Sunday Reading

Giants

Rosenblatt NJ.com: It’s early, but Giants are underdogs in all but these 2 games on their 2020 schedule | Lines for first 15 games
https://www.nj.com/giants/2020/05/its-early-but-giants-are-underdogs-in-all-but-these-2-games-on-their-2020-schedule-lines-for-first-15-games.html

Pflum BBV: Summer School 2020: A glossary of analytics terms
https://www.bigblueview.com/platform/amp/2020/5/30/21270318/summer-school-2020-a-glossary-of-analytics-terms-ny-giants-pff-football-outsiders-nextgenstats

QB

Thompson SI.com: Giants Player Profile | Case Cookus, QB
https://www.si.com/.amp-nygiants/nfl/giants/news/giants-player-profile-case-cookus-qb

OLB

Schmeelk Giants.com: Film Study: LB Cam Brown has size, length and athleticism 
https://www.giants.com/news/cam-brown-penn-state-big-ten-scheme-fit-giants-nfl

Valentine BBV: Giants’ Carter Coughlin “isn’t your typical seventh-round pick”
https://www.bigblueview.com/platform/amp/2020/5/31/21273686/giants-carter-coughlin-isnt-your-typical-seventh-round-pick

NFL

Volin Boston Globe: Sunday Football Notes: Ranking the NFL’s quarterback depth charts, 1-32
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/30/sports/ranking-nfls-quarterback-depth-charts-1-32/?

Schofield Touchdownwire USA Today: Metrics that matter for every NFL team

“New York Giants – Daniel Jones surpassed expectations in his first year as the New York Giants’ starting quarterback. However, 18 fumbles are a problem. What can be done to fix this issue?”

https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2020/05/30/metrics-that-matter-for-every-nfl-team/amp/

ATLANTA
Ledbetter AJC: Falcons committed to pocket passer Matt Ryan in dual-threat era
https://www.ajc.com/blog/mike-check/falcons-committed-pocket-passer-matt-ryan-dual-threat-era/Ldif0PfX0NTGSRA2LL0RDO/

BALTIMORE
Hensley ESPN Baltimore: The NFL's highest-paid non-QB? It might not be who you think
https://www.espn.com/blog/baltimore-ravens/post/_/id/52310/the-nfls-highest-paid-non-qb-might-not-be-who-you-think?

CINCINNATI
Baby ESPN Cincinnati: Catch-anything style of Bengals' Tee Higgins rooted in hoops background
https://tv5.espn.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/post/_/id/32244/catch-anything-style-of-bengals-tee-higgins-rooted-in-hoops-background?

CLEVELAND
Pluto Cleveland Plain Dealer: GM Andrew Berry’s big moves, Jadevon Clowney situation: Let’s talk Cleveland Browns
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/05/gm-andrew-berrys-big-moves-jadevon-clowney-situation-lets-talk-cleveland-browns.html

Cabot Cleveland Plain Dealer: Why is Jadeveon Clowney hesitant about signing with the Browns? Hey, Mary Kay!
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/05/why-is-jadeveon-clowney-hesitant-about-signing-with-the-browns-hey-mary-kay.html

DENVER
O’Halloran Denver Post: Broncos Analysis: 10 questions — and attempted answers — as waiting game plays out
https://www.denverpost.com/2020/05/31/broncos-10-questions-offseason-waiting-game/amp/

DETROIT
Rogers Detroit News: Film review: Scouting new Detroit Lions linebacker Jamie Collins
https://amp.detroitnews.com/amp/5273648002

GREEN BAY
Wilde State Journal: After many personnel changes a year ago, Mike Pettine’s defense aims for big steps in 2020
https://madison.com/sports/football/professional/after-many-personnel-changes-a-year-ago-mike-pettine-s-defense-aims-for-big-steps/article_83fb3191-4d63-567e-9653-a3f5401a9628.amp.html

Oates State Journal: Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine has a short lease with players
https://madison.com/sports/football/professional/tom-oates-packers-defensive-coordinator-mike-pettine-has-a-short-lease-with-players/article_ec90e860-583f-54cb-b335-c8012cc1d616.amp.html

HOUSTON
McClain Houston Chronicle: Charles Omenihu working on Version 2.0
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/john-mcclain/article/McClain-Charles-Omenihu-working-on-version-2-0-15304531.php

Wilson Houston Chronicle: Texans, J.J. Watt adjust to D.J. Reader joining Bengals
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/texans/article/Texans-JJ-Watt-adjust-DJ-Reader-join-Bengals-15300391.php

INDIANAPOLIS
Ayello Indianapolis Star: Ranking Colts newcomers by 2020 impact
https://amp.indystar.com/amp/5266732002

JACKSONVILLE
Smits Florida Times Union: The mind of Minshew: Unusual circumstances haven’t hindered Jaguars quarterback in learning new offenses
https://www.jacksonville.com/sports/20200530/mind-of-minshew-unusual-circumstances-havenrsquot-hindered-jaguars-quarterback-in-learning-new-offenses?

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Miller LA Times: Chargers getting more than a good humor man in UCLA's Joshua Kelley
https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-05-30/appreciation-chargers-getting-more-than-a-good-humor-man-in-uclas-joshua-kelley

MINNESOTA
Cronin ESPN Minn: 'Change happens': Vikings primed for defensive line challenge
https://www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/29963/change-happens-vikings-primed-for-defensive-line-challenge?

NEW ENGLAND
Reiss ESPN Boston: Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL: Patriots great Dante Scarnecchia thriving in retirement
https://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4820288/patriots-great-dante-scarnecchia-thriving-in-retirement?

Guregian Boston Herald: Former Patriots pumped to see how Bill Belichick and Tom Brady fare apart
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/05/30/former-patriots-pumped-to-see-how-bill-belichick-and-tom-brady-fare-apart/amp/

NEW ORLEANS
Detellier Houma Today: The Kamara money talk
https://www.houmatoday.com/sports/20200530/mike-detillier-kamara-money-talk?

