Dick Modzelewski.
There are players younger generations of New York Giants fans are probably more familiar with -- including Luke Petitgout -- but none who match the contributions made by Modzelewski during the team's glory years of the 1950s and early '60s.
Here is an excerpt about Modzelewski from Lew Freedman's 'New York Giants: The Complete Illustrated History.'
Modzelewski stood 6-feet-1 and weighed 255 pounds, but [Sam] Huff called him "one of the strongest people I've ever seen." New York Times columnist Arthur Daley reported a public sighting of Modzelewski in street clothes in a hotel lobby, writing that an elderly man, considerably smaller than the player, asked "Pardon me, sir, don't you ever take off your shoulder pads." It only looked that way.
In his 11-year career, Modzelewski never missed a game. I would love to hear stories from some of the old-timers recalling what they remember about Modzelewski.
Other Notables Who Wore 77
- Petitgout was a starting offensive lineman for eight seasons (1999-2006) before finishing his career with a single season in Tampa Bay. Most likely, you recall his penchat for false-start penalties. I always called him "Penalty-Gout."
- Eric Dorsey was drafted by the Giants in the first round of the 1986 draft, but never became the dominant defensive end the team hoped for. In seven seasons as an occasional starter, Dorsey compiled just seven quarterback sacks.
- Troy Archer is one of the more tragic figures in Giants' history, and thinking of him reminds how lucky current third-round pick Chad Jones is to simply be alive today. Archer was killed in an auto accident during the team's training camp in 1979. A defensive tackle, Archer was the team's No. 1 pick (13th overall) in 1976.