I never saw him play...but he was more than just a great player, he was, according to accounts, a changing player.
I did see Joe Morrisson play and when I read that his number was retired I was shocked. I thought they might have meant Joe Morris. I don't know what I missed but MOrrisson was a little below a journeyman - at least that's how I saw it. I didn't think he was good enough to start so they switched him around and I saw his versatility as weakness not strength.
I'd love to hear someone elsw who saw him make a case for him, but I sure can't.
It is interesting to me and somewhat unaccountable that we have had only one player who could be called the best ever at his position...While other, lesser or newer franchises, have had several. While not an immortal, I would rate Roosey Brown as perhaps the second best Giant after LT that I have been privilieged to see.
I think we're looking at a contender right now in Beckham.
I never saw him play...but he was more than just a great player, he was, according to accounts, a changing player.
I did see Joe Morrisson play and when I read that his number was retired I was shocked. I thought they might have meant Joe Morris. I don't know what I missed but MOrrisson was a little below a journeyman - at least that's how I saw it. I didn't think he was good enough to start so they switched him around and I saw his versatility as weakness not strength.
I'd love to hear someone elsw who saw him make a case for him, but I sure can't.
It is interesting to me and somewhat unaccountable that we have had only one player who could be called the best ever at his position...While other, lesser or newer franchises, have had several. While not an immortal, I would rate Roosey Brown as perhaps the second best Giant after LT that I have been privilieged to see.
I think we're looking at a contender right now in Beckham.
joe morrison 's # was retired by mistake when he had his day i am not sure who said that the giants were retiring his number it was not planned
As always, I extend my own to Eric for his editing. The articles are always better after he reviews them.
Thanks as always Larry..
To anyone who doubts the greatness of Joe Morrison, I'll say this: He played, Halfback, Fullback, QB, TE, Flanker, Wideout, Safety, CB and possibly punted at times(not sure)..He was solid at any position he was asked to play..Never a superstar or All-pro except to his teammates and fans..He was definitely worthy of a retired number, imv
At the press conference after the final game of the 1972 season Joe Morrisnon announced he was retiring. When coach Alex Webster has his turn at the mic he stated nobody would wear #40 for the Giants again.
Wellington Mara was in the room and when he heard Webster say that he was surprised as it had never been discussed, but he decided he was OK with it.
At the press conference after the final game of the 1972 season Joe Morrisnon announced he was retiring. When coach Alex Webster has his turn at the mic he stated nobody would wear #40 for the Giants again.
Wellington Mara was in the room and when he heard Webster say that he was surprised as it had never been discussed, but he decided he was OK with it.
At the press conference after the final game of the 1972 season Joe Morrisnon announced he was retiring. When coach Alex Webster has his turn at the mic he stated nobody would wear #40 for the Giants again.
Wellington Mara was in the room and when he heard Webster say that he was surprised as it had never been discussed, but he decided he was OK with it.
I didn't know that either. Makes sense now because Morrison is the only one who really sticks out as a head-scratcher. He had versatility and longevity on his side, but retired number?
He was a versatile player, seeing action at halfback, fullback, tight end, wide receiver and even safety on defense. He was named most valuable player by the National Football League Touchdown Club in 1972. That year, the Giants retired his number, 40.
''He was the ultimate team player,'' Wellington Mara, the Giants' owner, said tonight. ''He would do anything you asked him. Run the ball, catch play on the special teams, anything.''
Mr. Morrison is the Giants' career leader in receptions with 395 covering 4,993 yards and 47 touchdowns. He gained 2,472 yards rushing in his career on 677 carries, scoring 18 rushing touchdowns. His 65 career touchdowns rank him fourth in the history of the Giants with 390 points.
He was a versatile player, seeing action at halfback, fullback, tight end, wide receiver and even safety on defense. He was named most valuable player by the National Football League Touchdown Club in 1972. That year, the Giants retired his number, 40.
''He was the ultimate team player,'' Wellington Mara, the Giants' owner, said tonight. ''He would do anything you asked him. Run the ball, catch play on the special teams, anything.''
Mr. Morrison is the Giants' career leader in receptions with 395 covering 4,993 yards and 47 touchdowns. He gained 2,472 yards rushing in his career on 677 carries, scoring 18 rushing touchdowns. His 65 career touchdowns rank him fourth in the history of the Giants with 390 points.
If memory serves (other fans of that era can weigh in), He actually took some snaps as a QB(behind center) from time to time..Am I misremembering?
Not the big, lumbering OT of his era, but an agile, athletic "coach on the field" who was also physically dominating. When Frank Gifford passed and they were showing all those highlights of him, I really focused on watching Rosie get out on the Lombardi sweep and option plays. Incredible.
Tunnell was the forerunner of the modern FS who could hit, support the run and play CF.
