with Ron Johnson for whom I had a poster on my wall while growing up. He was part of those loveable losing teams but there was something about the beauty of his game during those brutal years that struck me.
Tiki's final few seasons were spectacular in so many ways, he really did round himself into a terrific all around back. A few more years at that pace and he would have had HOF type numbers.
Bradshaw personifies everything I love in a back. Sure, he struggled with the foot problems but that never took away from his toughness and grit. He always seemed to get everything and more out of a play. I loved that little man's blood and guts attitude. He's probably my guy if push cones to shove.
Can't point to a single play by him it was more the sum total of his play. He seemed to never lose yards, always grinding it out when everyone knew he was getting the ball and looked like he was running against 12 in the box because he was the only offense the team had.
Anderson - TD run in superbowl 25....and on MNF in 1992 he lined up at FB in front of Hampton on the goal line and was the lead blocker for RH to score a TD. He had a huge smile on his face. A true team player
Joe Morris, Rodney Hampton and tiki are clear cut best ones
Probably Hampton--he could have replicated Tiki type performance in the Giant offense of the aughts. He was a fluid runner with size and good pass catching ability which was underused on the bad Giant teams he was stuck on.
Jacobs was loves for his trucking but he's the most overrated Giant back by a long shot. For every truck there was two soft failed 3rd and shorts. Found Bradshaw much tougher and better runner overall.
I was ecstatic when they drafted him in '90. With Joe Morris down and OJ getting up in years, I thought Rodney was the missing piece in the puzzle. Too bad he got hurt in the Bears game. Even though OJ was still starting, Hampton had become our #1 back at the end of that season.
Hi signature run was the long TD run in the '93 playoffs vs. Minny.
with Ron Johnson for whom I had a poster on my wall while growing up. He was part of those loveable losing teams but there was something about the beauty of his game during those brutal years that struck me.
Johnson was actually a part of the Giants only two winning seasons during the "15 years of lousy football." Not a bad percentage of his career considering he only played here 4 (or 5?) years due to injury (could be mis-remembering, didn't look it up).
Guy was dominant his first year here in 1970 on Giants 9-5 team and came back to run for over 1000 yards on the Norm Snead QB'd 8-6 1972 team after blowing out a knee in 1971.
Hampton's game against Dallas/Enmitt Smith is greatest single RB game memory I think.
Tiki's games against Wash and Oak, and his overall career makes him best of all Giants backs I've seen.
Post Tiki favorite is BJ in a close shave over Bradshaw (although Bradshaw was probably more talented).
Honorable mention: Kotar, Carpenter, Morris, Meggett (dishonorable mention???), Way (do FBs count?), Bradshaw and Fredrickson (my first Giants hero after Tittle).
and 2nd place isn't close really for me. He carried a team on his back when they needed it most.
Jacobs has better signature plays and you could certainly say that the violent collisions by Jacobs sparked the team, but the KC game in 2005, and the Redskins game in 2006 by Tiki are two of the best games I've seen from a RB, any RB.
And his 2005 and 2006 seasons among the best I've ever seen from any RB.
Also, not a run, but his football recovery vs. the Pats in XLII. I think we were down 7-3 @ the time & deep in our own territory. Bradshaw muffs it, a Patriot falls right on top of it, & somehow AB recovers it. I still have no idea how he came up with that ball.
Bradshaw for me. He's one of my favorite Giants in my lifetime, regardless of position. His run in Buffalo when the rain turned to snow mid run will always be the signature run for me.
Rob Carpenter - 1981 playoffs he was the load carrier. Not the most talented but a tough SOB.
Rodney Hampton - I felt bad for him, he was a great player and all they had.
Ron Johnson - IMO the most talented RB the Giants have had.
Morris - SB run was great
Caveat - I really never saw Gifford play, but I'm sure he should be on every list.
Tiki. Best offensive player , along with Eli, the Giants have.....
ever had. Disappointed that his legacy is tarnished by some of his dickhead behavior at the end of his career, but on the field, easily Giants best back in my lifetime as a fan.
tried to go back and figure out his first big run. I want to say it was during the 89 season and he had a 62 yard TD. As a kid I had never seen a runningback take a screen pass like that. He was a threat to score every time he touched the ball.
David Wilson reminded me of him...wish it could have worked out.
Morris, Anderson, Hampton, Tiki, Jacobs and Bradshaw all had great aspects to them.