NEW YORK JETS
Cimini ESPN NY: A look at what's happening around the New York Jets: Diamond in the Huff? Jets hope to start a trend with undrafted rookie
https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/83254/diamond-in-the-huff-jets-hope-to-start-a-trend-with-undrafted-rookie?

PHILADELPHIA
Kempski Phillyvoice: Eagles mailbag: The backup QB situation, the improved defense, and more
https://www.phillyvoice.com/eagles-mailbag-backup-qb-situation-improved-defense-and-more/

Kempski Phillyvoice: How many compensatory picks should the Eagles expect to receive in the 2021 NFL Draft?
https://www.phillyvoice.com/how-many-compensatory-picks-should-eagles-expect-receive-in-2021-nfl-draft/

SEATTLE
Arthur Seattle PI: Seattle Seahawks have failed Russell Wilson if they don't add a superstar this offseason
https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/seahawks/amp/seahawks-failed-wilson-if-dont-add-offseason-star-15304238.php

TAMPA BAY
Princiotti Boston Globe: The social evolution of Tom Brady: From Foxborough to TikTok
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/30/sports/social-evolution-tom-brady-foxborough-tiktok/?

TENNESSEE
Wyatt Titans.com: Titans DBs Kenny Vaccaro, Adoree Jackson Embrace the Future During an Offseason of Change Around Them
https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-dbs-kenny-vaccaro-adoree-jackson-embrace-the-future-during-an-offseason-o

WASHINGTON
Keim ESPN Washington: Chase Young and Markelle Fultz: High school pals linked by lofty goal
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29236690/chase-young-markelle-fultz-high-school-pals-linked-lofty-goal?

Colleges/Dtaft

Tramel The Oklahoman: Ranking the most interesting nonconference schedules for all 64 Power Five teams

“1. Southern California: Alabama in Arlington, Texas; New Mexico, Notre Dame. Crimson Tide and the Fighting Irish. You can always count on the Trojans to uphold college football pride.
2. Georgia Tech: Gardner-Webb, Central Florida, Notre Dame, at Georgia. Fabulous schedule. Two national powers and one of the mid-major heavyweights in UCF.
3. Florida State: West Virginia in Atlanta, Samford, at Boise State, Florida. Great schedule. An SEC blue-blood (UF), a name brand (WVU), a mid-major heavyweight (Boise State) and even an FCS opponent with ties — Samford gave FSU legend Bobby Bowden his first head coaching job.
4. Wisconsin: Southern Illinois, Appalachian State, Notre Dame in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Fighting Irish in Lambeau Field. Talking two birds with one stone. Plus Appalachian State is a quality mid-major.

5. Stanford: William & Mary, at Notre Dame, Brigham Young. When BYU is your marquee opponent, it’s not necessarily a great schedule. When BYU is your second-tier foe, it’s way above the curve.
6. Louisville: Murray State, Western Kentucky, at Notre Dame, Kentucky. Really good schedule, considering three Kentucky schools are among the four opponents.
7. Oregon: North Dakota State, Ohio State, Hawaii. Sneaky tough schedule, considering North Dakota State is the perennial FCS national champion.
8. Clemson: Akron, at Notre Dame, the Citadel, South Carolina. Give the Tigers credit. Their four nonconference games generally includes a rugged opponent, plus in-state foe South Carolina.

9. West Virginia: Florida State in Atlanta, Eastern Kentucky, Maryland. Typical strong slate for the Mountaineers, who usually rank in the top three of Big 12 scheduling. When a Big Ten, regional rival is not your best game, you’ve got a good schedule.
10. Michigan State: at Brigham Young, Toledo, Miami. Great schedule. A name-brand in the Hurricanes, the most tradition-rich mid-major in BYU and a solid Mid-American program in Toledo. 
11. Texas: South Florida, at LSU, Texas-El Paso. No FCS opponent. A road game at the defending national champion. Even USF isn’t a bad game.
12. North Carolina: at Central Florida, Auburn in Atlanta, James Madison, Connecticut. UCF’s status elevates the Tar Heels’ schedule.

13. Georgia: Virginia in Atlanta, East Tennessee State, Louisiana-Monroe, Georgia Tech. The only SEC school playing two fellow Power Five opponents.
14. Wake Forest: at Old Dominion, Appalachian State, Villanova, Notre Dame in Charlotte, North Carolina. Appalachian State is a legit mid-major force, so this is a relatively quality schedule.
15. Colorado: at Colorado State, Fresno State, at Texas A& M. Good for the Buffaloes — no FCS opponent, with two solid mid-majors joining the Aggies.
16. Ohio State: Bowling Green, at Oregon, Buffalo. The Buckeyes in Autzen Stadium is a dream matchup.

17. Pittsburgh: at Miami-Ohio, at Marshall, Richmond, Notre Dame. Give the Panthers credit — they’re playing road games at two mid-majors.

18. Washington: Michigan, Sacramento State, Utah State. The Wolverines in Seattle is a sight rarely seen.
19. Oklahoma: Missouri State, Tennessee, at Army. No great game, but two interesting games, home against Rocky Top and at West Point.
20. Michigan: at Washington, Ball State, Arkansas State. Similar to Ohio State’s schedule. A great trip out West, with no FCS opponents.

21. Alabama: USC in Arlington, Texas; Georgia State, Kent State, Tennessee-Martin. The Crimson Tide also opened with USC at Jerry World in 2016. Why didn’t they just go home-and-home?

22. Purdue: Memphis, Air Force, at Boston College. Upside down schedule. The two mid-majors probably are better opponents than the Power Five foe.
23. Penn State: Kent State, at Virginia Tech, San Jose State. Can you believe it? This will be the first meeting between the Nittany Lions and the Hokies.
24. Virginia: Georgia in Atlanta, Virginia Military Institute, Connecticut, at Old Dominion. Interesting opener, on a Monday night in Atlanta.