2 tremendous players and people. My father always told us how great they were to watch
Wellington Mara had overheard the discussion and intervened, “We didn’t know you felt like this, and I promise you in the future we won’t go anywhere we can’t stay together.”
I met Rosie Brown one year at camp ,he was just sitting in the stands watching practice .Very nice man ..I Agree that Tunnell and Browns numbers should definitely be retired and so should Harry Carson's .Strahan's will be eventually and iam surprised its not already
8x Pro Bowler
8x All Pro according to Pro Football Reference
Won a ring with the '56 team
1950's All Decade Team
NFL's 50th Anniversary team
Retired the all time career INT leader. To this day he's still second all-time in career INT's (79) and did it at a time when the league still predominantly ran the ball.
After he retired he was a scout for the Giants from '63-'65 and an assistant coach from '65 until his untimely death at the age of 50 in 1973.
How many other players represent "Once a Giant, always a Giant" more than that and DOESN'T have their number retired?
without mention of the Gold Dust Twins...And I'll leave it up to someone else to explain...'cause it's juicy.
I don't think Joe Morrisson was good at anything, I don't think he was a star and don't think he even deserved a day. He wasn't moved because he was good , if he was moved it's because he aspired to ordinary...Gifford came up as a defensive back and had versatility to, but a very different player.
I'm no authority so I'll concede to anyone who studied him in more depth, but that's my memory of those days.
And I'll go further...If Roosey Brown's number isn't retired it's a disgrace.
without mention of the Gold Dust Twins...And I'll leave it up to someone else to explain...'cause it's juicy.
I don't think Joe Morrisson was good at anything, I don't think he was a star and don't think he even deserved a day. He wasn't moved because he was good , if he was moved it's because he aspired to ordinary...Gifford came up as a defensive back and had versatility to, but a very different player.
I'm no authority so I'll concede to anyone who studied him in more depth, but that's my memory of those days.
And I'll go further...If Roosey Brown's number isn't retired it's a disgrace.
Morrison was moved because he was sorely needed in other areas..There was no one else to fill the positions he was asked to fill, or at least wasn't as good as he would be in said positions..He was special imv, because whatever void we had, he filled and filled without the position missing a beat..That's under the radar special, imo
I think the Ring of Honor is fine. You don't want to make a joke out Â
retired-number thing. Would anybody alive really be offended to see a Giant wear Mel Hein's uniform number? Does keeping Tuffy Leemans' number off the field really help anybody remember him?
Ring of Honor is better. Un-retire all numbers, I say. but be careful about who you give them to. Don't run a rookie 7th round pick onto the field in the first preseason game wearing #56. Or any of those now-retired #s.
retired-number thing. Would anybody alive really be offended to see a Giant wear Mel Hein's uniform number? Does keeping Tuffy Leemans' number off the field really help anybody remember him?
Ring of Honor is better. Un-retire all numbers, I say. but be careful about who you give them to. Don't run a rookie 7th round pick onto the field in the first preseason game wearing #56. Or any of those now-retired #s.
Good idea. Way too many pedestrian players have been given Harry Carson's # 53.
Sicne there has been so much interest in retired numbers Â
These are the players who've worn the three numbers most discussed here.
Tunnell's #45
Quote:
Homer Jones 1964-69
Pete Athas 1971-74
Alan Caldwell 1979-79
Leon Bright 1981-83
Jim Yarbrough 1987
Gary Downs 1996
Greg Comella 1998
Craig Walendy 2000
Charles Stackhouse 2002
Henry Hynoski 2011-14
Brown's #79
Quote:
Bruce Anderson 1967-69
Jim Norton 1970
Vern Vanoy 1971
Carter Campbell 1972-73
Al Simpson 1975-76
Mike Gibbons 1977
Mike McCoy 1979-80
Dale Markham 1980
Dee Hardison 1981-85
Bill Berthusen 1987
George Thornton 1993
Bernard Holsey 1996-99
Jeremiah Parker 2000
Bob Jones 2002
Guy Whimper 2006-07
Damontre Moore 2013
Stephen Goodin 2013
Carson's #53
Quote:
Lance Scott 1997-98
Brandon Short 2000-03
Wesly Mallard 2004
Reggie Torbor 2005-07
Bryan Kehl 2008-09
Keith Bulluck 2010
Greg Jones 2011
Dan Connor 2013
Jameel McClain 2014
Jasper Brinkley 2015
Great! 2 stories in one. Interesting information about not only 2 great Giants, but the how league was to black players before and during that era. Black players were usually chosen in the late rounds of the draft in those days. The next "chapter" of blacks in pro football came with the AFL. The AFL didn't have limits on blacks and drafted them with higher picks. The AFL also had a major racial problem at one of its all star games forcing it to be moved from New Orleans? to Houston? around 1966?
