NFL: The New York Giants’ “All-Fun” Team
The New York Giants didn’t make any flashy moves in this year's free agency, which flew by during this chaotic time in our country. Giants fans were looking for a big player to cap off their free agency, a guy that would allow them to say they have the talent now on their defense that could help the team right away. But head coach Joe Judge and general manager Dave Gettleman didn’t fall into the temptation of paying top money for an edge rusher, or even a cornerback like Byron Jones.
Instead, they were smart with the money they had, and were able to sign proven players to short-term contracts which wouldn’t destroy their salary cap.
There was another distinct similarity that each of the new additions to this New York Giants team shared: Each player had a connection to a coach on Joe Judge’s staff. Whether it was James Bradberry, the former Panther who was signed to be the Giants number 1 corner, or former packer Blake Martinez who led the league in tackles just last season, the connections are striking:
James Bradberry, CB (signed for three years, $45M) Picked by Gettleman in CAR
Blake Martinez, LB (signed for three years, $30M) Played under DC Patrick Graham in 2018
Levine Toilolo, TE (signed for two years, $6.2M)
Kyler Fackrell, EDGE (signed for one year, $4.6M) Also played under Patrick Graham DC.
Colt McCoy, QB (signed for one-year, $2.25M) played against the Giants during tenure in DC.
Nate Ebner, S (signed for one year) a special teams ace for Joe Judge for 4 years in NE.
It is going to be important for the Giants fan base to have patience with the front office making these deals, which knew they weren’t going to Tampa in February.The current state our country is in doesn’t give us the gift of sports, but it seems like a good time to look back on Giants that made this team so great. So, as yawns may fill the houses of Giants fans we’ll give them the most fun team of all time Giants. This list is something the Giants fans are hungry for right now. Whether it was about the character or charisma of these players they were all special in New York during their careers.
QB - Eli Manning - Eli’s quirky personality and quiet leadership have been the identity of the Giants for over a decade. Other players seem to love Eli inside and outside the locker room, which is shown in instances like when we saw Daniel Jones and Eli playing a game of flip cup in a New Jersey bar just this year.
RB - Saquon Barkley - The motor Barkley brings to the table is unreal. His build is almost superhero-like, and his mentality is just as good. Every time the Penn State product touches the ball, viewers have no clue what could happen, and that is what makes him one of the most unique Giants ever.
WR1- Odell Beckham Jr - Odell’s five-year career in New York felt like ten years. The off-the-field drama was always annoying to hear about, but on Sundays, there was something about his game that all Giants fans could appreciate. The possibility of throwing it anywhere near him and having him be able make a play was one thing Giants fans were obsessed with, and still even talk about to this day.
WR2- Plaxico Burress- “Plax” was a special player in New York who will always be remembered for catching the final touchdown as the G-Men took down Brady and Moss in 2007. But Burress' build and height was something that Eli relied on, and never really had after Burress derailed the 2008 season by shooting himself by accident at a New York club.
WR3 - Victor Cruz - A lot of Giants fans still to this day will say Victor Cruz was their favorite player. There are so many memories that fans can look back on when he made clutch plays to extend their magical 2012 run. Whether it was the first salsa dance when he came out of nowhere vs Philadelphia in 2011, or when he went 99 yards vs the Jets in the same year, this guy was electric in his prime and had the whole stadium rooting for him.
TE- Jeremy Shockey - Maybe it was the hair, or the toughness with which he played, but Jeremy Shockey was always loved by Giants fans. He defined what it meant to be a New York Giant in the 2000’s, and will surely never be forgotten when talking about Giants from the past.
LT- David Diehl - Many now know of Diehl as being an important piece of the Giants media coverage after he retired, but during the ten years he played for the Giants he was a huge part of two Super Bowl runs, as well as a tackle for Eli Manning for a decade. He knows what culture you need to win a championship, and will always be known as a true Giant.
LG- Kevin Boothe - Boothe was a Giant for 6 years at the start of his career. He didn’t play as much as expected, but became a key piece in Eli’s second playoff run starting all 16 games at left guard through 2012-2013.
C- Shaun O’Hara - O’hara has done quite well with his life after football, as he is a popular voice on the NFL network. He played for 7 seasons in the Meadowlands, and never missed a start. He’s a Jersey kid who went to Rutgers, and the Giants could even use him on their roster now with the consistency and leadership he brought to the table.
RG- Chris Snee - Another Jersey kid who played 9 years as a Giant and rarely missed a start finds his way on this list. Having guys like O’Hara and Snee on your roster can unite a team. The Giants have shown they like prospects cut from this similar cloth. Having Jersey toughness in you and fighting in Giants blue seem to go hand and hand.