25. Arkansas: Nevada, at Notre Dame, Charleston Southern, Louisiana-Monroe. Razorbacks never have played Notre Dame.
26. Oregon State: at Oklahoma State, Colorado State, Portland State. Not a bad schedule for the Beavers, considering trips to Stillwater usually end poorly for visitors.
27. South Carolina: Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, Wofford, at Clemson. Every foe is from the Carolinas.
28. Tennessee: Charlotte, at Oklahoma, Furman, Troy. Volunteers come to Norman again, after their 2014 visit.

29. Duke: Middle Tennessee, Elon, Charlotte, at Notre Dame. Not much going on past Notre Dame.
30. Virginia Tech: Liberty, Penn State, at Middle Tennessee, North Alabama. The Hokies and Penn State never have played in football.
31. TCU: at California, Prairie View A& M, at SMU. Two road games, both against decent opponents? That’s a good schedule.
32. Florida: Eastern Washington, South Alabama, New Mexico State, at Florida State. Gators sometimes play a good nonconference foe other than Florida State, but not this year.
33. Iowa: Northern Iowa, Iowa State, Northern Illinois. Two Northerns and two Iowa schools.

34. LSU: Texas-San Antonio, Texas, Rice in Houston, Nicholls State. Give the Tigers credit; at least they’re going to Houston to play in NRG Stadium.

35. Baylor: Ole Miss in Houston, Incarnate Word, Louisiana Tech. Good schedule, since Louisiana Tech has become a solid mid-major.
36. Vanderbilt: Mercer, at Kansas State, Colorado State, Louisiana Tech. Decent schedule, considering both Colorado State and Louisiana Tech are solid mid-majors.
37. Iowa State: South Dakota, Iowa, Nevada-Las Vegas. Three home games for the Cyclones, but at least one of them is Iowa. 
38. Boston College: Ohio, at Kansas, Purdue, Holy Cross. Give BC credit for playing two Power Five teams, but Purdue and Kansas are near the bottom of the P5.

39. Maryland: Towson, Northern Illinois, at West Virginia. Sort of a blah schedule for the Terrapins.
40. Miami: Temple, Wagner, Alabama-Birmingham, at Michigan State. Interesting. No Florida teams among Miami’s nonconference foes.
41. California: at Nevada-Las Vegas, TCU, Cal Poly. The Horned Frogs in Berkeley is a cool matchup.
42. Ole Miss: Baylor in Houston, Southeast Missouri State, Connecticut, Georgia Southern. Mississippi’s only game against Baylor came in 1975.
43. Arizona: Hawaii, Portland State, at Texas Tech. UofA and Tech are old Border Conference opponents.

44. Texas A& M: Abilene Christian, North Texas, Colorado, Fresno State. Aggies are the only team in America with four nonconference home games.
45. Washington State: at Utah State, Houston, Idaho. Both Utah State and UofH are solid mid-majors, but still, you’d like to see the Cougars play a Power Five opponent.
46. North Carolina State: Mississippi State, at Troy, Delaware, Liberty. The Wolfpack typically play a pedestrian nonconference schedule, and this one is no different.
47. UCLA: New Mexico State, at Hawaii, at San Diego State. Strange. The Bruins annually play a great schedule, but this year, not a Power Five opponent. 

48. Auburn: Alcorn State, North Carolina in Atlanta, Southern Mississippi, Massachusetts. Can Mack Brown’s Tar Heels put up a fight?
49. Utah: Brigham Young, Montana State, at Wyoming. If BYU is your marquee opponent…

50. Texas Tech: at Texas-El Paso, Alabama State, Arizona. Give the Red Raiders credit for going to El Paso, but the Miners might be the worst team in the FBS.
51. Arizona State: Northern Arizona, at Nevada-Las Vegas, Brigham Young. Another slate with BYU carrying the freight.  
52. Oklahoma State: Oregon State, Tulsa, Western Illinois. Both Oregon State and Tulsa are decent home games, but nothing to get too excited about.

53. Nebraska: Central Michigan, South Dakota State, Cincinnati. Does anyone else get the feeling that the Cornhuskers have lost their pride?
54. Mississippi State: New Mexico, at North Carolina State, Tulane, Alabama A& M. Mike Leach’s first Bulldog schedule not all that appealing.
55. Minnesota: Florida Atlantic, Tennessee Tech, Brigham Young. Golden Gophers are looking outside the Upper Midwest to find a mediocre schedule.
56. Missouri: Central Arkansas, Eastern Michigan, at Brigham Young, Louisiana-Lafayette. Mizzou long ago gave up the ghost on scheduling.

57. Rutgers: Monmouth, Syracuse, at Temple. The Owls are a decent mid-major, lifting this schedule above the bottom of the Big Ten.
58. Kansas: New Hampshire, Boston College, at Coastal Carolina. Strange schedule. The Jayhawks’ western-most opponent comes from the coast of South Carolina.
59. Kansas State: Buffalo, North Dakota, Vanderbilt. Should be a fairly easy 3-0 for the Wildcats.
60. Kentucky: Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Eastern Illinois, at Louisville. The Wildcats exhausted all the Eastern options, but why not play East Carolina instead of Kent State
61. Indiana: Western Kentucky, Ball State, at Connecticut. Not much of a schedule for a school that rarely makes football waves.

62. Syracuse: at Rutgers, Colgate, at Western Michigan, Liberty. Ugh. If this isn’t the worst schedule in America, I’d hate to see what is.
63. Northwestern: Tulane, Central Michigan, Morgan State. Wow. Northwestern usually does better than this.
64. Illinois: Illinois State, Connecticut, Bowling Green. You don’t need the pandemic to cause social distancing with a schedule like this.”

https://oklahoman.com/article/5663523/college-football-schedules-usc-ranks-no-1-among-nonconference-slates?

