any so-titled list that doesn't start with LT is rendered too silly to be considered seriously.
For fun, here's mine (with caveat, I started following the Giants circa 1980)...with a general criteria of greatness, longevity, how good they were in their prime, meaning to the organization, and playing big when it counted most:
or they consider all the picks equal, but if it's 1 through 5 ranked, then L.T. is not ranked correctly, he is, above and beyond everybody else on the list the greatest Giant player of all time......he's probably the 2nd or 3rd best player to play, regardless of team, and the top defensive player of all-time
1. Taylor
2. Strahan
3. Carson
4. Manning
5. Simms
Near misses: Tiki Barber and Mark Bavaro. Tiki had a much longer career, but they are similar in that they were both dominant for about three years - Bavaro at the beginning of his career, Tiki at the end of his.
1. LT
2. Frank Gifford
3. Rosey Brown
4. Michael Strahan
5. Andy Robustelli
This was harder than I thought it would be. Making a list of all time Giants that doesn't include Mel Hein or Sam Huff just seems wrong but if you are drawing the line at 5 this is my 5.
... is like keeping babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig off a Yankees list.
Eight times an All-Pro center, the NFL's MVP in 1938; center of two NFL Championship teams; played in 7 total NFL championship games. First class inductee in pro football HOF in 1963 and member of the NFL's 50th and 75th All time NFL teams. Let's not forget what this guy meant to the franchise.
Probably #2 on list after LT. Throw in Gifford, Manning and Rosy Brown and there's your top 5.
... is like keeping babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig off a Yankees list.
Eight times an All-Pro center, the NFL's MVP in 1938; center of two NFL Championship teams; played in 7 total NFL championship games. First class inductee in pro football HOF in 1963 and member of the NFL's 50th and 75th All time NFL teams. Let's not forget what this guy meant to the franchise.
Probably #2 on list after LT. Throw in Gifford, Manning and Rosy Brown and there's your top 5.
Kinard, absolutely right. the only thing is no one
they've never seen play ... it's like saying "Mighty Mouse" belongs on there, because if you haven't actually seen someone play, then he is basically a fictional player you heard about but have no personal basis for making any comparison. None at all.
Further, what makes someone a "great Giant"? Tiki Barber was probably the best running back that ever played for the Giants organization, but he sure as hell was not a great Giant. In fact, imo he was a disruptive force and a fucked up teammate who ruined the lockeroom cohesion of the teams he played on. He was the Terrell Owens of the Giants. Certainly a great running back, but sure as hell not a Great Giant.
To me, to make a list of Great Giants, you must have been a great player as well as a great leader. When I think of leaders, someone like George Martin comes to mind. Or a Van Pelt and Carson. Taylor and Simms. Bavaro and Banks. A Strahan or Mannning.
For fun, here's mine (with caveat, I started following the Giants circa 1980)...with a general criteria of greatness, longevity, how good they were in their prime, meaning to the organization, and playing big when it counted most:
1. LT
2. Eli
3. Strahan
4. Tiki
5. Simms
Nevertheless, a good list.
Nevertheless, a good list.
2) Frank Gifford
3) Emlen Tunnell
4) Harry Carson
5) Eli Manning
LT is the greatest Giant ever and it's really not close.
Shit, he's one of the best players in history. Period.
LT
Strahan
Tiki
Eli
Simms
Honorable mention: Carson, Bavaro, Hampton, Banks, Toomer
All time is tough because I didn't see some real greats. Here is my crack:
LT
Strahan
Gifford
Huff
Roosevelt Brown
???
2. Strahan
3. Carson
4. Manning
5. Simms
Near misses: Tiki Barber and Mark Bavaro. Tiki had a much longer career, but they are similar in that they were both dominant for about three years - Bavaro at the beginning of his career, Tiki at the end of his.
2. Frank Gifford
3. Rosey Brown
4. Michael Strahan
5. Andy Robustelli
This was harder than I thought it would be. Making a list of all time Giants that doesn't include Mel Hein or Sam Huff just seems wrong but if you are drawing the line at 5 this is my 5.
1. LT
2. Carson
3. Tiki
4. Strahan
5. Eli
Honorable mention: Armstead, Bavaro, Banks, Simms, Toomer, Cruz.
Simms
Gifford
Carson
Spider Lockhart
Guess who made the list....
Yup...you guessed it....the 2007 Pats.
Thanks, try the veal.
Oh those top 25 lists.,... - ( New Window )
Eli
Stray
Tiki
Huff
6 - 10
Sims
Carson
Em Tunnell
Rosey Brown
Connerly
hon mention
Toomer
Bavaro
hard to say about the players before the 50's - like Benny Friedman for example
2. Baba.
3. Oglas.
4. Goliath.
5. Jolly Green.
1. Jim Brown
2. Lawrence Taylor
3. let the debate begin
Eight times an All-Pro center, the NFL's MVP in 1938; center of two NFL Championship teams; played in 7 total NFL championship games. First class inductee in pro football HOF in 1963 and member of the NFL's 50th and 75th All time NFL teams. Let's not forget what this guy meant to the franchise.
Probably #2 on list after LT. Throw in Gifford, Manning and Rosy Brown and there's your top 5.
2-Eli
3-Rosy Brown
4-Gifford
5-Tunnell
TITTLE
BARBER
BANKS
Eight times an All-Pro center, the NFL's MVP in 1938; center of two NFL Championship teams; played in 7 total NFL championship games. First class inductee in pro football HOF in 1963 and member of the NFL's 50th and 75th All time NFL teams. Let's not forget what this guy meant to the franchise.
Probably #2 on list after LT. Throw in Gifford, Manning and Rosy Brown and there's your top 5.
Dryer was a cop and Stepfanie Kramer was da bomb.
Maybe Fran was my second favorite after Joe Morrison.
Eli
Harry
Simms
Bavaro
That being stated.
1) Lawrence Taylor
2) Roosevelt Brown
3) Mel Hein
4) Emlen Tunnell
5) Frank Gifford
2) Gifford
3) Strahan
4) Huff
5) Eli
5b) Hein (on stats, never saw him obviously).
2) Gifford
3) Strahan
4) Huff
5) Eli
5b) Hein (on stats, never saw him obviously).
3. Emlen Tunnell
4. Rosey Brown
5. Michael Strahan
ELI
Carson
LT
Strahan
Should have Bavaro, Hampton, Marshall, Simms and if I had enough time I could probably think of another 55
Zeke Mowatt
Dave Brown
Jarrod Bunch
Cedric Jones
Further, what makes someone a "great Giant"? Tiki Barber was probably the best running back that ever played for the Giants organization, but he sure as hell was not a great Giant. In fact, imo he was a disruptive force and a fucked up teammate who ruined the lockeroom cohesion of the teams he played on. He was the Terrell Owens of the Giants. Certainly a great running back, but sure as hell not a Great Giant.
To me, to make a list of Great Giants, you must have been a great player as well as a great leader. When I think of leaders, someone like George Martin comes to mind. Or a Van Pelt and Carson. Taylor and Simms. Bavaro and Banks. A Strahan or Mannning.