Tiki was the best overall (running, pass catching, pass blocking).
Jacobs could be the most punishing; bled Giants blue.
Bradshaw probably was the toughest; greatest spirit / drive.
Hampton was another great overall RB; a "running back's RB".
Anderson, as a grizzly vet; was a tough old SOB. SBXXV!
Morris had great power for his size; Bradshaw like / light.
Just a tough nasty runner. Tons of heart. And he always seemed hungry to win.
agreed. played a lot bigger than his size would indicate. never forget that bs call in green bay which negated what would have been the game winner. we won anyway but still bothers me
Like he was smallish solid bowling ball type runner. He several big games in career. Remember one vs Washington on Monday night in 86' ...Just rooted him on.
Other, honorable mention Rob Carpenter even though came via trade.
with Ron Johnson for whom I had a poster on my wall while growing up. He was part of those loveable losing teams but there was something about the beauty of his game during those brutal years that struck me.
Johnson was actually a part of the Giants only two winning seasons during the "15 years of lousy football." Not a bad percentage of his career considering he only played here 4 (or 5?) years due to injury (could be mis-remembering, didn't look it up).
Guy was dominant his first year here in 1970 on Giants 9-5 team and came back to run for over 1000 yards on the Norm Snead QB'd 8-6 1972 team after blowing out a knee in 1971.
Hampton's game against Dallas/Enmitt Smith is greatest single RB game memory I think.
Tiki's games against Wash and Oak, and his overall career makes him best of all Giants backs I've seen.
Post Tiki favorite is BJ in a close shave over Bradshaw (although Bradshaw was probably more talented).
Honorable mention: Kotar, Carpenter, Morris, Meggett (dishonorable mention???), Way (do FBs count?), Bradshaw and Fredrickson (my first Giants hero after Tittle).
Aquid, I was very young at the time but my recollection during the 70's was of a hapless team for the most part. It was during that time frame that my deep disdain for that team from Dallas that was cemented.
Tiki was the most talented, and Bradshaw was the hardest working. Loved them both. Honorable mention to Rodney Hampton who was the only talented guy on our offense for many years.
Jacobs is my favorite for a couple of reasons. The first is that he could change the tone of the game with one run. He set a tone of physicality in some games that raised the play of the whole team. The playoff game in Lambeau was the most significant example.
The second reason is that I just don't think anyone loved being a New York Giant more than him. He hated our rivals - especially the Cowboys - and you get the sense he loved the team like a fan. I have always appreciated that from him, and it's why he is one of my all-time favorite Giants.
was the starting RB when I started watching the Giants on a regular basis in 1979. He was a good back but the Giants were terrible, and he never ran for over 1000 yards.
Tiki was obviously the best Giants RB in my lifetime, and I loved watching him on the field, but the BS he brought to the locker room made me sick. He was an enigma to me. Calls Strahan greedy in the press for holding out for more money. Calls the soon to be face of the franchise a joke to the media. Then prima donna retires after 10 years to be a media superstar and his it all falls to pieces. Strahan eventually got the life that he felt he deserved. It was addition by subtraction when he and Shockey left the team. He was clearly the most talented player, but I will take the heart and should of Jacobs and Bradshaw, who helped the Giants win 2 Super Bowls, over Tiki's divisive talent.
Can't take away what Tiki Barber did he should of and could have played 2-3 more years and May have sniffed Canton .
I'm Old School I just take Traits from each .
Ron Johnson was so friggen tough and smooth remember he met Dick Butkus in the Hole Johnson had a full head of steam and knocked Butkus out cold .
Little Joe Morris languished behind Butch Woolfolk for three years before taking over the RB Position . I remember I wrote a Letter to the Giants News Weekly and it was Published My statement was how does Woolfolk get 43 carries in one Game more than Joe Morris did in 3 years ' I also stated that after going 3-12-1 that the defense would carry us back to the playoffs and it happened .
Rodney Hampton was amazing Pre_season to the KO back like
102 yards for a TD big game against Dallas with 170 yards
carried the Team on his back .
Bradshaw ran like a Wolverine ....
BJ Was just flat scary and No One wanted to mix it up with him .
Jacobs is my favorite Johnson a close second .
Right from his first run from scrimmage in the pre-season. Reeves ruined him.
Jacobs next - The obvious trucking of Landry. But, I also love that long swing pass that went for a TD. I loved the way his feet were chopping.