History

Schwartz NYP: The Plaxico Burress shooting fiasco torments Giants greats
https://nypost.com/2020/05/30/ex-giants-tormented-by-alternate-plaxico-burress-gun-shot-reality/amp/

Schwartz NYP: ‘It still haunts me’: Chris Snee revisits Giants’ missed Super Bowl chance
https://nypost.com/2020/05/30/it-still-haunts-me-chris-snee-revisits-giants-missed-2009-chance/

Serby NYP: Plaxico Burress shooting cost Giants chance at dynasty
https://nypost.com/2020/05/30/plaxico-burress-shooting-cost-giants-chance-at-dynasty/amp/

Smith SNY: Amani Toomer, other Giants look back on once-promising 2008 season: 'I think that was the best team we had'
https://www.sny.tv/giants/news/amani-toomer-other-giants-look-back-on-once-promising-2008-season-i-think-that-was-the-best-team-we-had/313483164

Schwartz NYP: Bill Belichick as Giants coach first of many Big Blue what-ifs
https://nypost.com/2020/05/30/bill-belichick-as-giants-coach-first-of-many-big-blue-what-ifs/amp/

Giants.com: Throwback to TeamVic mic’d up at the 2011 NFC Championship (Video)
https://youtu.be/qc6Tosl0l98

Kendle Canton Repository: Remembering NFL players Bob Kalsu and Don Steinbrunner who died in Vietnam War
https://www.indeonline.com/sports/20200531/remembering-nfl-players-bob-kalsu-and-don-steinbrunner-who-died-in-vietnam-war?

KTSM: Legendary UTEP running back Wendt dies at the age of 95

Drafted by Chicago Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers. 20 year collegiate rushing record holder before OJ Simpson

https://www.ktsm.com/sports/college-sports/utep/legendary-utep-running-back-dies-at-the-age-of-96/

Turney PFJ: Reviewing SI/Talk of Fame Candidates for the AFL-HOF Excercise
http://nflfootballjournal.blogspot.com/2020/05/reviewing-for-talk-of-fame-afl-hof.html

Dan Daly: Do yourself a favor sometime and give the NFL record book a careful reading, just so you can be reminded of all the Lost Franchises that are still represented in it. This is from the list of the players with 2 pick-6's in a single game. The 1930 Newark Tornadoes, people!

Tom Leary Newark vs Frankford 1930

Then you can do a little research and find out that Tom Leary was so new to the Newark team that "his name did not even appear on the programme," according to the Philly Inquirer

But it wasn't exactly Leary's NFL "debut." He'd appeared in Newark's previous game 3 days earlier vs. the Staten Island Stapletons.

Giants Birthdays 5-31

Jim Del Gaizo QB TR-GB 1974 NYG 1974 5-31-1947

NYT (9-20-1974) Del Gaizo No Stranger to Giants’ Huddle

PLEASANTVILLE, N. Y., Sept. 11—“Jim Del Gaizo is convinced that being traded to the New York Giants “couldn't have worked out better for me.”
“It's close to home [Everett, Mass.], I know the coach and I know the system,” the 27‐year‐old leftbanded quarterback said today, after his arrival at the Giants’ training camp at the Westchester campus of Pace University. “I want to help this club.”
Giant fans may reserve judgment on whether trading for Del Gaizo and placing Randy Johnson, an established National Football League quarterback, on waivers was the right gamble by Coach Bill Arnsparger, especially so close to the regular‐season opener against the Washington Redskins Sunday at Yale Bowl.
??
“It didn't work out in Green Bay,” Del Gaizo explained of his third stop in three seasons in the N.F.L. “It was a funny season last year and a funny camp this year.”

Del Gaizo stayed out on strike with other established Packers and played only 6½ minutes of the exhibition season. He admitted today that “I wasn't going anywhere in Green Bay,” which represented a dramatic comedown from last season.
When the Packers traded for the 6‐foot‐i‐inch Del Gaizo in August, 1973, they gave the Miami Dophins two draft choices and thought their quarterback problems were solved. Del Gaizo's value in yesterday's trade was a high 1976 draft choice, which the Packers promptly relinquished to Kansas City in a trade for another quarterback, Dean Carlsen.
“I'm glad to be here, real happy,” said Del Gaizo, who played one season at Syracuse University beforeitzttrferring to the University of Tampa. “The Shute staff taught me football. I know the type of background Coach Arnsparger has.”
Del Gaizo said he knew nothing about the housecleaning that had taken place on the Giants, with 23 players gone from last year and 18 rookies in their place, including Carl Summerell, a quarterback.

Del Gaizo and Summerell will work behind Norm Snead, who is 35 years old, in his 14th season and has had persistent knee problems, including surgery after last year.
The lack of success among southpaws in pro football and his own identity problems have not discouraged Del Gaizo.
“You have to believe in yourself,” he said before departing for his first workout. “I think I'm good enough. I just hope I can prove it.”

Shuman Revere Journal (5-20-20) Perfect Recollection: Jim Del Gaizo Remembers Shula, Undefeated Dolphins Team
https://reverejournal.com/2020/05/20/jim-del-gaizo-remembers-shula-undefeated-dolphins-team/amp/

Leger Douzable DT W-MIN 2008 NYG 2008 5-31-1986

In Memoriam

John Lovetere DT TR-LA 1963 NYG 1963-1965
Born 5-31-1936 Died

Beck The Wilson Post (9-05-2012) WATERTOWN -- “If former National Football League tackle John LoVetere could go back in time and start all over as pro ball player, he would punt.

The glory of the gridiron is not all its cracked up to be, and the 76-year-old LoVetere (pronounced Lo-vuh-teer), who played seven seasons in the trenches as a defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants, will testify to that fact.
Once a giant of a man with the strength of Samson, the Watertown citizen stands 6-foot-3-inches tall and weighs 230 pounds. But when he starred in the pros, he towered at 6-foot-5 and hefted 290 pounds on his muscular frame.

