late career pickups the a Giants ever had ... he had no ego and accepted a backup role then came on star on the biggest stage. It was a great way for him to go out with a ring. His arm throw on Kelsey was epic.
As a rookie, with his size, speed, power and moves, Anderson looked like the reincarnation of Jimmy Brown. That they both wore number 32 only made it worse for me.
When the Giants got him, I knew they had a great player.
I knew he was on the back 9 of his career, but he was one of my favorite non-Giant players, such a gifted back.
I met him a couple of years ago when I went out to SF for the Giants debacle. We took the Big Blue Travel bus and tailgate package, and OJ was the guest of honor. He wore his SB ring, and was a great guy.
and his wind-up after his long run vs. Buffalo let me know then we were going to win that game.
Of course, it didn't stop me from barely looking out of the corner of my eyes when the kick went wide right.
But OJ was a force. He looked like a DT by the time he came to the Giants and his uniform always seemed to be hanging off somewhere. He was not the definition of sleek, slippery back.
But he was a Parcells type of player through and through.
Funny story. I was at a Giants game in late 90's and was standing down by where the players tunnel and I looked down to see OJ and Rodney Hampton talking against the wall.
I waited until they stopped talking a minute and were just looking out at the field watching various players warm up and I said "Excuse me, OJ, May I just say you had an amazing career for the Cardinals and Giants and I really enjoyed watching you play."
He didn't look up, but Rodney did. Instead OJ raised a couple of fingers in acknowledgment like..Yeah, yeah. I hear that all the time, Kid.
In any event, Rodney gave me this big smile and said throw him my gameday program. I dropped it down to him with a sharpie and in true Rodney fashion dropped both! LOL.
Anyway, he picked them up and handed it to OJ. OJ then looked up and gave me a quick smile...signed his name. Rodney then tossed the magazine back to me.
Before he could thrown the pen back, I asked if he would sign it next to him and said...My two favorite Giant RB's.
He laughed, caught the gameday this time, signed it and threw it back up and then the sharpie.
I know I was probably bothering them....but it was a great moment for me. OJ & Rodney...Class Acts and great players!
IIRC, he was drafted by the Cardinals one spot after Phil Simms
as insurance due to an injury to Morris in the first SB run. Everyone thought that was the end of his career. He hung on in a limited role for a few years and stepped up big time when Hampton down as a rookie. The rest is history.
The TD in SB XXI was supposed to be a sign of respect for a great veteran in the twilight of his career. Nobody imagined him being the SB MVP in another SB 4 years later.
The Giant Insider podcast did an interview with him
earlier this year. I'd suggest people go back and listen to it. It was an easy going, open ended interview and Ottis freely talked about his career before and with the Giants.
Always a Giant. I only wish that there were two MVP trophies in the 1990 super bowl. Hoss was just as amazing on that run to the SB and in that game. This game and the first win against the Pats are two epic Super Bowls... games for the ages.
RE: He was a great player with the Cardinals and maybe one of the best
late career pickups the a Giants ever had ... he had no ego and accepted a backup role then came on star on the biggest stage. It was a great way for him to go out with a ring. His arm throw on Kelsey was epic.
+1
RE: RE: IIRC, he was drafted by the Cardinals one spot after Phil Simms
in '79. SF did have the first pick in the 2nd round and Walsh took RB James Owens from UCLA. With the last pick in the 3rd round, Walsh took Montana. The 1st round of the 1979 draft stands as one of the best in NFL history.
These are the 1st round selections from 1 to 28.
Tom Cousineau
Mike Bell
Jack Thompson
Dan Hampton
Jerry Butler
Barry Krauss
Phil Simms
Ottis Anderson
Al Harris
Keith Dorney
Russell Erxleben
Charles Alexander
Kellen Winslow
Marty Lyons
Eddie Lee Ivery
Ted Brown - RB
Don Smith - NT
Manu Tuiasosopo
George Andrews - LB
Willis Adams - WR
Jerry Robinson - LB
Kelvin Clark - T
Steve Fuller
Jon Giesler - T
Rick Sanford - DB
Kent Hill - G
Robert Shaw - C
Greg Hawthorne - RB
When the Giants got him, I knew they had a great player.
