Sal Paolantonio takes a closer look at the dilemma the Giants had in the late 50s between Jim Lee Howell and Vince Lombardi and offers an interesting analysis (as well as a look at "The Catch"):
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=paolantonio_sal&id=3064881
Thoughts?
Peace!
sal's ultimate conclusion is highly flawed. the nfl and pro football would have still ben the same bonanza without lombardi in green bay. some other coach would have had starr, taylor, hornung, that defense. and the growth of TV [from 9% of US homes in 1950 to 87% in 1960] guaranteed that a sport as right for tv as football would succeed. as for markets, the money was in the big markets [ny, chicago, la, etc] and there were many secondary markets without an nfl team [which is where the afl went...san diego, miami, cincy, kc, denver, plus second teams in the bay area and ny]. any competent coach would have had good teams in green bay [maybe not vince's teams, but decent ones] and the demographics and tv would have taken care of the rest.