Knee replacement surgeries have knocked down his height. Diabetes and kidney problems have trimmed his weight. As for the pain in his knees, well, that hes just had to learn to live with those deep aches for decades.
Not one for waxing nostalgic, the ex-pro kept no souvenirs from his NFL days.
I got rid of it all, said the man, who was known to his friends as Lovie. Several years ago, he sold the big blue helmet he wore for the Giants as well as two footballs autographed by his teammates.
He seems to be not so much bitter as disgusted with the way pro players were treated half a century ago, like pieces of meat. He shares some of those thoughts in the 45-page book, The John LoVetere Story, which his friend Mike Pinsker wrote last spring.
We dont get credit for what we did back then, said LoVetere, who wore Number 76 as right defensive tackle for the Rams from 1959 to 1962 and for the Giants from 1963 to 1966

I didnt know they paid anything, and they didnt. Nuthin. I made more money working in construction, he said. (His first season in the NFL his salary was $6,500.)
Born in Waltham, Mass., the athlete grew up in Anaheim, Calif., where he lettered in four sports and was a three-year All-American tackle at Paramount High School.
I played everything. I played football, baseball, basketball and track, said the oldest of eight brothers, who was gifted with speed and strength from an early age.
LoVetere joined the Army in 1955 and was assigned to the 187th regimental combat team with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell where he made 30-something jumps as a paratrooper.
He also played two years of football for the Fort Campbell squad and was named to two service all-star teams. On the side he worked as a bouncer at a local night club. A man with good hands, astounding strength and lightning speed, he was a prototype of todays pro linemen.

Asked to describe his physical assets, he answered simply, Everything. I was pretty good at everything.
With times of 9.8 in the 100-yard dash and 4.5 seconds in the 40, LoVetere became a dedicated weightlifter. In his prime, he sported a 56-inch chest, 40-inch waist and 21-inch biceps. He bench pressed 520 pounds and military pressed 405 pounds.
It was no wonder that Ram scout Chuck Benedict spied him out, and so with no college ball playing in his background, LoVetere went directly into the professional ranks where his teammates included Bill Wade, the former star Vanderbilt quarterback.
But before he headed back to his home stomping grounds on the West Coast, the big man met a little woman who sacked his heart.

He snuck into town, and I worked in town, laughed Debbie, a Nashville native, who worked as a hairdresser for years. Weve been married 55 years.
Their union produced two children, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

It was very hard being a players wife back then, Debbie recalled. We had two kids. He would go out and play two games at a time on the East Coast. When he got traded, I had to pack everything up.
An aggressive pass rusher with great pursuit and range, LoVetere had some superb games with the Rams, and in 1960, he blocked seven kicks, probably a record.
After the 1962 season, the New York Giants traded Rosey Grier, their legendary defensive lineman, to the Rams straight up for LoVetere.
Unhappy with his coaches in L.A., he said, as far as football goes, being traded to the Giants was the greatest thing that ever happened to me.

He told Big Apple sportswriters on the day he reported to the Giants, Im a hungry ballplayer. I like to bang and knock all the time. If you dont like to bang into that line, well, youd better get the hell out of there.
Giants head coach Al Sherman said of the Herculean tackle, He knows only one way to play football and that is all out.
I was strong back then. Yeah, I had to be, said the man who once pounded such famed quarterback as Johnny Unitas and Y.A. Tittle to the turf. They were tough then. There werent no babies.

Unfortunately, the lineman injured his right knee in a game with the St. Louis Cardinalsa big hurt from which he never fully recovered. After the 1966 season, he left the game behind, his only trophy a disabled leg.

The injury came when his legs became tangled up with the legs of three other players, And I was going one way and they were going the other, he remembered.
He tore all his ligaments and cartilage with five minutes left in the game, Debbie said.
I played hurt and went back in like a damn fool, said LoVetere, who now wishes he had left pro football behind a season earlier or, better yet, never had played at all.
Exiting the NFL, which offered very little in the way of disability in that era, John and his family moved to Cypress, Calif., where he worked in construction, building sets for shows at network television studios. In Hollywood, he crossed paths with such celebrities as Don Rickles, Dean Martin, Dan Blocker, Joey Bishop and others.
In 1969, John and Debbie relocated to Nashville, where Debbies family continued to operate a hairdressing studio. He went to work for Westlock, then joined the Teamsters Union and was employed by McLean Trucking where he loaded trucks, worked on the docks and drove locally. He retired after working several more years at Yellow Freight.

In 1976, a friend convinced LoVetere to open Scotties Restaurant on Highway 70 in Watertown. The big man did everything from manage the burger palace to flipping patties, but after two years, he closed the eatery.
In 1984, the couple bought a house and 30 acres on the outskirts of Watertown where they live today with two cats. Their daughter and grandkids live nearby.
LoVetere receives a small pension from the NFL, probably more than he made every month as a player, and he draws his retirement pay from working with the Teamsters.
Three days a week, Debbie drives her husband to Lebanon for dialysis treatments.
I wouldnt wish it on anybody, he said of the illness.
These days Big John can no longer drive his tractor to mow the lawn. He did enjoy playing in the senior golf scrambles held at Hunters Point Golf Course but a leg injury in May has put that on hold. So he watches television, favoring reruns of Bonanza and PGA Golf tournaments. When he does watch the NFL on Sundays, he roots for the Patriots paying homage to his Boston roots.

He was tough and he was strong. He still is. He went through an awful lot of pain in construction. His knees hurt, said the old pro's sweetheart of a lifetime. Bless his heart. Hes a sweet man.”

https://www.wilsonpost.com/community/no-love-lost-for-the-nfl/article_15710d9a-1966-5190-bf5b-0d9de6efc1ff.html

Today in Pro Football History: 1963: Giants Trade Rosey Grier to Rams

“On July 8, 1963 the New York Giants traded away one of the stalwart members of their defensive line by dealing DT Roosevelt “Rosey” Grier to the Los Angeles Rams for DT John LoVetere and a future draft pick.