I met him a couple of years ago when I went out to SF for the Giants debacle. We took the Big Blue Travel bus and tailgate package, and OJ was the guest of honor. He wore his SB ring, and was a great guy.
Awesome gesture by Parcels to get him a TD in XXI.
Of course, it didn't stop me from barely looking out of the corner of my eyes when the kick went wide right.
But OJ was a force. He looked like a DT by the time he came to the Giants and his uniform always seemed to be hanging off somewhere. He was not the definition of sleek, slippery back.
But he was a Parcells type of player through and through.
Funny story. I was at a Giants game in late 90's and was standing down by where the players tunnel and I looked down to see OJ and Rodney Hampton talking against the wall.
I waited until they stopped talking a minute and were just looking out at the field watching various players warm up and I said "Excuse me, OJ, May I just say you had an amazing career for the Cardinals and Giants and I really enjoyed watching you play."
He didn't look up, but Rodney did. Instead OJ raised a couple of fingers in acknowledgment like..Yeah, yeah. I hear that all the time, Kid.
In any event, Rodney gave me this big smile and said throw him my gameday program. I dropped it down to him with a sharpie and in true Rodney fashion dropped both! LOL.
Anyway, he picked them up and handed it to OJ. OJ then looked up and gave me a quick smile...signed his name. Rodney then tossed the magazine back to me.
Before he could thrown the pen back, I asked if he would sign it next to him and said...My two favorite Giant RB's.
He laughed, caught the gameday this time, signed it and threw it back up and then the sharpie.
I know I was probably bothering them....but it was a great moment for me. OJ & Rodney...Class Acts and great players!
Any NFL team could have had Montana in the first 81 picks of the draft. He was the last pick of the 3rd RD.
Word was that Walsh wanted Simms and settled for Montana. So let's not pretend that the Giants made a big mistake by passing on Montana.
Hindsight is easy.
I guess it all worked out OK. Ottis was a beast in that Super Bowl. Great way for him to go out with a ring. Nothing but good memories of him.
The TD in SB XXI was supposed to be a sign of respect for a great veteran in the twilight of his career. Nobody imagined him being the SB MVP in another SB 4 years later.
It's well worth the listen.
Ottis on Giant Insider - ( New Window )
+1
Quote:
The Giants could have drafted him, and then picked that Notre Dame quarterback later on. What was his name again; oh I remember now Joe Montana.
Any NFL team could have had Montana in the first 81 picks of the draft. He was the last pick of the 3rd RD.
Word was that Walsh wanted Simms and settled for Montana. So let's not pretend that the Giants made a big mistake by passing on Montana.
Hindsight is easy.
+1
I heard the same thing about Walsh - he really wanted Simms.
I do not think Montana would be a HOF QB if he was with the Giants. Walsh had an amazing Offensive system that allowed Montana to thrive in.
If anyone thinks that if Montana came to the Giants he would have won 5 SBs here - that is really short sided.
These are the 1st round selections from 1 to 28.
Tom Cousineau
Mike Bell
Jack Thompson
Dan Hampton
Jerry Butler
Barry Krauss
Phil Simms
Ottis Anderson
Al Harris
Keith Dorney
Russell Erxleben
Charles Alexander
Kellen Winslow
Marty Lyons
Eddie Lee Ivery
Ted Brown - RB
Don Smith - NT
Manu Tuiasosopo
George Andrews - LB
Willis Adams - WR
Jerry Robinson - LB
Kelvin Clark - T
Steve Fuller
Jon Giesler - T
Rick Sanford - DB
Kent Hill - G
Robert Shaw - C
Greg Hawthorne - RB