The vote for the running backs on our Big Blue View All-Time Giants Team has concluded, and there were no real surprises.
Tiki Barber and Frank Gifford were your choices. Barber garnered 87 votes (52%) and Gifford 34 votes (20%). Joe Morris (21 votes) and Rodney Hampton (18) were third and fourth, respectively.
Now we move on to the final position -- quarterback.
Some of you will no doubt hate this decision, so I will get it out of the way quickly. I am not giving you the option of voting for Eli Manning. Super Bowl MVP or not, Eli hasn't been around long enough or compiled good enough numbers to be considered one of the great Giants quarterbacks of all time.
I think that will change eventually, but this is 2008 -- not 2013 -- and there are too many other great quarterbacks worthy of your vote for me to put Eli in here.
So, here are your candidates. Bios come from AssociatedContent.com.
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Phil Simms -- When Simms was drafted in the first round with the 7th overall pick, New York Giant fans booed the pick. But when he retired after the 1993 season, you could not find a Giants fan who did not love Phil. Simms led the Giants to their first Super Bowl victory in 1986 when the Giants defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI. It was the Giants first league championship since 1956. He was named MVP of Super Bowl XXI by completing 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards and 3 touchdowns. Phil Simms finished his career with 199 touchdown passes and 33,462 yards both first on the Giants all-time list. Simms passed for over 3,000 yards 6 times in his career. Phil's number 11 was retired by the Giants.
Ed's Take:
Simms was the perfect quarterback for the Giants at the perfect time. His career was characterized by toughness, leadership, and dependability. The Giants were hardly an offensive juggernaut in the Simms years, but Simms had a terrific career without terrific weapons to throw to.
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Y.A. Tittle -- In Tittle's brief career in New York he lead the Giants to three straight championship games (1961-1963) but the Giants lost all three. In his four years with the Giants Tittle passed for 96 touchdowns and 10,439 yards. His best season was 1963 when Tittle passed for 36 touchdowns which at the time was an NFL record. The Giants retired Tittle's No. 14 and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
Ed's Take:
Tittle was only a Giant for the final four of his 17 NFL seasons, but will always be thought of as a great Giant. Like Dan Marino, he is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks who never won a title.
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Charlie Conerly -- Conerly led the Giants to the 1956 NFL championship and 2 more championship games in 1958 and 1959. He was voted the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1959 when he threw for 14 touchdowns and 1706 yards. Conerly finished his Giants career with 173 touchdown passes and 19,488 passing yards. The Giants retired Charlie's number 42.
Ed's Take:
It seems that I always think of Tittle, then Conerly, when I think of old-time Giants quarterbacks. That might not be fair. Conerly led the Giants for 14 seasons, and did win a championship.
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Fran Tarkenton -- Tarkenton is widely associated with the Minnesota Vikings, but he spent 5 seasons with the New York Giants. Although the Giants were not very successful during Fran's stint in New York Fran Tarkenton managed to pass for 13,905 and 103 touchdowns in his five seasons. His best season was 1967 when he passed for 29 touchdowns and 3088 yards.
Ed's Take:
Tarkenton, as was pointed out, is best remembered as a Minnesota Viking -- where he spent 13 of his 18-big-league seasons. Tarkenton, however, made four consecutive Pro Bowl appearances with the Giants from 1967-70 and was one of the few bright spots during the Wilderness Years.
As always, vote in the poll for your choice. You have until next Thursday evening to decide.
Big Blue View All-Time Giants Team
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