Here’s a look at the Giants roster transitions in 85 and 86. This is really just for amusement – I would like it if anyone has further info on some of these players. My memory is kind of sketchy.
As any 80’s Giants fan knows, the 85 Giants lost in the NFC Championship Game. Some Giants players just fell short of playing on the 86 Superbowl championship team. By the way three first-round picks of the Giants who were on the roster in 85 didn’t play for the Giants in 86.
Going by position:
QUARTERBACK: No change.
RUNNING BACK
Rob Carpenter, whom I know mostly as a hero of the ’81 team (and had a big playoff game for the Oilers as well), moved on to the Rams in 86 and got 2 carries. Too bad he missed out on NYG Super Bowl glory.
Lee Rouson came on board as a draft pick. Ottis Anderson came in via an ’86 midseason trade. By the way, in the broadcast of the 1st Cardinals game, the announcers said that Joe Morris had a blood disorder that could be affecting his endurance (???). Is it possible that is why the Anderson move was made. As we know, Anderson didn’t play that much after he was acquired and by the end of the year he was spoken of as an insurance policy. George Adams missed the 86 season with a hip injury. I don’t remember what caused that injury. He did return to NYG sometime later.
TIGHT END
Zeke Mowatt returned after missing the whole ’85 season. Vyto Kab didn’t play anywhere in 86 and played for DET in 87. Don Hasselbeck caught the last TD pass for the 1985 NYG and I presume he retired. (Other than the De Ossies and the Hasselbecks, are there other father-son NYG giants?).
WIDE RECEIVERS
Byron Williams, who I remember as kind of a “big-play guy”, was off the team. That’s a surprise to me given that the Giants were short at WR in ’86. McConkey was cut before the ’86 season but returned from GB (we gave them an 11th round pick and they gave us a 12th round pick). I think the return of McConkey might have been prompted by Mark Collins getting hurt when he tried to return a punt after his helmet fell off. But I’m not sure. Anyway, the Giants brought in 2 draft picks, Solomon Miller and Vince Warren. I knew a guy who said he had Solomon Miller’s helmet in his house. (If you see Solomon, thank him for that fumble recovery against the Redskins). I think Vince Warren caught 1 pass, but you won’t see it in any stats because I think there was a defensive penalty and the Giants took the penalty.
OFFENSIVE LINE
William Roberts returned after being out all of ’85. He didn’t start any games in ’86. He was more important later. Conrad Goode was gone and played for Tampa in ’87. He then pursued an acting career (you can go to Wikipedia to see his roles.). 1st round pick Gordon King went to the Jets. David Jordan was out and Brian Johnston was in. I think they were backups for Bart Oates. Damian Johnson came on as an undrafted free agent. I recall him being in the backfield on goal line plays.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Casey Merrill went to NO and Dee Hardison went to SD so they didn’t make it to 86. First round pick Erik Dorsey, second round pick Erik Howard, and third round pick John Washington were brought in. Curtis McGriff didn’t play in the 86 season (he didn’t appear for NYG in 86 and played 1 game for WAS in 87). I presume he was hurt.
LINEBACKERS
No change. What a great group.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
#1 pick Mark Haynes was traded to DEN for a 2nd-round pick (or was it two second-round picks?). With the Gary Zimmerman trade they ended up with four #2 picks in 86. Ted Watts was also let go. He returned to the NFL with SD in 87. Watts had to fill in for Elvis “Toast” Patterson when Patterson was hurt on the opening kickoff of the playoff game vs SF. Tyrone Davis also was gone although he was a 3rd round pick in 85. I remember him doing some fighting or late hits on the field. Two veterans, Bill Currier and Larry Flowers, didn’t make it through the ’85 season. Two of the 2nd round picks were brought in: Mark Collins and Greg Lasker. Lasker looked like a really good special teams player in 86 so I’m surprised his career was short. Tom Flynn, he of the block, recovery and score, was brought in during the 86 season after being cut by GB.
KICKER
The Giants had a total six kickers in 85 and 86. Haji Sheikh kicked for ATL in 86, Schubert for STL in 86 and Atkinson for STL before the 85 season was over. The 86 kickers were Bob Thomas (game 1), Joe Cooper (Games 2 and 3) and Raul Allegre (thereafter).
Sean Landeta returned as punter.
Anyway, I had fun just scanning the rosters, so let me know if there’s wrong info here or whether there’s something good to add.
He suffered the "Bo Jackson hip injury" five years before it happened to Bo.
Adams did come back in 1987 but he was never close to the same.
I was not aware of the details until I came across his account in a story about his son Jamal:
George hasn’t forgotten how that injury happened.
“We were running a 9-on-7,” George said. “It wasn’t tackle. Just thudding. I run through the line full speed and a D-lineman — caught him out of corner of my eye — dove and tripped me up. My leg was straight and (the) hip popped out. He wasn’t supposed to be diving.”
one and done - ( New Window )
Thank you also!