The 6’5”, 290-pound Grier had been chosen by the Giants in the third round of the 1955 NFL draft out of Penn State. Except for the 1957 season, which he missed due to military service, Grier was part of an outstanding unit that included DT Dick Modzelewski and ends Andy Robustelli and Jim Katcavage. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection, received consensus first-team All-NFL honors in 1956, and gained at least some first- or second-team recognition after four other seasons. In 1962 Grier was an All-Eastern Conference choice by The Sporting News. Over the same course of time, the Giants consistently contended and won a NFL Championship while topping the Eastern Conference on five occasions. The tough and cohesive defense played a significant role in the club’s success.

However, there were concerns about age and the need for retooling. “At 31, Grier is about four years older than LoVetere,” explained New York’s Head Coach Allie Sherman. Sherman also expressed the desire to use the draft choice obtained from the Rams in dealing for a veteran running back, which failed to materialize (it ended up being a fourth-round choice in 1964 that was used to take Ohio State FB Matt Snell, who chose to sign with New York’s AFL club, the Jets).

In Los Angeles, Grier was reunited with a former Giants teammate, Harland Svare, who was now commencing his first full season as head coach of the Rams. He moved directly into the starting lineup alongside second-year DT Merlin Olsen and flanked by ends Dave “Deacon” Jones, in his third season, and Lamar Lundy, a 28-year-old veteran, putting Grier as the senior member in the midst of another formidable unit. But the remainder of the defense, while containing some good young players, was not so impressive, nor was the offense, and the team as a whole was coming off of a miserable 1-12-1 record in 1962, its fourth straight under .500. Svare had been promoted to head coach during the season.

The club improved to 5-9 in ’63 and the line, now containing Grier, remained the best part of the defense and led the NFL in allowing the fewest rushing yards in 1964, although the Rams finished once more with a losing record. Yet another disappointing year in ’65, in which Grier was beginning to show his age at 33 but was also still tough against the run, led to the dismissal of Svare and the hiring of George Allen, who had been an outstanding defensive coach with the Bears.

Under Allen’s guidance, the Rams improved to 8-6 in 1966 and were poised for further improvement. However, Grier went down with a torn Achilles tendon in the preseason that cost him the entire year and DT Roger Brown was obtained from Detroit to fill his place. LA went on to reach the postseason for the first time since 1955 with a gaudy 11-1-2 mark in ’67, and the “Fearsome Foursome” of Jones, Olsen, Brown, and Lundy played a key role in the success.

While it was anticipated that Grier would return to the Rams in 1968, he announced his retirement in July, moving on to a full-time entertainment career. Over the course of 11 seasons in the NFL, four with the Rams, he appeared in 141 regular season games and was a solid contributor to excellent defensive lines with two clubs. While sacks were not yet an officially-compiled statistic, Grier has been unofficially credited with 21 during his four active years with the Rams, with a high of seven in 1966.

As for the player the Giants obtained for Grier, the 27-year-old LoVetere (pictured at left), who was 6’4” and weighed 285 pounds, attended Compton Junior College but didn’t play football collegiately although he did play with distinction in the service for two years and was signed by the Rams in 1959. An early proponent of weight training, he was both strong and fast. LoVetere performed well, and in 1960 blocked five kicks, but ran afoul of Svare’s predecessor, Bob Waterfield, and lost his starting job.

LoVetere settled into Grier’s spot in the defensive line (he even wore the same number 76) and was named to the Pro Bowl as the Giants won a third consecutive Eastern Conference title in 1963. However, time finally caught up with the club and the bottom dropped out in ’64. It caught up to LoVetere as well, who appeared in just 12 games combined in 1964 and ’65 due to, first, a broken leg and then a knee injury that required surgery and proved to be career-ending.”

https://fs64sports.blogspot.com/2016/07/1963-giants-trade-rosey-grier-to-rams.html?m=1

Maule SI.com: WINNING TOOK A GIANT ADJUSTMENT (11-04-1963)

WITH SHORT GAINS ON PEPPERED PASSES BY Y. A. TITTLE (ABOVE) AND GREAT DEFENSIVE LINE PLAY, THE GIANTS SHOWED HOW THE BROWNS COULD BE BEATEN

“The secret was an adjustment by Giant Coach Allie Sherman, a defensive adjustment dictated by the success of the Brown attack in the first game between the teams. The problem, of course, was how to contain Jimmy Brown, and Sherman took a calculated risk by changing the play of his linebackers. Instead of dropping off the line of scrimmage, looking for the pass before they reacted to the run, on Sunday they played Brown tight, getting to him before he could clear the line of scrimmage.
"We could have been hurt if Ryan had thrown behind our linebackers," said Jim Patton, the Giant safety man. "But we were getting such good pressure on Ryan that he didn't have time to throw."
The Browns, of course, had adjusted their offense and defense, too. But canny old Y. A. Tittle, whose brain can be as quick as his arm, changed his huddle call at the line of scrimmage on nearly every play throughout the first half.
"They were in an odd line," Tittle explained. "We expected them to be in a four-three most of the time, so I had to change off. If the crowd had been noisy, I might have had trouble. But they were pretty quiet."
The 84,000 Clevelanders were quiet for good reason. The first time Brown carried the ball, it was raked out of his arms by Giant Tackle John LoVetere, and Sam Huff pounced on it. The Giants got a field goal out of this Brown bumble, and 25 seconds later they had their first touchdown after a beautiful play by Patton, who cut across in front of Cleveland End John Brewer to intercept a pass on the Browns' 35.

This interception was the result of a tremendous rush by the Giant line that kept Ryan in difficulty all afternoon. Andy Robustelli, who plays defensive end for the Giants and calls their defensive plays, sent his linebackers in after the Cleveland quarterbacks on a variety of blitzes. The Brown blockers often picked up the penetrating linebackers, but they overlooked the tackles and ends. Jim Katcavage, in particular, had a wonderful afternoon thumping Ryan to the ground.
After Patton's interception, Tittle wasted no time in scoring again. Jim Shofner, the good corner back for Cleveland, had been hurt in the first Cleveland-Giant game, and Bobby Franklin, his replacement, has played safety much more than he has corner back. In this game, the thankless task of trying to cover Del Shofner fell to Franklin, and Tittle tested him at once. Shofner got behind Franklin and Tittle hit him with a 23-yard touchdown pass.
The game was over by then, although it was only three minutes and 49 seconds old. The Browns had had the ball twice, lost it on a fumble and an interception, and the Giants had scored both times.
Allie Sherman's answer to Brown's deadly running became obvious on Cleveland's third series. The Giant linebackers, playing up very close, smothered the big fullback for three-, five-and one-yard gains and the Browns were forced to punt.