Barber - I think it was his first game. He had a run down near the goalline to the right against the Cards, got bottled up behind the LOS and came all the way back to the left for a TD.
Joe Morris - Ran right out of his sneaker against the Steelers and went about 45 yards with his sock flapping
Also, not a run, but his football recovery vs. the Pats in XLII. I think we were down 7-3 @ the time & deep in our own territory. Bradshaw muffs it, a Patriot falls right on top of it, & somehow AB recovers it. I still have no idea how he came up with that ball.
agree with this
Bradshaw put us on the path to the Superbowl in 2007 with that run
It was the equivalent of the Cruz catch against the Jets in 2011
Rookies Tucker Frederickson, Chuck Mercein, and Ernie Koy, joined Steve Thurlow and Ernie Wheelwright, and were known as the "Baby Bulls".....after the 1964 season, they were a breath of fresh air....
But 1965 was the peak for the Baby Bulls......Frederickson, drafted #1 in the NFL, was suppose to be the next wunderkind.....NY media built himup, and there was some comparisons to Brown, which was completely stupid....Tucker had around 650 yards rushing, compared to over 1500 for Brown.....that was the rookie year for Sayers who scored 14 rushing tds....Brown had 17....
After that season, it was the Dark Ages until the trade for Ron Johnson, probably next to the Tittle trade, the second greatest trade I ever saw, until Eli came along...
Then after Johnson, it was the Dark ages again, until Carpenter showed up......we did not have much of an OL, but this guy would just run over people.....
Finally, we have Morris, Tiki, Jacobs, and Bradshaw....Morris was a guy, who could just take it to the house.....Bradshaw, if not for the bad wheels, could have really been something special....Jacobs, I always felt, could have been a much better runner....yes he was famous for bowling over little DB's.....But because he was such a big, upright runner, how many times did we see him fly through a hole and get tripped up, losing big yardage he should have made.....and because of him running upright, he was not really a guy who could move the pile......
Which brings me to Tiki....just an average runner his first 3 seasons, and then he became the best runner the Giants ever had, over the last 7 seasons....I never saw Gifford run, so I can't really assess him....
Who will be that next Giant runner that we can compare to these guys?
Becoming a fan in the 60s, I broke in on the end of Gifford and the breakdown of Tucker Fredickson. In the aftermath, there was a run of flawed, sometimes capable, sometimes big-hearted backs like Joe Morrison, Ernie Koy, Bobby Duhon, Ronnie Bly, Johnny Fuqua.
And then we got the real deal, Ron Johnson. So fast, graceful, and powerful.
Flawless.
So, I guess my early sense of the Giants was as fortune's fools, noble but lovable losers. Until Ron Johnson.
There are the championship backs, the guys driving the bus, and the guys that get the bus out of the ditch. Apples, oranges, I'm grateful to all, but have a special spot for #30.
Tiki's final few seasons were spectacular in so many ways, he really did round himself into a terrific all around back. A few more years at that pace and he would have had HOF type numbers.
Bradshaw personifies everything I love in a back. Sure, he struggled with the foot problems but that never took away from his toughness and grit. He always seemed to get everything and more out of a play. I loved that little man's blood and guts attitude. He's probably my guy if push cones to shove.
But Brandon Jacobs was such a special presence and special player in the recent run that I'm going to vote for him.
But Brandon Jacobs was such a special presence and special player in the recent run that I'm going to vote for him.
Hard to remember a signature play for JM, though the way he'd gash through the line throughout the 86 playoff run kind of lingers.
BJ, the signature plays are trucking Urlacher and Brewski.
Showing up in 81' and finally giving the Giants a hint of a running game was huge.
Anderson - TD run in superbowl 25....and on MNF in 1992 he lined up at FB in front of Hampton on the goal line and was the lead blocker for RH to score a TD. He had a huge smile on his face. A true team player
Probably Hampton--he could have replicated Tiki type performance in the Giant offense of the aughts. He was a fluid runner with size and good pass catching ability which was underused on the bad Giant teams he was stuck on.
Jacobs was loves for his trucking but he's the most overrated Giant back by a long shot. For every truck there was two soft failed 3rd and shorts. Found Bradshaw much tougher and better runner overall.
Hi signature run was the long TD run in the '93 playoffs vs. Minny.