As for Tunnell and Brown, the reason I clicked on it, great, great job!! Thanks sharing your time and effort, it's well appreciated.
I did see Joe Morrisson play and when I read that his number was retired I was shocked. I thought they might have meant Joe Morris. I don't know what I missed but MOrrisson was a little below a journeyman - at least that's how I saw it. I didn't think he was good enough to start so they switched him around and I saw his versatility as weakness not strength.
I'd love to hear someone elsw who saw him make a case for him, but I sure can't.
It is interesting to me and somewhat unaccountable that we have had only one player who could be called the best ever at his position...While other, lesser or newer franchises, have had several. While not an immortal, I would rate Roosey Brown as perhaps the second best Giant after LT that I have been privilieged to see.
I think we're looking at a contender right now in Beckham.
BTW, two of my favorite Giants of all time.
I did see Joe Morrisson play and when I read that his number was retired I was shocked. I thought they might have meant Joe Morris. I don't know what I missed but MOrrisson was a little below a journeyman - at least that's how I saw it. I didn't think he was good enough to start so they switched him around and I saw his versatility as weakness not strength.
I'd love to hear someone elsw who saw him make a case for him, but I sure can't.
It is interesting to me and somewhat unaccountable that we have had only one player who could be called the best ever at his position...While other, lesser or newer franchises, have had several. While not an immortal, I would rate Roosey Brown as perhaps the second best Giant after LT that I have been privilieged to see.
I think we're looking at a contender right now in Beckham.
joe morrison 's # was retired by mistake when he had his day i am not sure who said that the giants were retiring his number it was not planned
Thanks as always Larry..
To anyone who doubts the greatness of Joe Morrison, I'll say this: He played, Halfback, Fullback, QB, TE, Flanker, Wideout, Safety, CB and possibly punted at times(not sure)..He was solid at any position he was asked to play..Never a superstar or All-pro except to his teammates and fans..He was definitely worthy of a retired number, imv
New York Giants Retired Jersey Numbers - ( New Window )
No. . . . . . Player. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Giants Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Year Retired
1. . . . . . . Ray Flaherty. . . . . . . . . . End-Assistant Coach (1928-29, 1931-35) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1935
4. . . . . . . Tuffy Leemans. . . . . . . . Back (1936-1943) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1940
7. . . . . . . Mel Hein. . . . . . . . . . . . . Center-Linebacker (1931-45) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1963
11. . . . . . Phil Simms. . . . . . . . . . . Quarterback (1979-1993). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1995
14 . . . . . Ward Cuff. . . . . . . . . . . . WB, HB, DB and Kicker (1937-45) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1946
14*. . . . . Y.A. Tittle . . . . . . . . . . . Quarterback (1961-64). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1965
16. . . . . . Frank Gifford . . . . . . . . Halfback (1952-64). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000
32. . . . . . Al Blozis. . . . . . . . . . . . . Tackle (1942-44). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1945
40. . . . . . Joe Morrison . . . . . . . . . End-Halfback (1959-72) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1972
42. . . . . . Charlie Conerly . . . . . . . Quarterback (1948-61). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1962
50. . . . . . Ken Strong . . . . . . . . . . Fullback-Kicker (1933-35, 1939, 1944-47) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1947
56. . . . . . Lawrence Taylor. . . . . . . Linebacker (1981-93) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1994
Wellington Mara was in the room and when he heard Webster say that he was surprised as it had never been discussed, but he decided he was OK with it.
Wellington Mara was in the room and when he heard Webster say that he was surprised as it had never been discussed, but he decided he was OK with it.
Great anecdote Larry..Never knew this
Wellington Mara was in the room and when he heard Webster say that he was surprised as it had never been discussed, but he decided he was OK with it.
I didn't know that either. Makes sense now because Morrison is the only one who really sticks out as a head-scratcher. He had versatility and longevity on his side, but retired number?
''He was the ultimate team player,'' Wellington Mara, the Giants' owner, said tonight. ''He would do anything you asked him. Run the ball, catch play on the special teams, anything.''
Mr. Morrison is the Giants' career leader in receptions with 395 covering 4,993 yards and 47 touchdowns. He gained 2,472 yards rushing in his career on 677 carries, scoring 18 rushing touchdowns. His 65 career touchdowns rank him fourth in the history of the Giants with 390 points.
Quote:
He was a versatile player, seeing action at halfback, fullback, tight end, wide receiver and even safety on defense. He was named most valuable player by the National Football League Touchdown Club in 1972. That year, the Giants retired his number, 40.
''He was the ultimate team player,'' Wellington Mara, the Giants' owner, said tonight. ''He would do anything you asked him. Run the ball, catch play on the special teams, anything.''