On their fourth series Ryan shifted to the air but, under grievous stress from the Giant line, never had time to find his receivers. The Browns were finished. The Giants, playing errorless defensive football, had completely shut off the most effective attack in football. Their own offense, predicated on the short gain and ball control, worked very well.
"We threw out the bomb," Sherman said. "We never went for the long one. We wanted to control the ball. Short passes and running. That's what we planned and that's what we did. We showed how the Browns can be beaten."
So effective was the Giant strategy of short gains and ball control that New York had possession of the ball more than twice as much as did Cleveland—78 plays against 38. The Giants gained a total of 387 yards and Tittle completed 21 of 31 passes. But most typical of all the Giants on this day was their best ballcarrier of the afternoon, elderly Hugh McElhenny. The night before the game McElhenny, who has all the elusiveness of a waterbug but who has lost some of his speed, was morose.
"I'm not playing enough," he told a friend. "I'm not criticizing Sherman. He has done a wonderful job and I can understand it, but I wish I could get in more. I still think I can run if I get the chance."
He ran magnificently against the Browns, looking now and then as good as he ever has. He scored one of the Giant touchdowns on a six-yard pass from Tittle; en route, he left two Brown defenders hanging in midair.

Despite their victory, the Giants are still a game behind the Browns. More to the point, they must depend on someone else to beat Cleveland in the weeks to come, since the two teams do not play again. And although Sherman has pointed out that the Giants have now established a pattern for beating the Browns, whether any other team in the league is capable of following this pattern as closely as the Giants did on Sunday seems doubtful.
In any case, the Browns probably will never again play a team that can execute a game plan—offense and defense—as flawlessly as did the Giants on this particular afternoon.”

https://vault.si.com/vault/1963/11/04/winning-took-a-giant-adjustment

1964 Profile: John LoVetere

Defensive Tackle
No. 76
Compton Junior
"The gigantic LoVetere was acquired by the Giants from the Los Angeles Rams prior to the 1963 campaign in a straight swap for defensive tackle Rosey Grier. Many thought the Giants had weakened themselves on the pass rush, but they didn't know how much pressure the big guy could exert. He showed'em.
John didn't play varsity ball at Compton but was spotted by a Ram scout while playing Army ball for Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Signed as a free agent in 1959, LoVetere quickly came to the fore as the club's Rookie of the Year. During the 1959 campaign, John blocked five punts, which speaks for itself.
He's exceptionally agile and fast for a man his size."

Complete Sports 1964 New York Giants

"John came to New York from the Rams before the 1963 training season. Los Angeles' top defensive lineman for four seasons, he personally blocked five rival kicks."

-1964 Philadelphia No. 12

NYT: (11-14-64) ST. LOUIS, Nov. 14 “The New York Giants today placed four players on the l knee surgery and Pesonen also has an injured knee. This reduced the Giant squad number to 36, which under the National Football League's ruling, permitted the addition of one new player.”

1965 Giants Profiles
JOHN LOVETERE
Defensive Tackle
No. 76
Compton CC
“John is considered one of the strongest men in the game and is unusually fast and agile for a man of his size. After being named Ram Rookie of the Year in 1959, he blocked five kicks in 1960, an NFL record, one a punt he returned for a touchdown. Acquired by the Giants for Rosey Grier between the 1962 and '63 seasons, John played every game in 1963 and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
He played several years of service of football at Fort Campbell, Kentucky before being signed by Los Angeles as a free agent.”

1966 Giants Profiles
JOHN LOVETERE
Defensive Tackle
No. 76
Compton CC
“John was twice Pro Player of the Week as a rookie and was also the Rams' rookie of the year. The following year he blocked five kicks, an NFL record, and was named Rams' defensive lineman of the year. When given the task or replacing Rosie Grier upon joining the Giants in 1963, John was selected to the Pro Bowl.
One of the strongest men in pro football, John played several years of service football at Fort Campbell, Kentucky before joining Los Angeles.”

Reb Russell B W-PHI 1933 NYG 1933 Born 5-31-1905 Died 3-16-1978

“Born to Charles Franklin and Hattie Mae (Hummel) Russell on May 31, 1905, Lafayette H. Russell spent his baby years in Osawatomie, Kansas, but the family soon moved to Coffeyville, Kansas, which would be the stomping grounds for our hero during most of his life.

A top-knotch football and baseball player in public school, Russell became a All-State football player for two years at the Missouri Military Academy at Mexico, Missouri, and it was during this time that he was given the nickname of "Rebel", later shortened to "Reb".  He graduated from the Missouri Military Academy, Class of 1924, and was among the charter inductees into the MMA Athletic Hall of Fame.

In 1928, he enrolled at the University of Nebraska where, as a running quarterback, he received honors as a member of the All Big Six Team.

Transferring to the Evanston, Illinois campus of the Northwestern Wildcats, Reb was ineligible to play in 1929 and several games at the beginning of the 1930 season. During the 1930 and 1931 seasons, "number 7" became an outstanding fullback with further honors including the Big-Ten scoring championship, All-Big Ten honors, All-American status (in 1930), and a six-yard-per-carry average.  Even Notre Dame's fabled coach Knute Rockne added praise by saying that Reb "was the greatest plunging fullback I ever saw" (in reference to Reb's play in the 14-0 loss to Notre Dame in 1930, which was the year the Fighting Irish were undefeated and crowned National Champions).

In his book The Tale of the Wildcats, A Centennial History of Northwestern University Athletics (1951), Walter Paulison included some commentary about that 1930 Notre Dame game: "The victory was Notre Dame's, but the individual honors that day belonged to Russell, whose line-plunging against a foe of championship class was the talk of the nation."