Johnson was actually a part of the Giants only two winning seasons during the "15 years of lousy football." Not a bad percentage of his career considering he only played here 4 (or 5?) years due to injury (could be mis-remembering, didn't look it up).
Guy was dominant his first year here in 1970 on Giants 9-5 team and came back to run for over 1000 yards on the Norm Snead QB'd 8-6 1972 team after blowing out a knee in 1971.
Hampton's game against Dallas/Enmitt Smith is greatest single RB game memory I think.
Tiki's games against Wash and Oak, and his overall career makes him best of all Giants backs I've seen.
Post Tiki favorite is BJ in a close shave over Bradshaw (although Bradshaw was probably more talented).
Honorable mention: Kotar, Carpenter, Morris, Meggett (dishonorable mention???), Way (do FBs count?), Bradshaw and Fredrickson (my first Giants hero after Tittle).
Jacobs has better signature plays and you could certainly say that the violent collisions by Jacobs sparked the team, but the KC game in 2005, and the Redskins game in 2006 by Tiki are two of the best games I've seen from a RB, any RB.
And his 2005 and 2006 seasons among the best I've ever seen from any RB.
Also, not a run, but his football recovery vs. the Pats in XLII. I think we were down 7-3 @ the time & deep in our own territory. Bradshaw muffs it, a Patriot falls right on top of it, & somehow AB recovers it. I still have no idea how he came up with that ball.
Joe Morrison is 1A he helped bring all that misery to an end!!
Brandon Jacobs because he restored a certain physical identity to the Giants they had been missing for over a decade.
Loved Bradshaw. Someone once said he ran like he was angry at the ground.
Loved Tiki. He really improved with age, working on his body and fumbling issues. Underrated at blitz pickups, too.
Joe Morrison is 1A he helped bring all that misery to an end!!
Jim Morrison's brother?
Rodney Hampton - I felt bad for him, he was a great player and all they had.
Ron Johnson - IMO the most talented RB the Giants have had.
Morris - SB run was great
Caveat - I really never saw Gifford play, but I'm sure he should be on every list.
tried to go back and figure out his first big run. I want to say it was during the 89 season and he had a 62 yard TD. As a kid I had never seen a runningback take a screen pass like that. He was a threat to score every time he touched the ball.
David Wilson reminded me of him...wish it could have worked out.
O J Anderson was unbelievable in the Super Bowl.
Tiki was also a great back.
Tiki was the best overall (running, pass catching, pass blocking).
Jacobs could be the most punishing; bled Giants blue.
Bradshaw probably was the toughest; greatest spirit / drive.
Hampton was another great overall RB; a "running back's RB".
Anderson, as a grizzly vet; was a tough old SOB. SBXXV!
Morris had great power for his size; Bradshaw like / light.
agreed. played a lot bigger than his size would indicate. never forget that bs call in green bay which negated what would have been the game winner. we won anyway but still bothers me
Other, honorable mention Rob Carpenter even though came via trade.
Quote:
with Ron Johnson for whom I had a poster on my wall while growing up. He was part of those loveable losing teams but there was something about the beauty of his game during those brutal years that struck me.
Johnson was actually a part of the Giants only two winning seasons during the "15 years of lousy football." Not a bad percentage of his career considering he only played here 4 (or 5?) years due to injury (could be mis-remembering, didn't look it up).
Guy was dominant his first year here in 1970 on Giants 9-5 team and came back to run for over 1000 yards on the Norm Snead QB'd 8-6 1972 team after blowing out a knee in 1971.
Hampton's game against Dallas/Enmitt Smith is greatest single RB game memory I think.
Tiki's games against Wash and Oak, and his overall career makes him best of all Giants backs I've seen.
Post Tiki favorite is BJ in a close shave over Bradshaw (although Bradshaw was probably more talented).
Honorable mention: Kotar, Carpenter, Morris, Meggett (dishonorable mention???), Way (do FBs count?), Bradshaw and Fredrickson (my first Giants hero after Tittle).
Aquid, I was very young at the time but my recollection during the 70's was of a hapless team for the most part. It was during that time frame that my deep disdain for that team from Dallas that was cemented.
Quote:
Joe Morrison is 1A he helped bring all that misery to an end!!
Jim Morrison's brother?
VAX, LOL!! Yeah his shorter brother from another mother! Sorry!
Jacobs is my favorite for a couple of reasons. The first is that he could change the tone of the game with one run. He set a tone of physicality in some games that raised the play of the whole team. The playoff game in Lambeau was the most significant example.
