I think we all pretty much agree that the 1970s was the worst long stretch of Giants football. From 1970 through 1980, the record was 45-100-1. Pretty bad.
Within that time, from 1973 through 1977, the record was 17-52-1. Really pathetic win percentage of less than 25%.
By comparison, from 2017 through 2021, the record was 22-59. The win percentage was about 27%. Not quite as bad as the mid-1970s but close. I sure hope we never see anything like that again.
2021, with the horrific last two games. Judge's 11-minute diatribe about old players calling him up and asking to come back, the awful quarterback sneaks. Thank goodness 2022 helped get that taste out of my mouth.
2003, with Fassel's uncanny ability to blow games in stupefying ways. The first games were so ridiculously fluky. The kick out of bounds against the Cowboys, the kick in-bounds against the Eagles, the Dolphins game where Bryant got injured and Fassel decided to trot out Feagles who had never kicked a field goal before. Completely non-competitive in the last eight games, including against a Kurt Kittner-led Falcons. Fassel quit two games before the end of the season but for some reason ownership let him coach as a lame duck...probably because there were no other competent coaches left on the staff.
So 94,95,96 were rough years to cut my teeth on Giants football. But in my head, nothing compares to those mid 90's years even though they weren't as bad. Honestly, it was just the offense that was shitty during those years, the defense was ok for the most part.
During the 2011 Super Bowl, my son was same age I was for the 1990 Super Bowl. He's had to endure a decade of shitty football and a revolving door of players he's had no attachment to. Last year was such an awesome year regardless of how it turned out because it was the first time he and I actually sat through multiple Giants games. In the past he would leave after the 1st or 2nd quarter.
He was so nervous during the Viking playoff game. It was really awesome to witness that again.
Gettleman completely ruined this franchise, 2021 was a downright embarrassment. Jason Garrett's 1995 offense, the Walmart cashiers for players, MIKE FUCKING GLENNON.
Watching the fronts just fall apart and never replaced under the leadership of the front office make 2013-17 the worst for me.
Then they hired Perkins and there was some buzz. Then he leaves and Parcells get the Job by default. They wind up w the greatest DC in football history and the Saints pass on LT. All of it was worth it haha but that was a long fucking decade to wait .
Gettleman completely ruined this franchise, 2021 was a downright embarrassment. Jason Garrett's 1995 offense, the Walmart cashiers for players, MIKE FUCKING GLENNON.
The Mike Glennon game was basically the offense for the Giants in the whole 1970's. Rumor has it that when the defense was running off the field they would tell the offense to "hold em". It was hopeless
When The Giants drafted Evan Neal last year, visions of Francis Peay came to my mind. I hope I'm wrong.
Gettleman completely ruined this franchise, 2021 was a downright embarrassment. Jason Garrett's 1995 offense, the Walmart cashiers for players, MIKE FUCKING GLENNON.
Yeah, but....at least we went through all that crap with 4 Super Bowl victories in our back pockets. We didnt have that during the 70's run. Really came to appreciate those victories that much more during the dark years that followed.
But our ledger is clean now. All good.
There was some entertainment from the likes of Tarkington and Homer Jones and a few others. There were some really good defensive players sprinkled in at times, but never enough to make a real difference.
Remember 1966 and giving up 503 points, 47 or more in 5 different games? The 'Goodbye Allie' sing-along?
It didn't turn around until Kerry Collins became the starting QB.
Post 2012 was way worse than that including the Eagles Super Bowl
Danny Jones era
It was his nephew Tim who fought with him publicly. The NFL stepped in and forced a compromise which led the hiring of George Young. If Wellington Mara was allowed to continue as before he would have hired an old giant player who had no idea of how to be a GM
Excellent
this
The only bright spot then was the defense. And I also enjoyed watching Hampton at RB. They just had no passing game to speak of, at WR or QB.
You know things are bad when you are sitting at home rooting for Mike Cherry and later Danny Kanell to take over at QB.
I grew up listening to my front-running Cowboy and Rams fans cousins talking crap at every holiday. And what could I say? 1956? Garbage.
The current stretch just appears to be a the time between championships, especially with this admin in place. Hope.
Gettleman completely ruined this franchise, 2021 was a downright embarrassment. Jason Garrett's 1995 offense, the Walmart cashiers for players, MIKE FUCKING GLENNON.
Yep.
2017-2021 was bad on a special level.
PS putting it all on DG is way too easy and convenient. HE had a lot of help. Mara hired the coaches.
2017-2021 was bad on a special level.
PS putting it all on DG is way too easy and convenient. HE had a lot of help. Mara hired the coaches.
Yup. That 2017 was an overall putrid year from OBJ getting injured against the fucking Browns in the preseason to the second the scumbag Eagles won the Super Bowl with BBI cheering them on. The only reason why the Giants were not the number one overall pick the following year was because Cleveland went 0-16.
I don't know how the Giants managed to win 3 games all year with that team. Either way, I was at all 3 of those games. Beating the Chiefs was funny. So was beating the Redskins in 3 degree weather.
Also, the whole "never won a Super Bowl" thing shouldn't factor in here. We should just be debating on what years were the worst teams. Winning in 2011 was nice, but it wasn't exactly helping me get through 2017.
Either way, those Glennon/Fromm games were the worst. I seriously think if that team could have played 200 games in a row with that roster after Jones got hurt, they would've won 0 of them.