During Reb's football days at Northwestern, the team was 7-1-0 (in 1930) and 7-1-1 (in 1931), they were Co-Big Ten champions for both years, and Northwestern's total points scored for the two seasons was 320 (vs. a total of 76 for their opposition).

The University Archives at the Northwestern University Library advise that comprehensive Northwestern football statistics dating back to the 1930s have not survived or, at least, are not among Athletic Department records held by the University Archives. They do have a scrapbook of newspaper clippings for the 1930 season, but nothing for 1931. Selected and abbreviated info from those clippings include the following mentions of Russell:

1930, NU vs. Centre: Russell at fullback, 16 carries, 147 total yards, 3 touchdowns
1930, NU vs. Minnesota: 19 carries for Russell, 57 total yards, 1 touchdown
1930, NU vs. Indiana: 2 touchdowns for Russell.

The Library Archives at Northwestern also provided info on Russell's All-American honors: Russell was a second team fullback on the Hearst Consensus All-America Team. He was the fullback on the team picked by the All-America Board of Football (which at that time, included Knute Rockne, Glenn S. 'Pop' Warner, T. A. D. Jones, W. A. Alexander and Christy Walsh). An unidentified clipping reports that the New York Evening Sun selected Russell as a candidate for All-American. Sportswriter Bill Corum (see footnote at bottom of this page) put Russell on his All-American team.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has the official records of college football All-Americans, and that information has been published in Football's Finest (NCAA, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2002). In the listing for First Team All-Americans, you'll find Fayette Russell, Northwestern, fullback, 1930. (Link to the book and player listing is at the end of the Russell webpages.)

Reb's last football game as a collegiate was on the East team at the 7th annual East-West Shrine game on New Years day, January 1, 1932. There were 45,000 fans at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, with the East winning 6-0. Clarke Hinkle of Bucknell and Russell were the alternating fullbacks and the halfback was Purdue's Jim Purvis who scored the only touchdown and points in the game.

Maxwell Stiles (footnote at bottom of this page) writes about the game in his book Football's Finest Hour, The Shrine East - West Game (Nashunal Publishing Company, Los Angeles, 1950). In the chapter titled 1932 ... OVERTURE TO IMMORTALITY, he notes that the game was played in "incessant rain", in "the ooze and the muck", on a "slippery field", and neither team could complete a forward pass because of the weather and field conditions. Listed as the outstanding players were Bill Hewitt of Michigan (later, a defensive end with the Chicago Bears), and Clarke Hinkle (fullback for the Green Bay Packers). Both Hewitt and Hinkle are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Stiles interweaves his own narrative with newspaper clippings and reports from various sportswriters. Following are some excerpts/quotes from Stiles' book relating to Reb Russell:

"The big eastern line held command at all times, and the power runners of the East - Hinkle, Reb Russell of Northwestern and Jim Purvis of Purdue - were able to smash through for gains that held the men of the West at bay."

"One lone touchdown, counted as Jim Purvis, hard driving Purdue halfback, shot into the end zone on a beautiful off tackle from two yards out late in the first quarter of play, marked up the winning digits, but it was the heavy hitting of Reb Russell, and the equally hard smashing of the not quite so big Clark Hinkle, which kept the West on defense throughout the entire afternoon."

"It was Russell who motored the scoring drive through the mud ..."

"But the crowd will remember Russell and Hinkle, who hit 33 times between them for almost 100 yards, Hinkle collecting 62 in 21 attempts, and Russell 37 in 11."

"... the terrific smashing of the backfield, notably Hinkle, Russell, Purvis, Morton and McEver."

"Our fullbacks were a stand-off, Hinkle being the faster, but with no more power than Russell, who was smoother. They provided the main ball carrying impetus, of course, though Purvis was almost as strong and the three made up a trio each man of whom had the ability to fight for extra yards."

With a dozen or so other football stars, Reb headed West during the Summer of 1932 to do a bit part in Universal's THE ALL-AMERICAN, a football yarn starring Richard Arlen.  The story goes that Russell became close with the legendary Tom Mix, who was on the Universal lot filming his fine sound series of 1932-1933 which included THE RIDER OF DEATH VALLEY (1932), DESTRY RIDES AGAIN (JUSTICE RIDES AGAIN) (1932) and MY PAL, THE KING (1932).  Reb wound up attending football outings and other sporting events as well as meeting filmdom's elite, all courtesy of new-found buddy and sponsor Tom Mix.

Reb was approached about doing some film work by producer Sol Lesser.

During the silent era, Sol Lesser owned a California theater chain and was involved in both film distribution and production. During the 1930s, he produced a variety of films including the Bela Lugosi CHANDU and Buster Crabbe TARZAN THE FEARLESS serials. His western series included early Buck Jones features released through Columbia, George O'Brien oaters for Fox, and the brief 20th Century Fox "singing cowboy" group which starred singer and band leader Smith Ballew.  Lesser was also the production boss on higher budget films such as OUR TOWN (1940), THE TUTTLES OF TAHITI (1942) and STAGE DOOR CANTEEN (1943), and from about 1943-1958, he was in charge of the Tarzan jungle adventures.

Lesser was about to initiate a series of B westerns with the opener to be WHEN A MAN'S A MAN, based on the novel by Harold Bell Wright.  And Reb was being considered for the lead in the new series. To give the newcomer some experience, Lesser cast Reb in a supporting role as a mailman in the mediocre doggie-adventure FIGHTING TO LIVE (Principal, 1934), a non-western starring Marion Shilling, a German shepherd named Captain and another pooch named Lady.  No great shakes with dialogue, Reb must have impressed Lesser with his muscular physique and down-home manners. But some legal shenanigans forced postponement of the series, as Lesser and novelist Wright became embroiled in a lawsuit over rights to the story.

In the middle of all of this, Reb played briefly with two professional football teams, the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants...”

http://www.b-westerns.com/russell.htm