Re: Derrick Brown & LT training camp story

I object to calling Bunch a draft bust. He was over-drafted, but that's not his fault. I remember him as a pretty solid player and a good guy. Certainly not a disaster as a player

hip ended his career

But I like others didn't think Bunch was a true bust. I remember him as an effective hard-nosed runner that was done in by injury.

Whether or not it played a role in Brown being a bust. Who knows? Reading that article reminds me of what a dark time in Giants history it was.

Choosing Handley is probably what kept George Young out of the HOF for so long. There were about a half dozen coaches on Parcells staff that would have been better choices and before anyone says Coughlin and Belichick left before Parcells both of them were told BEFORE they left they weren't getting the HC job by GY.
TAYLOR BAPTIZES GIANTS' TOP PICK - ( New Window )

that LT broke Brown's facemask, I think in his 1st practice after signing with the team. He was considered soft after that as he never fought back and was meek. Contrast that with the story about Bavaro, who took a hit from LT when he was a rookie, and he got up and threw the ball at LT. He said LT smiled after that and they got along. LT basically was testing these guys out. Bavaro passed. Brown failed.

And Bunch actually had a really good season in 1992. He was turning into one of the best fullbacks in the NFL and it looked like him and Hampton were going to be the best tandem in the NFL for many years. But he got hurt in 1993 & Reeves soured on him and gave the nod to Kenyon Rasheed instead at fullback as the season went along. Bunch came back but wasn't the same player and was cut the next year.

In comment 15322890 Matt in SGS said:

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that LT broke Brown's facemask, I think in his 1st practice after signing with the team. He was considered soft after that as he never fought back and was meek. Contrast that with the story about Bavaro, who took a hit from LT when he was a rookie, and he got up and threw the ball at LT. He said LT smiled after that and they got along. LT basically was testing these guys out. Bavaro passed. Brown failed. And Bunch actually had a really good season in 1992. He was turning into one of the best fullbacks in the NFL and it looked like him and Hampton were going to be the best tandem in the NFL for many years. But he got hurt in 1993 & Reeves soured on him and gave the nod to Kenyon Rasheed instead at fullback as the season went along. Bunch came back but wasn't the same player and was cut the next year.

Oh ok. Thanks. Reeves sure loved to play favorites and toss aside otherwise good players back in the day

Supposedly LT hit Brown just as he was about to catch a pass and thereafter Brown heard footsteps and was ineffective as a receiver.

In comment 15322932 GeofromNJ said:

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Supposedly LT hit Brown just as he was about to catch a pass and thereafter Brown heard footsteps and was ineffective as a receiver.

I'm pretty sure getting hit by LT caused a lot of pros and wannabe pros to re evaluate their career choice lol

In comment 15322887 arniefez said:

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Whether or not it played a role in Brown being a bust. Who knows? Reading that article reminds me of what a dark time in Giants history it was. Choosing Handley is probably what kept George Young out of the HOF for so long. There were about a half dozen coaches on Parcells staff that would have been better choices and before anyone says Coughlin and Belichick left before Parcells both of them were told BEFORE they left they weren't getting the HC job by GY. TAYLOR BAPTIZES GIANTS' TOP PICK - ( New Window )

That link is great in so many ways. Handley bad-mouthing camp holdouts, Brown getting his facemask broken by Taylor on his first play and getting back up for the next down, but best is the fact that they had to run 300-yard shuttles back then and yet Judge is getting dogged for making players and coaches run laps, wtf?

He was a very good FB who had a career ending injury/condition.

In comment 15322890 Matt in SGS said:

Quote:

that LT broke Brown's facemask, I think in his 1st practice after signing with the team. He was considered soft after that as he never fought back and was meek. Contrast that with the story about Bavaro, who took a hit from LT when he was a rookie, and he got up and threw the ball at LT. He said LT smiled after that and they got along. LT basically was testing these guys out. Bavaro passed. Brown failed. And Bunch actually had a really good season in 1992. He was turning into one of the best fullbacks in the NFL and it looked like him and Hampton were going to be the best tandem in the NFL for many years. But he got hurt in 1993 & Reeves soured on him and gave the nod to Kenyon Rasheed instead at fullback as the season went along. Bunch came back but wasn't the same player and was cut the next year.

I know that Bavaro story, but I don't think it happened during Bavaro's rookie year, and if it did, it didn't necessarily happen at the start like Brown.

Brown was a disaster

I was at a wine tasting in 1991 and they had the draft on the TV. Paul Zimmerman (Dr. Z) was there and he mentioned that he thought Bunch was a great pick at the end of round 1

I used to belong to a bowling league at the Eclipse Lanes in Hasbrouck Heights. There was a guy in our league, early 20's at the time, of good size, maybe 6-4" of decent build. I didn't know him before that, so didn't know much about him.
He starts sharing a story one night about how he recently tried out for the Giants as a walk on. His adventure ended early however when LT threw a forearm and cracked his helmet. The guy more or less asked himself, what the hell am I doing here and that was the end of that.

Cool story or BS... I never really knew. But I remember believing it at the time.