He suffered the "Bo Jackson hip injury" five years before it happened to Bo.
Adams did come back in 1987 but he was never close to the same.
I was not aware of the details until I came across his account in a story about his son Jamal:
Quote:
"Of course I know about it," Jamal said of his father's medical history, "but we don't really talk about his injury."
George hasn’t forgotten how that injury happened.
“We were running a 9-on-7,” George said. “It wasn’t tackle. Just thudding. I run through the line full speed and a D-lineman — caught him out of corner of my eye — dove and tripped me up. My leg was straight and (the) hip popped out. He wasn’t supposed to be diving.”
one and done - ( New Window )
This is good stuff too!
Instead of doing more replies, I'll just thank everyone who decides to contribute here.
And keep in mind, as you noted, George Adams broke his hip and was never the same player again. He was explosive before his injury (check out his long TD catch and run vs the Cowboys on Monday night in 1985). After he returned in 1987, he was a backup fullback and special teamer, nothing more. He ended up signing with the Patriots as a Plan B guy.
But if Adams wasn't hurt, he takes over at RB for Morris and OJ Anderson trade doesn't happen.
What was more interesting about the OJ Anderson trade, the Giants tried to get Roy "Jet Stream" Green in the deal too. The Giants WR were brutalized in 1986 with injuries (Hostetler got playing time at WR). The Cardinals balked at including Green because they didn't have a replacement for him. They felt OJ was past his usefulness and Stump Mitchell was ready to be the man so he was expendable.
David Jordan! I remember after the season getting the team photo plaque as a gift, and David Jordan was one of three players in the team picture who I had never heard of in my life - the other two were Robbie Jones and Tyrone Davis.
08-31-1985 Traded a 1986 fourth round draft selection to Oakland for Ted Watts CB (Raiders selected Vance Mueller).
04-29-1986 Traded Mark Haynes CB to Denver for a 1986 second round draft selection, a 1986 sixth round draft selection and a 1987 second round draft selection (Giants selected Pepper Johnson with the 1986 second round selection, Ron Brown with the 1986 sixth round selection, and Adrian White with the 1987 second round selection).
04-29-1986 Traded the rights to Gary Zimmerman T to Minnesota for a 1986 second round draft selection and 1986 second round draft selection (Giants selected Mark Collins and Greg Lasker).
06-13-1986 Traded Rob Carpenter FB to Los Angeles for a 1987 sixth round draft selection (Giants selected Tim Richardson).
08-26-1986 Traded Kenny Daniel CB to Indianapolis for a 1987 ninth round draft selection (Giants selected Stan Parker).
09-30-1986 Traded a 1987 twelfth round selection to Green Bay for Phil McConkey WR (Packers selected Norman Jefferson).
10-08-1986 Traded a 1987 second round draft selection and a 1987 seventh round draft selection to St. Louis for Ottis Anderson RB (Cards selected Scott Schwedes with the second round selection and William Harris with the seventh round selection).
08-31-1985 Traded a 1986 fourth round draft selection to Oakland for Ted Watts CB (Raiders selected Vance Mueller).
04-29-1986 Traded Mark Haynes CB to Denver for a 1986 second round draft selection, a 1986 sixth round draft selection and a 1987 second round draft selection (Giants selected Pepper Johnson with the 1986 second round selection, Ron Brown with the 1986 sixth round selection, and Adrian White with the 1987 second round selection).
04-29-1986 Traded the rights to Gary Zimmerman T to Minnesota for a 1986 second round draft selection and 1986 second round draft selection (Giants selected Mark Collins and Greg Lasker).
06-13-1986 Traded Rob Carpenter FB to Los Angeles for a 1987 sixth round draft selection (Giants selected Tim Richardson).
08-26-1986 Traded Kenny Daniel CB to Indianapolis for a 1987 ninth round draft selection (Giants selected Stan Parker).
09-30-1986 Traded a 1987 twelfth round selection to Green Bay for Phil McConkey WR (Packers selected Norman Jefferson).
10-08-1986 Traded a 1987 second round draft selection and a 1987 seventh round draft selection to St. Louis for Ottis Anderson RB (Cards selected Scott Schwedes with the second round selection and William Harris with the seventh round selection).
That's cool - how do you get a transaction list like that?
08-21-1979 Traded Dan Doornik FB to Seattle for a 1980 seventh round draft selection (Giants selected Bud Hebert).
08-23-1979 Traded a 1980 seventh round draft selection to Oakland for Mike McCoy NT (Raiders selected Malcolm Barnwell).
04-23-1980 Traded Joe Pisarcik QB to Philadelphia for a 1981 sixth round draft selection (Giants selected Edward O'Neal).
05-23-1980 Traded Emery Moorehead WR/TE to Denver for a 1981 eighth round draft selection (Giants selected Mark Reed).
05-26-1980 Traded Odis McKinney SS to Oakland for a 1981 eighth round draft selection (Giants selected Bil Ard).
