This post on Facebook is really kind of irratafing me. It’s basically stating LT was a coke whore and therefore he was a distraction. Nothing else to back it up other than that.
Now I don’t care who does what (to a point, and what drug obviously) as long as they strong willed don’t let it bring themselves or anyone else down.
I became a giants fan around 1988, but was still really young being airing 10 at that time, it won really didn’t start clicking until around the midway of the 1990 season. By that i time I was already seeing a worn down LT and he wasn’t much in my eyes.
In all theyears reading threads here, tv reports, or anything else. I don’t think I have ever heard anything other than one or two one off comments about him being a distraction or anything else during the time he played.
Everything negative in the public eye about LT seemed to happen after his career was over. Sure he may have been doing things that weren’t kosher during his playing days. But was it making headlines like all these clowns today?
Imagine Odell on on an 8 ball?
He infamously got into numerous fights with Belichick because he would sleep through defensive meetings.
However, everybody agreed, that he was the smartest guy on the defense, he knew everybody's assignments. Even if he had been sleeping through half of it, Little Bill would quiz him on stuff and he could always answer the questions, even giving details on other players and their reads, and responsibilities.
Of course, no matter how he was feeling, he always brought it on gameday.
Fact is, that LT wouldn't last in today's NFL. He would get kicked out based on the drug violations. Much of the current NFL policy on drugs was based on Taylor.
He would have been far worse. Odell is/was emotional..but largely I think his baggage is over blown.
With Odell, the Giants lost so much (which was usually the fault of the defense), it was easy/lazy to point fingers at him and assign blame.
This.
LT had a reputation for partying, and there was the suspension. But no one really cared. No one really cared about any player’s personal life. It had nothing to do with the game. Sports coverage was just way different, and there was A LOT less of it.
Also, LT never peed like a dog in the end zone or had a sideline relationship of any kind with the kicking net.
Also, LT never peed like a dog in the end zone or had a sideline relationship of any kind with the kicking net.
Are you saying those are worse?
The NFL was entirely different world back then.
This is just one of many examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba3akiNi1sA
Beckham is also a distraction but it doesnt matter.
Teams don’t lose because a player is “distracting” teams lose Becaue they have aging quarterbacks who can’t rise above their circumstances and inept offenses.
The distraction thing is a media concoction the Giants stink they haven’t had a pass rush in 5 years, Eli hasn’t been above average in just as long, and their line is far from exceptional if those things change they will win more
Second, LT in the modern day wouldn't be traded. He would be out of the league. The only reason he didn't get the boot in the 80s was because he had teammates take drug tests for him.
You'd never see LT pull up on an onside kick because he didn't want to get hit, ever.
OBJ and LT are/were generational talents, but OBJ is no "LT"...
Lol.
No, I don't think Beckham is quite is good relatively speaking as LT was. LT is the best player in NFL history. Beckham is not. However, Beckham is a unique talent IMO and with health on the path to NFL HOF.
However, my point of comparing the two comes with a phrase a Giants official allegedly used in justifying the trade. I am paraphrasing, but it was something to the effect of the positives of Beckham were outweighed by the "energy" it required to "deal with him"
So of course you can compare the teams on-field results and say well LT's Giants won and he was a big part of why so coaches/teams make allowances for a player like that. If those Giants lost (and they did lose. a lot. early) then maybe the tune is different.
Belichick talks about LT often and I love to hear him do it. But I absolutely 100% get the feeling it took a lot of energy to deal with LT. He wouldn't stay awake in meetings, he'd miss meeting, he was drunk or high a lot, and he would not live by the playbook. Not even talking about the shenanigans or suspensions (ordering hookers to opponents hotel rooms - not sure this gets laughed at today). If you ask LT (and people have), it's because he knew how to get to the QB or even scheme better than the coaches. And you know what, Belichick has said they adjusted their schemes and assignments to NOT shoe horn LT into the scheme and allow him to "freelance" more.
LT was a bad person, he broke laws, used drugs, didn't follow orders well, but he was the baddest mother-fucker to ever wear the uniform, so the energy to deal with him was worth it.
The 2019 Giants decided that the energy to deal with Beckham was not.
I do wonder if LT was on the 2019 Giants if he would have lasted as long. Or conversely if Beckham was on the 1986 Giants if he would have worn out his welcome?
the NFL is so different now with the traditional media, drug policy, off-field policy, social media, etc. I'm not sure LT gets a pass today.
Anyway, NOT comparing the two on-field, mostly how the team decided to deal with the energy it took to keep them happy/around.
LT was an absolute maniac containing runs and getting TFLs. Must have been terrifying if you're a FB and you see insane LT lunging at your ankles and tackling the RB.
He wasn't utilized the same way this past season. They just didn't have him run slants and go for the home run.
I don't know how you cannot see that OBJ was our LT of offense. He's only going to crush the majority of the receiving records out there, and that's with him missing games. He's up there with Jerry Rice!
I have never heard of OBJ not doing what he was supposed to on the field. He never ad-libbed.
He also didn't retire with fuel in the tank to just go do drugs.
If you can put up with a drug abuser, you can put up with the very small shit that OBJ did. Fans overreacting to this shit is what got the situation to this point.
Beckham's spear of Coleman was the first of many.
Like Shockey, I tolerated Odell for what he did on the field - I believe he is the most talented wideout ever to play the game, and like Shockey, I'm not that upset that he's gone.
LT's refuge was the football field. Once he was on the field, he was all about dominating the game and beating the shit out of his opponent.
His demons visited him when he was off the field.
I think you are correct in that had LT been around today, the Giants would have been in a far, far, far more difficult position PR wise. They used to sweep a lot of this stuff under the rug. (Hell, they were still doing this in the 1990s with other players... remember Christian Peter the Girlfriend Beater?)
The best explanation of the Odell saga is what I've seen from jtgiants, Colin from GBNDR, and Paul Schwartz... that is, Odell's act just got too taxing and exhausting for the organization. And unlike LT, Odell's teams were not winning.
But LT was a true professional on the field. Never did crazy stuff on the field or sidelines.
With all the stuff about OBJ, only the dog pissing thing got me angry. Well the IV thing was dumb also - I don't like drinking water? WTF is that. The kicking net series of episodes made me laugh. I'm sure he kept it up for ESPN highlights - a bit narcissistic?