The second reason is that I just don't think anyone loved being a New York Giant more than him. He hated our rivals - especially the Cowboys - and you get the sense he loved the team like a fan. I have always appreciated that from him, and it's why he is one of my all-time favorite Giants.
Tiki was obviously the best Giants RB in my lifetime, and I loved watching him on the field, but the BS he brought to the locker room made me sick. He was an enigma to me. Calls Strahan greedy in the press for holding out for more money. Calls the soon to be face of the franchise a joke to the media. Then prima donna retires after 10 years to be a media superstar and his it all falls to pieces. Strahan eventually got the life that he felt he deserved. It was addition by subtraction when he and Shockey left the team. He was clearly the most talented player, but I will take the heart and should of Jacobs and Bradshaw, who helped the Giants win 2 Super Bowls, over Tiki's divisive talent.
I'm Old School I just take Traits from each .
Ron Johnson was so friggen tough and smooth remember he met Dick Butkus in the Hole Johnson had a full head of steam and knocked Butkus out cold .
Little Joe Morris languished behind Butch Woolfolk for three years before taking over the RB Position . I remember I wrote a Letter to the Giants News Weekly and it was Published My statement was how does Woolfolk get 43 carries in one Game more than Joe Morris did in 3 years ' I also stated that after going 3-12-1 that the defense would carry us back to the playoffs and it happened .
Rodney Hampton was amazing Pre_season to the KO back like
102 yards for a TD big game against Dallas with 170 yards
carried the Team on his back .
Bradshaw ran like a Wolverine ....
BJ Was just flat scary and No One wanted to mix it up with him .
Jacobs is my favorite Johnson a close second .
Jacobs next - The obvious trucking of Landry. But, I also love that long swing pass that went for a TD. I loved the way his feet were chopping.
Barber - I think it was his first game. He had a run down near the goalline to the right against the Cards, got bottled up behind the LOS and came all the way back to the left for a TD.
Joe Morris - Ran right out of his sneaker against the Steelers and went about 45 yards with his sock flapping
Also, not a run, but his football recovery vs. the Pats in XLII. I think we were down 7-3 @ the time & deep in our own territory. Bradshaw muffs it, a Patriot falls right on top of it, & somehow AB recovers it. I still have no idea how he came up with that ball.
agree with this
Bradshaw put us on the path to the Superbowl in 2007 with that run
It was the equivalent of the Cruz catch against the Jets in 2011
and loved OJ Anderson's Superbowl uppercut
But 1965 was the peak for the Baby Bulls......Frederickson, drafted #1 in the NFL, was suppose to be the next wunderkind.....NY media built himup, and there was some comparisons to Brown, which was completely stupid....Tucker had around 650 yards rushing, compared to over 1500 for Brown.....that was the rookie year for Sayers who scored 14 rushing tds....Brown had 17....
After that season, it was the Dark Ages until the trade for Ron Johnson, probably next to the Tittle trade, the second greatest trade I ever saw, until Eli came along...
Then after Johnson, it was the Dark ages again, until Carpenter showed up......we did not have much of an OL, but this guy would just run over people.....
Finally, we have Morris, Tiki, Jacobs, and Bradshaw....Morris was a guy, who could just take it to the house.....Bradshaw, if not for the bad wheels, could have really been something special....Jacobs, I always felt, could have been a much better runner....yes he was famous for bowling over little DB's.....But because he was such a big, upright runner, how many times did we see him fly through a hole and get tripped up, losing big yardage he should have made.....and because of him running upright, he was not really a guy who could move the pile......
Which brings me to Tiki....just an average runner his first 3 seasons, and then he became the best runner the Giants ever had, over the last 7 seasons....I never saw Gifford run, so I can't really assess him....
Who will be that next Giant runner that we can compare to these guys?
And as many mention shout out to:
Ron Johnson,
Tikki
OJ Anderson
Hampton
And as many mention shout out to:
Ron Johnson,
Tikki
OJ Anderson
Hampton
And Joe Morris.
And then we got the real deal, Ron Johnson. So fast, graceful, and powerful.
Flawless.
So, I guess my early sense of the Giants was as fortune's fools, noble but lovable losers. Until Ron Johnson.
There are the championship backs, the guys driving the bus, and the guys that get the bus out of the ditch. Apples, oranges, I'm grateful to all, but have a special spot for #30.