08-04-1980 Traded Randy Dean QB to Green Bay for 1981 sixth round draft selection (Giants selected Melvin Hoover).
08-14-1980 Traded a 1981 sixth round draft selection to San Diego for Bo Matthews FB (Chargers selected Andy Gissinger).
09-10-1980 Traded a 1981 eleventh round draft selection to San Diego for Cliff Olander QB (Chargers selected Matt Petrzelka).
08-31-1981 Traded a 1982 eleventh round draft selection to New England for Bill Currier SS (Patriots selected Steve Sandon).
09-29-1981 Traded a 1982 third round draft selection to Houston for Rob Carpenter RB/FB (Oilers selected Stan Edwards).
07-13-1982 Traded a 1984 eight round draft selection to San Diego for Pete Shaw DB (Chargers selected Ray Woodard).
09-06-1982 Traded a 1983 fourth round draft selection to Los Angeles for Jeff Rutledge QB (Rams selected Vince Newsome).
04-13-1983 Traded Gary Jeter DE to Los Angeles for a 1983 third round draft selection and a 1983 sixth round draft selection (Giants selected Jamie Williams with the third round selection and Kevin Belcher with the sixth round selection).
04-26-1983 Traded a 1984 ninth round draft selection to Houston for a 1983 eleventh round draft selection and a 1983 twelfth round draft selection (Oilers selected Mike Johnson) (Giants selected Lee Jenkins with the eleventh round selection and Robbie Jones with the twelth round selection).
03-12-1984 Traded Terry Jackson CB to Seattle for a 1985 sixth round selection (Giants selected Mark Pembrook).
03-29-1984 Traded Brian Kelley ILB to San Diego for a 1984 tenth round selection (Giants selected Heyward Golden).
04-26-1984 Traded Scott Brunner QB to Denver for a 1984 fourth round draft selection (Giants selected Gary Reasons).
05-01-1984 Traded a 1984 second round draft selection and a 1984 fifth round draft selection to Washington for a 1984 first round draft selection (Redkins selected Bob Slater with the second round selection and Jeff Peques with the fifth round selection) (Giants selected William Roberts with the first round selection).
07-12-1984 Traded Bran Van Pelt OLB to Minnesota for Tony Galbreath RB.
08-27-1984 Traded a 1985 eleventh round draft selection to Oakland for Kenny Hill SS (Raiders selected Kevin Belcher).
I vividly remember when the Giants took Dorsey in the 1st round. Mel Kiper said BEFORE the pick the Giants were going to draft Dorsey and the Giants were going to go to the Super Bowl. I was like, "YES!!!"
Of course, Dorsey never really lived up to expectations.
Folks forget that the Giants still had a chance to win that game down in Dallas late in 1985, but Williams couldn't keep his feet in bounds in the end zone.
The Giants are undefeated in NFC Championship Games btw---5 and 0.
Dorsey was an excellent run stopper if I remember correctly.
I wonder what happened to Greg Lasker too. After being cut by the Giants, he signed with the Bears, but was cut shortly thereafter.
The Giants are undefeated in NFC Championship Games btw---5 and 0.
oh my god. What a blunder by me!!!!!
And I KNOW this I remember dieter Brock and the rams.
Quote:
the original "Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane" player
Dorsey was an excellent run stopper if I remember correctly.
He was indeed. We’re being a bit harsh when we label Dorsey a bust. Maybe not what we hoped but he was starter on a great unit. Held the poa, etc....
I didn’t know the Scott Brunner trade netted us Gary reasons in round 4.
I wonder what happened to Greg Lasker too. After being cut by the Giants, he signed with the Bears, but was cut shortly thereafter.
Another - despite having Carson and LT, the Giants used their 1st and 4th round picks in 1984 on LBs - Banks and Reasons and then in 1986 another 2nd round pick - Pepper Johnson.
Young did love his RBs and LBs.
Dorsey got to play right away as a back-up for the Super Bowl destined Giants in 1986. As veterans like George Martin started to retire, Dorsey ascended to the starting line-up and was coming into his own before missing most of the season in 1989 after breaking his foot. A couple years later, he missed significant time after getting his knee scoped. He was forced to retire in 1993 due to a hip injury, and ended up with a hip replacement at around 30 years old. Good player, just too many injuries in his career.
David Jordan! I remember after the season getting the team photo plaque as a gift, and David Jordan was one of three players in the team picture who I had never heard of in my life - the other two were Robbie Jones and Tyrone Davis.
Robbie Jones was buried on the LB depth chart, but I remember him being a very good special teams player for the Giants.
I wonder what happened to Greg Lasker too. After being cut by the Giants, he signed with the Bears, but was cut shortly thereafter.
Williams nearly won the game when he almost split the Dallas D on a slant and went something like 50+ yards on that final drive......
He had a good track record from Indy, and I think wasn't playing because of a contract dispute?