Post by boondocksaint88 on Apr 6, 2024 12:36:35 GMT -5
A little piece of Giants history that I didn't know until a few days ago. I was only 7 years old in 1984 so I did a little digging into the story that I found interesting. One of the biggest mistakes in Giants history. Some of the older folks here may remember this better.
In 1984 the NFL had a one time supplemental draft in an effort to stop competition with the newly former USFL. The USFL and CFL teams had already signed college players that would have been eligible for the 1984 NFL draft. 84 players were selected in the draft including 3 Hall of famers and 13 Pro Bowlers. Most notably Steve Young, Gary Zimmerman and Reggie White.
Bill Parcells was not as highly regarded in 1984 as we all know him now. The Giants were a bad team at this time and had only 1 winning season in the previous decade. Parcells took over the head coaching job in 1983 and was on thin ice at the time after benching Phil Simms and leading the team to a 3-12-1 season in 1983. The Giants FO actually offered Parcells' HC job to a college coach mid season (another event that would have changed the course of Giants history)
Steve Young was selected first in the 1984 supplemental draft by the Tampa Bay Bucs. The Giants had the #3 pick.
Parcells has stated that he had lobbied for the Giants to select Future Hall Of Fame Defensive End Reggie White. However, Parcells didnt have much weight at the time. The Giants had a terrible Offensive Line and selected OT Gary Zimmerman instead of Reggie White. Zimmerman elected to stay in the USFL that season and never played for the Giants. In 1986 the USFL folded and the Vikings got the rights to Zimmerman from the Giants and he went on to become a hall of famer.
As for Reggie White..... He was selected #4 by the Philadelphia Eagles from the Memphis Showboats....... You know the rest.
But, WHAT IF......? What if the Giants had listened to Parcells and selected Reggie White?
Parcells and Bill Belichick went on to assemble the "BIG BLUE WRECKING CREW" his 3-4 defense that included:
LE George Martin / NT Jim Burt / RE Leonard Marshall
OLB Carl Banks / ILB Gary Reasons / ILB Harry Carson / OLB Lawrence Taylor
In 1986 Lawrence Taylor had 20.5 Sacks, Leonard Marshall 12, Carl Banks 6.5 (Reggie White 18)
Lawrence Taylor And Reggie White combine for 20 All-Pro Selections, 23 Pro Bowls, 5 DPOY and 330 Sacks.
WHAT IF the Giants had added Reggie White to the BIG BLUE WRECKING CREW???
In 1984 the NFL had a one time supplemental draft in an effort to stop competition with the newly former USFL. The USFL and CFL teams had already signed college players that would have been eligible for the 1984 NFL draft. 84 players were selected in the draft including 3 Hall of famers and 13 Pro Bowlers. Most notably Steve Young, Gary Zimmerman and Reggie White.
Bill Parcells was not as highly regarded in 1984 as we all know him now. The Giants were a bad team at this time and had only 1 winning season in the previous decade. Parcells took over the head coaching job in 1983 and was on thin ice at the time after benching Phil Simms and leading the team to a 3-12-1 season in 1983. The Giants FO actually offered Parcells' HC job to a college coach mid season (another event that would have changed the course of Giants history)
Steve Young was selected first in the 1984 supplemental draft by the Tampa Bay Bucs. The Giants had the #3 pick.
Parcells has stated that he had lobbied for the Giants to select Future Hall Of Fame Defensive End Reggie White. However, Parcells didnt have much weight at the time. The Giants had a terrible Offensive Line and selected OT Gary Zimmerman instead of Reggie White. Zimmerman elected to stay in the USFL that season and never played for the Giants. In 1986 the USFL folded and the Vikings got the rights to Zimmerman from the Giants and he went on to become a hall of famer.
As for Reggie White..... He was selected #4 by the Philadelphia Eagles from the Memphis Showboats....... You know the rest.
But, WHAT IF......? What if the Giants had listened to Parcells and selected Reggie White?
Parcells and Bill Belichick went on to assemble the "BIG BLUE WRECKING CREW" his 3-4 defense that included:
LE George Martin / NT Jim Burt / RE Leonard Marshall
OLB Carl Banks / ILB Gary Reasons / ILB Harry Carson / OLB Lawrence Taylor
In 1986 Lawrence Taylor had 20.5 Sacks, Leonard Marshall 12, Carl Banks 6.5 (Reggie White 18)
Lawrence Taylor And Reggie White combine for 20 All-Pro Selections, 23 Pro Bowls, 5 DPOY and 330 Sacks.
WHAT IF the Giants had added Reggie White to the BIG BLUE WRECKING CREW???