Only redeemable thing about those games was the Dallas one because the Cowboys were still "struggling" against the Giants with their healthy roster. Dallas offense kept having to settle for FGs against the loser Giants roster that day.
Bradberry was laughing his ass off. I said enough. Enough bullshit.
This. Those teams did have some likable players, though. That said, I agree with whoever said above that 2021 under Judge was the lowest point. I actually stopped watching for a while as the team was just unwatchable.
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However, instead of kneeling the ball, offensive coordinator Bob Gibson ordered Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik to run play "pro 65 up", which was designed to hand the ball off to fullback Larry Csonka. Pisarcik never gained control of the ball after the snap however, and gave a wobbly handoff to Csonka. "I never had control of the ball" Pisarcik later recalled. It rolled off Csonka's hip and bounced free. Eagles safety Herman Edwards picked up the loose ball and ran, untouched, for a score, giving the Eagles an improbable 19–17 victory. After the game Giants coach John McVay stated "[t]hat's the most horrifying ending to a ball game I've ever seen." This play is referred to as "The Miracle at the Meadowlands" among Eagles fans, and "The Fumble" among Giants fans.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Gibson was fired (the next morning). New York lost three out of their last four games to finish 6-10 and out the playoffs for the 15th consecutive season, leading them to let McVay go as well. Two games after "The Fumble", angry Giants fans burned tickets in the parking lot. Protests continued throughout the remainder of the season, reaching a crescendo in the final home game. A group of fans hired a small plane to fly over the stadium on game day carrying a banner that read: "15 years of Lousy Football — We've Had Enough." Fans in the stadium responded, chanting "We've had enough...We've had enough" after the plane flew overhead. The game had 24,374 no-shows, and fans hanged an effigy of Wellington Mara in the Stadium parking lot.
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However, instead of kneeling the ball, offensive coordinator Bob Gibson ordered Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik to run play "pro 65 up", which was designed to hand the ball off to fullback Larry Csonka. Pisarcik never gained control of the ball after the snap however, and gave a wobbly handoff to Csonka. "I never had control of the ball" Pisarcik later recalled. It rolled off Csonka's hip and bounced free. Eagles safety Herman Edwards picked up the loose ball and ran, untouched, for a score, giving the Eagles an improbable 19–17 victory. After the game Giants coach John McVay stated "[t]hat's the most horrifying ending to a ball game I've ever seen." This play is referred to as "The Miracle at the Meadowlands" among Eagles fans, and "The Fumble" among Giants fans.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Gibson was fired (the next morning). New York lost three out of their last four games to finish 6-10 and out the playoffs for the 15th consecutive season, leading them to let McVay go as well. Two games after "The Fumble", angry Giants fans burned tickets in the parking lot. Protests continued throughout the remainder of the season, reaching a crescendo in the final home game. A group of fans hired a small plane to fly over the stadium on game day carrying a banner that read: "15 years of Lousy Football — We've Had Enough." Fans in the stadium responded, chanting "We've had enough...We've had enough" after the plane flew overhead. The game had 24,374 no-shows, and fans hanged an effigy of Wellington Mara in the Stadium parking lot.
This was before cable TV was prevalent and there was no TV reception in the apartment in Manhattan where I was living at the time of The Fumble. So, of course, I was listening on radio. Wanted to barf!
Quote:
the worst era in Giants history. If you were there you know Nothing, nothing comes close. We've had enough, we've had enough!
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However, instead of kneeling the ball, offensive coordinator Bob Gibson ordered Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik to run play "pro 65 up", which was designed to hand the ball off to fullback Larry Csonka. Pisarcik never gained control of the ball after the snap however, and gave a wobbly handoff to Csonka. "I never had control of the ball" Pisarcik later recalled. It rolled off Csonka's hip and bounced free. Eagles safety Herman Edwards picked up the loose ball and ran, untouched, for a score, giving the Eagles an improbable 19–17 victory. After the game Giants coach John McVay stated "[t]hat's the most horrifying ending to a ball game I've ever seen." This play is referred to as "The Miracle at the Meadowlands" among Eagles fans, and "The Fumble" among Giants fans.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Gibson was fired (the next morning). New York lost three out of their last four games to finish 6-10 and out the playoffs for the 15th consecutive season, leading them to let McVay go as well. Two games after "The Fumble", angry Giants fans burned tickets in the parking lot. Protests continued throughout the remainder of the season, reaching a crescendo in the final home game. A group of fans hired a small plane to fly over the stadium on game day carrying a banner that read: "15 years of Lousy Football — We've Had Enough." Fans in the stadium responded, chanting "We've had enough...We've had enough" after the plane flew overhead. The game had 24,374 no-shows, and fans hanged an effigy of Wellington Mara in the Stadium parking lot.
This was before cable TV was prevalent and there was no TV reception in the apartment in Manhattan where I was living at the time of The Fumble. So, of course, I was listening on radio. Wanted to barf!
Yep - think about the fan reaction:
- Mara hung in effigy in the parking lot
- Public ticket burning in the parking lot
- fans funded a plane to fly a banner over Giants Stadium saying "15 years of football, we've had enough
- 24K+ empty seats
Incredible outrage in 1978, way more than anything seen before or since. But then out of the burnt ashes came Parcells, Perkins, Simms, and LT