Mr. Morrison is the Giants' career leader in receptions with 395 covering 4,993 yards and 47 touchdowns. He gained 2,472 yards rushing in his career on 677 carries, scoring 18 rushing touchdowns. His 65 career touchdowns rank him fourth in the history of the Giants with 390 points.
If memory serves (other fans of that era can weigh in), He actually took some snaps as a QB(behind center) from time to time..Am I misremembering?
If memory serves (other fans of that era can weigh in), He actually took some snaps as a QB(behind center) from time to time..Am I misremembering?
He did, sporadically. Lifetime he was 3-6-44-0-1 passing.
Quote:
If memory serves (other fans of that era can weigh in), He actually took some snaps as a QB(behind center) from time to time..Am I misremembering?
He did, sporadically. Lifetime he was 3-6-44-0-1 passing.
Whew..Thought I was perhaps imagining things..:)
Tunnell was the forerunner of the modern FS who could hit, support the run and play CF.
2 tremendous players and people. My father always told us how great they were to watch
This is the quote that floored my wife:
Wellington Mara had overheard the discussion and intervened, “We didn’t know you felt like this, and I promise you in the future we won’t go anywhere we can’t stay together.”
Tunnell was the forerunner of the modern FS who could hit, support the run and play CF.
Tunnell was the prototype of Ed Reed, only an even bigger hitter.
8x All Pro according to Pro Football Reference
Won a ring with the '56 team
1950's All Decade Team
NFL's 50th Anniversary team
Retired the all time career INT leader. To this day he's still second all-time in career INT's (79) and did it at a time when the league still predominantly ran the ball.
After he retired he was a scout for the Giants from '63-'65 and an assistant coach from '65 until his untimely death at the age of 50 in 1973.
How many other players represent "Once a Giant, always a Giant" more than that and DOESN'T have their number retired?
I don't think Joe Morrisson was good at anything, I don't think he was a star and don't think he even deserved a day. He wasn't moved because he was good , if he was moved it's because he aspired to ordinary...Gifford came up as a defensive back and had versatility to, but a very different player.
I'm no authority so I'll concede to anyone who studied him in more depth, but that's my memory of those days.
And I'll go further...If Roosey Brown's number isn't retired it's a disgrace.
I don't think Joe Morrisson was good at anything, I don't think he was a star and don't think he even deserved a day. He wasn't moved because he was good , if he was moved it's because he aspired to ordinary...Gifford came up as a defensive back and had versatility to, but a very different player.
I'm no authority so I'll concede to anyone who studied him in more depth, but that's my memory of those days.
And I'll go further...If Roosey Brown's number isn't retired it's a disgrace.
Morrison was moved because he was sorely needed in other areas..There was no one else to fill the positions he was asked to fill, or at least wasn't as good as he would be in said positions..He was special imv, because whatever void we had, he filled and filled without the position missing a beat..That's under the radar special, imo
There will be a Fred Stanley day in our future if attendance declines any further.
Ring of Honor is better. Un-retire all numbers, I say. but be careful about who you give them to. Don't run a rookie 7th round pick onto the field in the first preseason game wearing #56. Or any of those now-retired #s.
Ring of Honor is better. Un-retire all numbers, I say. but be careful about who you give them to. Don't run a rookie 7th round pick onto the field in the first preseason game wearing #56. Or any of those now-retired #s.
Good idea. Way too many pedestrian players have been given Harry Carson's # 53.
These are the players who've worn the three numbers most discussed here.
Tunnell's #45
Homer Jones 1964-69
Pete Athas 1971-74
Alan Caldwell 1979-79
Leon Bright 1981-83
Jim Yarbrough 1987
Gary Downs 1996
Greg Comella 1998
Craig Walendy 2000
Charles Stackhouse 2002
Henry Hynoski 2011-14
Brown's #79
Bruce Anderson 1967-69
Jim Norton 1970
Vern Vanoy 1971
Carter Campbell 1972-73
Al Simpson 1975-76
Mike Gibbons 1977
Mike McCoy 1979-80
Dale Markham 1980
Dee Hardison 1981-85
Bill Berthusen 1987
George Thornton 1993
Bernard Holsey 1996-99
Jeremiah Parker 2000
Bob Jones 2002
Guy Whimper 2006-07
Damontre Moore 2013
Stephen Goodin 2013
Carson's #53
Lance Scott 1997-98
Brandon Short 2000-03
Wesly Mallard 2004
Reggie Torbor 2005-07
Bryan Kehl 2008-09
Keith Bulluck 2010
Greg Jones 2011
Dan Connor 2013
Jameel McClain 2014
Jasper Brinkley 2015
As for Tunnell and Brown, the reason I clicked on it, great, great job!! Thanks sharing your time and effort, it's well appreciated.