RT- Kareem Mckenzie - Mckenzie was a Jet to start his career, then ended up finishing his career with the Giants, which makes his success come even sweeter. This guy was as solid as it got. The Giants haven’t had a tackle with his talent since he retired in 2014 and for sure deserves a spot on this list.
DT Damon Harrison - Most Giants fans remember the franchise signing a free big names in 2016 that ruined their cap room for the next few seasons. But the one player that fans seemed to connect with the most in that class was Harrison. The nickname “Snacks” fit him perfectly, with the big tackle and clogging up the middle during his years in New York. There was no one like him in the league, a friendly face who excelled at what he did best.
DE- Michael Strahan- Strahan is the Giants all time sack leader, and was Defensive Player of the Year in both 2001 and 2003. His smile will never be forgotten, and Michael is a guy that brings everyone together in a room. He is now showing he can be just as effective off the Gridiron: Fans still see Strahan on huge talk shows, whether it was “Good Morning America” or even the NFL Sunday Kickoff show on Fox.
DE -Andy Rostubelli- Rostubelli was an emotional leader in the late 1950’s for the Giants, and he was a main part of orchestrating a 1956 championship team. The switch he made from wideout to Edge seemed like a good one, and he was able to make 7 pro bowls and all-pro teams. If they kept his sack total he would rank close in regards to Strahan's sack totals as a Giant.
LOLB- Carl Banks- Banks was always on the cusp of making it to the hall of fame. This year he is even one of 25 semifinalists for the 2020 class. But his career in New York was like no other during the 1980s. He is still the radio face for Giants football, he made the 1980’s all decade team, and was a great sidekick to Lawrence Taylor. Banks is still involved in the Giants organization, whether it’s to mentor current players or have a voice to share with the coaching staff. The Giants keeping him around the team this long proves that he had the mentality that they still desire to bring into this locker room.
MLB- Harry Carson- Like Banks, Carson is still a face of the Giants media coverage, continuing to help mentor young giants and report on what is to come for the fans. Carson was also able to break through and reach the pro football hall of fame in 2006. He played his whole 12 year career with the Giants and is a staple in their history, especially in the 1980’s.
MLB- Antonio Pierce- Pierce was a hard-nosed football player, and the heartbeat for the 2007 squad to lean on. His physicality and toughness were shown every Sunday, and seemed to be one of the best vocal leaders the Giants have had in decades. The plays he made in the 2007 playoff run were memorable and defined the mentality that Big Blue was going to use to get to the Super Bowl.
ROLB- Lawrence Taylor- This one explains itself. Lawrence Taylor is one of the greatest football players to ever live. He punished quarterbacks for 13 seasons and is what every Giants fan will always want in every linebacker they ever draft or sign. But, there will never be another like Taylor. He almost has a Jordan-esque effect on football that still shows to this day.
CB1- Jason Sehorn- One of the most popular Giants players, he was known for making crafty, high-effort plays, even playing on the kick return team while also playing as the number 1 corner. Unfortunately, that was also the downfall of his career: Sehorn was injured in 1998 on a kick return, diminishing his speed and busting up his knee. But no one will ever forget the pick-six he made against Philly in 2001, considering Giants fans haven’t seen them outperform Philadelphia like that in several years.
CB2- Corey Webster- Webster struggled early, and he was picked on early and often. But Webster was able to get his act together eventually, and he became the player the Giants expected out at the right time. He will always be known for picking off Brett Farve in the NFC Championship’s overtime that sealed the Giant's tickets to play the Patriots in Super Bowl 42.
FS Antrel Rolle- Rolle was part of the second Super Bowl run that Manning and coach Tom Coughlin put together. He stuck with the Giants till 2014 and was always a fan favorite. Antrel was a vocal leader on the backend, as well as a ball hawk that the Giants have still yet to replace. Rolle moved all around the field, playing some strong safety as well. I think Dave Gettleman would love to take a player of his caliber to take accountability in that secondary right now.
SS- Jabrill Peppers- Many of you are probably thinking the wrong pepper made this list, as Pepper Johnson just missed being a part of the linebacking core. But Jabrill Peppers has always been exciting to watch as a Wolverine and a Brown. Expectations should be even higher now, considering he is playing at home in front of his family. Peppers’ athletic ability is still unique for an average NFL player, and he will be fun to watch grow.
All statistics according to https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyg/2007_roster.htm or
https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/new-york-giants/roster/2011
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