The immediate one has always been Troy Archer, but I was scrolling on eBay and Terrell Thomas came to mind. A shame injuries derailed what appeared to be a promising career.
He was never the same after the foot injury following his rookie year. Prior to that I thought he had League MVP potential. That 2002 season of his was special.
For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these,
Chad Jones and teammate Jared Mitchell are the only 2 collegiate players EVER to win both a BCS national championship and an NCAA national championship.
Plaxico Burress? What might have been had he not shot himself during that '08 season... We were on a roll and carried the momentum from the '07 championship run. The team played like a dominant team going 10-1 before the gunshot incident derailed everything. We would go 2-3 the rest of the way before falling to the Eagles in the first round of the playoffs.
Hakeem Nicks could've been our best WR ever. Loved his style of play.
David Wilson. He was electric. I know he had his naysayers, but he could've been an exceptional offensive weapon.
Great list. I'd add Andy Headen, who was forced to retire for something similar to what Wilson had. Headed was a terrific pass rushing LB. Today he'd be gone in free agency and but was a reserve during his time with the Giants. A very impactful reserve.
Plaxico Burress? What might have been had he not shot himself during that '08 season... We were on a roll and carried the momentum from the '07 championship run. The team played like a dominant team going 10-1 before the gunshot incident derailed everything. We would go 2-3 the rest of the way before falling to the Eagles in the first round of the playoffs.
continues to be exaggerated had Plax not shot himself.
They lost OSI in the preseason. Then Robbins later and Pierce was gone with a HAS for the playoffs. Team was on fumes.
Had Nicks stayed Healthy I think TC and Eli would have made one more run. Maybe not a Super Bowl but a couple playoff appearances. That was a huge loss and it made then use another high pick on OBJ. I liked Cruz but I think Nicks helped him much more than the other way around.
Biggest Medical Team evaluation failure in the history of the team; He sustained a major neck injury at Virginia Tech and either our staff either missed it or just looked the other way (hoping it would just go away).
Wilson struggled (in the blocking game) when he first came here, just like Ahmad Bradshaw & Saquon Barkley did, but the talent was through-the-roof. I thought he was the 2nd coming of LeSean McCoy.
It can be argued that failure might have cost at least one championship run, during that period.
While he is not that popular on this site his first 3 years in the NFL were absolutely bonkers: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BeckOd00.htm
He never seemed to fully recover from the high ankle sprain he suffered in pre-season in 2017 and I think that the Giants got the most out of the trade with the Browns, but other than Victor Cruz, I don't recall any other Giants player that had so much talent that did not live up to their potential.
David Wilson
Victor Cruz
Hakeem Nicks
Odell
Steve Smith
JPP (believe he started having back issues early on)
Zach Goff
Chad Jones
Kenny Phillips
Terrell Thomas
Unfortunately, feels like a Saquon might start trending that way if he doesn’t bounce back like we all hope/expect he will
RE: Feels like Giants have had more of these than any other team
David Wilson
Victor Cruz
Hakeem Nicks
Odell
Steve Smith
JPP (believe he started having back issues early on)
Zach Goff
Chad Jones
Kenny Phillips
Terrell Thomas
Unfortunately, feels like a Saquon might start trending that way if he doesn’t bounce back like we all hope/expect he will
I am sure other fan bases would say the same in terms of 'What might have been?'
He David Wilson and Chad what’s his name immediately came to mind
But good calls throughout this thread. A lot of guys whose careers were cut short in their primes.
He David Wilson and Chad what’s his name immediately came to mind
But good calls throughout this thread. A lot of guys whose careers were cut short in their primes.
I keep any eye on the MIN transactions and Ryan Connelley's snaps hoping he can sticks somewhere. Knee will likely deprive him of what could have been a Chase Blackburn style of career. Possibly better.
but I always come back to Reggie White. If we had played that USFL supplemental draft a little differently, I don’t know how anyone could have stopped a defense with LT and Reggie.
Come on. He was heading to the bench just before he got injured.
Thank you. His position coach (Jerrold Ingram)said it publicly that he didn't understand the playbook nor his responsibilities. He never would have been anything but a KO returner and "package" player. In short, a luxury for a great team, which they clearly were not at the time.
but I always come back to Reggie White. If we had played that USFL supplemental draft a little differently, I don’t know how anyone could have stopped a defense with LT and Reggie.
I’m blanking. Did we pass on him? Was Zimmerman part of it all?
but I always come back to Reggie White. If we had played that USFL supplemental draft a little differently, I don’t know how anyone could have stopped a defense with LT and Reggie.
I’m blanking. Did we pass on him? Was Zimmerman part of it all?
but I always come back to Reggie White. If we had played that USFL supplemental draft a little differently, I don’t know how anyone could have stopped a defense with LT and Reggie.
I’m blanking. Did we pass on him? Was Zimmerman part of it all?
That’s right. We took Zimmerman at #3 and the Eagles picked Reggie at #4. Zimmerman ended up a hall of farmer himself, but he obviously never played for us. And Reggie obv went on the be the one of the best defensive ends ever.
but I always come back to Reggie White. If we had played that USFL supplemental draft a little differently, I don’t know how anyone could have stopped a defense with LT and Reggie.
I’m blanking. Did we pass on him? Was Zimmerman part of it all?
That’s right. We took Zimmerman at #3 and the Eagles picked Reggie at #4. Zimmerman ended up a hall of farmer himself, but he obviously never played for us. And Reggie obv went on the be the one of the best defensive ends ever.
Then yes, that’s a HUGE ‘what could have been,’ imo
Just couldn't stay healthy, anywhere, Dallas, SF, when he was here....a shame...
