, but I would start Shofner.
Tucker Frederickson was like Kyle Rote – because of injuries, we will never know how good they could have been.
To njgiant – I don’t know if the hours would be endless or they would just seem that way…
Mickey C
Dave Meggett
We need a spot for K/P returner! Dave Meggett had 7 career return TD’s with the Giants (6 Punt, 1 KR).
All Time Giant defensive tackle amd offensive guard
- Rosey Grier was good, but John Mendenhall and or Jim Burt were better. As for Ron Stone all time guard – no way! By the time the Cowboys let Stone go he was an old man. How about Jack Stroud or Billy Ard
Bradshaw amd Tynes
Count me in as one big Ahmad Bradshaw fan. If Bradshaw gets the carries that Ward got last year, he will burn up the league with his speed, power, quickness, and toughness.
One more thing, does anybody think it is absolute insanity to let John Carney go (he missed 2 field goals last year) and keep Lawrence (he puts the thrill back in the extra point) Tynes!? It’s way too high a price to pay for the extra 5 yards that Tynes gets on his kick offs.
He will cost the Giants at least 3 games this year with botched field goals.
Tiki Barber
I can’t agree with his inclusion. How can a player with so many negatives be great? To me Tiki was Dave Kingman. He hit a lot of home runs but struck out constantly. Tiki was probably the greatest home run hitter of all the Giant’s running backs. I think you are rating him solely on his positives and forgetting all the times he struck out.
Tiki had three really good years, that’s it. Some of the prior seven were ok yardswise but were ruined by his averaging NINE fumbles a season. Tiki was also not a complete runner. He was a bounce to the outside guy. When Tiki was starting the Giants could not pick up third and one to save their lives. Tiki was also a poor teammate. Always ready to toss a teammate or coach under a bus. He was one of the locker room cancers they are so much better without.
It is hard for me to classify someone as great when the year after he retires the team’s running attack doesn’t miss a beat. And, in my opinion, is better without all the negative yardage plays Tiki gave up and with vastly improved short yardage running.
If you like home runs Tiki’s your guy. I personally would take Morris or Hampton or Jacobs or any number of other guys who won’t kill the team with fumbles and then throw me under the bus after the game whining how we were “outcoached”. Tiki had a career because he played mostly for Jim Fassel who was extremely forgiving of mistakes. Had Parcels been his coach you wouldn’t even remember Barber’s name.
Mendenhall and Gregory
This is great!! Posting with all these great Jints fans…I’ve been bleeding Big Blue since ‘67….I saw one post mention John Mendenhall…He and Jack Gregory get overlooked because of those dreadful teams in th’70’s…
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
Related FanPosts on Big Blue View
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Get Your Giants' Gear
SBNation.com Recent Stories
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Ahmad Bradshaw says Cowboys won’t win with Tony Romo at QB
- Cruz: Manningham’s Super catch wasn’t drawn up that way
- Whitney Houston performed the greatest national anthem in sports history (video)
- Justin Tuck visits New York City cop who survived gunshot wound to head
- The Giants won the ‘Brain Bowl,’ too
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
