The 1970s was a rough decade for the Giants, but when it started things actually looked promising. The trade with Cleveland that essentially ended up as a swap of WR Homer Jones for HB Ron Johnson tilted heavily in New York's favor. When Johnson became the Giants first ever 1,000 yard rusher in 1970 the Giants also enjoyed their first winning season since 1963. A serous knee injury cause Johnson to miss 10 games in 1971 and the Giants record plummeted. Back healthy in 1972, johnson rushed for 1,000 yards and the Giants again finished with a winning record.
Unfortunately for New York, in playoff contention with a 7-4 record, they lost back-to-back tough games at Cincinnati and at Yankee Stadium against Don Shula's perfect Dolphins (this was a very close game despite the 23-13 final score).
Traveling to Dallas to finish the season against the heavily favored defending Super Bowl champion and playoff bound Cowboys seemed like the stage was set to put the Giants out of their misery.
It didnn't play out that way at all.
The Giants defense stymied hte Cowboy's offense to the tune of 3 points and 132 total yards - the QB tandem of Roger Staubach and Craig Morton completed only 12 passes against 3 interceptions - a performance Sam Huff would be proud of. One the other side, Giant QB Norm Snead - on his way to the Pro Bowl - finished the season completing 60.3% of his passes, breaking the mark sof 60.2% set by YA Tittle.
The Giants led 20-3 at the half and coasted though the final 30 minutes and were able to head into the offseason feeling optimistic.
The rest of the decade was not so kind to New York. It would be nine years before they would enjoy a winning season and 13 years before another Giant back reached the 1,000 yard plateau. Texas Stadium became a house of horros for the New York, after winning there again two years later it would be a full decade before the Giants would leave Dallas a winner. The two teams fortunes became infamously intwined in 1974 when the Giants traded a first round pick to Dallas for QB Morton. Dallas selected DT Randy White with that choice. Morton did not work out for the Giants and lested less than three season, White won a Super Bowl MVP for the Cowboys and is enshrined in Canton.
Regardless of what came next, the 1972 season finale was a good one for the Giants.
Enjoy!
New York Times
game summary, Giants optimistic
https://i.imgur.com/nLDoCFn.png
New York Daily News
game summary
https://i.imgur.com/5C3YSk6.jpg
Newsday
game summary
https://i.imgur.com/6hVNQHJ.jpg
Bergen Record
game summary, Cowboys looking ahead
https://i.imgur.com/YaH8BRl.jpg
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
game summary, Dallas flat, game notes
https://i.imgur.com/s9eTOO3.jpg
They were positive. Giants were desperate for a decent QB. Turned out to be a terrible trade.
Absolutely!
I was certain 1973 would be the year the Giants would return to the playoffs. And it started strong with a thrashing of the Houston Oilers and then -- a shocker -- against the heavy underdog Eagles, the game ended in a tie. And then two-in-a- row heart-breaking losses by 2 points each. And Ron Johnson gets injured and then the team imploded. After an 8-6 1972 Season the Giants fell flat on their faces in 1973: 2-11-1.
Absolutely!
I was certain 1973 would be the year the Giants would return to the playoffs. And it started strong with a thrashing of the Houston Oilers and then -- a shocker -- against the heavy underdog Eagles, the game ended in a tie. And then two-in-a- row heart-breaking losses by 2 points each. And Ron Johnson gets injured and then the team imploded. After an 8-6 1972 Season the Giants fell flat on their faces in 1973: 2-11-1.
That Eagles game was the last game they played at Yankee Stadium.
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Absolutely!
I was certain 1973 would be the year the Giants would return to the playoffs. And it started strong with a thrashing of the Houston Oilers and then -- a shocker -- against the heavy underdog Eagles, the game ended in a tie. And then two-in-a- row heart-breaking losses by 2 points each. And Ron Johnson gets injured and then the team imploded. After an 8-6 1972 Season the Giants fell flat on their faces in 1973: 2-11-1.
That Eagles game was the last game they played at Yankee Stadium.
Ugh!
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question: how did NY press and/or fans react to the Morton trade when it happened? Such a major trade between division rivals - it affected both teams for years.
They were positive. Giants were desperate for a decent QB. Turned out to be a terrible trade.
Really? I don’t remember it that way, I recall there being many detractors. My father was one of them. Prior to that trade, there were rumors that the Giants would trade for Archie Manning, so when the Morton trade was announced, my father said - at the dinner table, no less - that it was like thinking you wee getting Angie Dickinson, but you end up with Phyllis Diller.
My own (vague) recollection was that the Giants were trading away some of their future assets for a "Nothing Burger." If I'm not mistaken, Dallas took our first rounder and turned it into Hall of Famer Randy White! Not good. Not good at all!
You make several good points here. My one caveat is that -- while I don't recall reading this in the press, I have a recollection of Morton as a DALLAS COWBOY QB. In other words, he benefitted greatly from the team he played on.
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trade were positive in my recollection. We needed a QB bad. Morton had been good enough to start several years for the Cowboys and wasn't that old. Draft picks weren't considered quite as precious by fans/media as they are now. George Allen had famously traded away a ton of picks and built a winner in Washington. Plus our D wasn't that bad and with a good QB folks weren't thinking it would be the 2nd overall pick.
You make several good points here. My one caveat is that -- while I don't recall reading this in the press, I have a recollection of Morton as a DALLAS COWBOY QB. In other words, he benefitted greatly from the team he played on.
He was also drafted 5th overall and threw a beautiful ball. He was TOM LANDRY'S PREFERRED QB. The guy could play, but he didn't have "it". Staubach did have "it". And he wasn't mobile enough to play on a team with a horrible OL. When he went to Denver he promptly led them to the SB. And if you read Larry's The Wilderness Years he didn't have the personality to lead a younger team but the guy could play. Kerry Collins reminded me of him in many ways.
NOt until they other team got a modern day equivalent of Randy White with the pick LOL
Good question. I'll make a note to revisit this during the offseason, it should be an interesting topic.
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question: how did NY press and/or fans react to the Morton trade when it happened? Such a major trade between division rivals - it affected both teams for years.
Good question. I'll make a note to revisit this during the offseason, it should be an interesting topic.
I remember my Dad being happy that they finally had a real QB again, but still was worried about the offense overall.
to GeofromNJs point, the Giants got 1 player: George Martin in the 11th Round.
1975 DAL draft - ( New Window )
I was excited we got him, I really thought he was the answer we needed. The real insult was after he sucked for us he goes to Denver and plays great. It was just the way things went for the Giants in the 70's. It was like when we got Larry Csonka, I was so excited but again didn't pan out.