I'll always appreciate the glimpse he provided, in just six games, of what Phil Simms could do with a legit #1 WR. And that was Phil at nearly 38, with a diminished arm. Sherrard could do everything except stay on the field. His picture is in the football lexicon under "injury-prone". If he had literally been made of glass, his medical history could scarcely have been worse.
Troy Archer is the mic-drop answer to the OP. A promising football career that gets cut short is one thing; it comes with the territory in a violent sport. What happened to Archer was a genuine tragedy. Belcher is a similar case: nowhere near the natural talent Archer was, but he had worked his tail off to become an ascending NFL OC before the accident.
That would be mine. By the end of 1984 he was a beast. Bigger and stronger than Bart Oates.
I agree, the guy was fast but was just not a very good football player. Bad ball security (in college too), ran too upright.
That's crazy.
Chad Jones and teammate Jared Mitchell are the only 2 collegiate players EVER to win both a BCS national championship and an NCAA national championship.
Hakeem Nicks could've been our best WR ever. Loved his style of play.
David Wilson. He was electric. I know he had his naysayers, but he could've been an exceptional offensive weapon.
Great list. I'd add Andy Headen, who was forced to retire for something similar to what Wilson had. Headed was a terrific pass rushing LB. Today he'd be gone in free agency and but was a reserve during his time with the Giants. A very impactful reserve.
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Eli lost out on a lot of pass catching talent.
Smith
Nicks
Cruz
Boss
Ballard
And a porous OL from 2013 on..Oh, well. That’s football
Agreed
Agreed
They lost OSI in the preseason. Then Robbins later and Pierce was gone with a HAS for the playoffs. Team was on fumes.
Had Nicks stayed Healthy I think TC and Eli would have made one more run. Maybe not a Super Bowl but a couple playoff appearances. That was a huge loss and it made then use another high pick on OBJ. I liked Cruz but I think Nicks helped him much more than the other way around.
Biggest Medical Team evaluation failure in the history of the team; He sustained a major neck injury at Virginia Tech and either our staff either missed it or just looked the other way (hoping it would just go away).
Wilson struggled (in the blocking game) when he first came here, just like Ahmad Bradshaw & Saquon Barkley did, but the talent was through-the-roof. I thought he was the 2nd coming of LeSean McCoy.
It can be argued that failure might have cost at least one championship run, during that period.
He never seemed to fully recover from the high ankle sprain he suffered in pre-season in 2017 and I think that the Giants got the most out of the trade with the Browns, but other than Victor Cruz, I don't recall any other Giants player that had so much talent that did not live up to their potential.
Never heard that before
ouch...
Victor Cruz
Hakeem Nicks
Odell
Steve Smith
JPP (believe he started having back issues early on)
Zach Goff
Chad Jones
Kenny Phillips
Terrell Thomas
Unfortunately, feels like a Saquon might start trending that way if he doesn’t bounce back like we all hope/expect he will
Victor Cruz
Hakeem Nicks
Odell
Steve Smith
JPP (believe he started having back issues early on)
Zach Goff
Chad Jones
Kenny Phillips
Terrell Thomas
Unfortunately, feels like a Saquon might start trending that way if he doesn’t bounce back like we all hope/expect he will
I am sure other fan bases would say the same in terms of 'What might have been?'
But good calls throughout this thread. A lot of guys whose careers were cut short in their primes.
But good calls throughout this thread. A lot of guys whose careers were cut short in their primes.
Yes, JB was mentioned on here..Chad Jones
Actually he wasn't too shabby from the backfield, either.
Rookie Highlights - ( New Window )
Thank you. His position coach (Jerrold Ingram)said it publicly that he didn't understand the playbook nor his responsibilities. He never would have been anything but a KO returner and "package" player. In short, a luxury for a great team, which they clearly were not at the time.
I’m blanking. Did we pass on him? Was Zimmerman part of it all?
We were so deep at LB. Many, like Headen, Robbie Jones, Byron Hunt and?
Quote:
but I always come back to Reggie White. If we had played that USFL supplemental draft a little differently, I don’t know how anyone could have stopped a defense with LT and Reggie.
I’m blanking. Did we pass on him? Was Zimmerman part of it all?
They took Zimmerman in the USFL dispersal draft
Quote:
but I always come back to Reggie White. If we had played that USFL supplemental draft a little differently, I don’t know how anyone could have stopped a defense with LT and Reggie.
I’m blanking. Did we pass on him? Was Zimmerman part of it all?
That’s right. We took Zimmerman at #3 and the Eagles picked Reggie at #4. Zimmerman ended up a hall of farmer himself, but he obviously never played for us. And Reggie obv went on the be the one of the best defensive ends ever.
Quote:
In comment 15301904 Chris in Philly said:
Quote:
but I always come back to Reggie White. If we had played that USFL supplemental draft a little differently, I don’t know how anyone could have stopped a defense with LT and Reggie.
I’m blanking. Did we pass on him? Was Zimmerman part of it all?
That’s right. We took Zimmerman at #3 and the Eagles picked Reggie at #4. Zimmerman ended up a hall of farmer himself, but he obviously never played for us. And Reggie obv went on the be the one of the best defensive ends ever.
Then yes, that’s a HUGE ‘what could have been,’ imo
Troy Archer is the mic-drop answer to the OP. A promising football career that gets cut short is one thing; it comes with the territory in a violent sport. What happened to Archer was a genuine tragedy. Belcher is a similar case: nowhere near the natural talent Archer was, but he had worked his tail off to become an ascending NFL OC before the accident.