Big Blue Huddle

https://nypost.com/2024/01/15/sports/norm-snead-former-giants-pro-bowl-quarterback-dead-at-84/

If the team continues to play this bad over the next several weeks, it might be time to clean house and start over. I'm wondering if a contender would trade for Barkley near the trade deadline if he's healthy? I think after the season, Daniel Jones's contract is moveable and if the Giants have the chance to draft a can't miss QB, it might not be a bad idea to trade him. Jones is taking a beating and would benefit with a half decent OL with another team. I wonder if he hopes to be traded so he can have a chance to show what he can do? This would buy the Giants a couple more seasons to build the line with adequate back ups and develop a QB. I don't see the offensive line coming together for another couple of years, meaning Jones will be in his 7th season. How long can he keep going with the beating he takes almost every game?

I'm not trashing Jones or Barkley, but wonder if they'd still be around when the rest of the team is competitive.

Over the last few years I've been reading and studying Giants history, especially from 1960-1980.  Through my Giants readings, I often got side tracked with other interesting information. NFL expansion was a topic I found interesting.  8 teams that were in the league by 1933,The Bears, Cardinals, Packers, Giants, Redskins, Lions and the 2 Pennsylvania teams survived the depression, WWII and other hurdles and are still in the league today. By 1970, the league had grown to 26 teams, more than triple and all related to eliminating completion from rival leagues.

When talk of the bad drafts of recent years comes up, those of us that have been around awhile remember over  20 years of bad drafts in the 60's and 70's. The bad drafts started before Allie Sherman became head coach and lasted until George Young took over the draft.

When we lose a player from that era, like Willie Williams last year, it brings back great memories of some really good players from those bad teams we've forgotten or were too young to see. Whenever talk of the greatest Giants of all time comes up, names from the glory years like Gifford and Huff are mentioned then the names jump to Simms, Taylor and Banks. Barely a name or 2 from the '64-'79 teams. 

I'd like to put together a "Wilderness All Star Team". Each name should include how he was acquired (i.e. 3rd rd draft pick, free agent, trade). I want to see if we can can put together a Super Bowl contender from players acquired during this period or just how bad the teams drafting was back then.

To be eligible, players had to be acquired before 1979. Harry Carson is eligible because he was drafted during this time. Players should be measured by their level of play after 1964. For example, Del Shofner was one of the best receivers in the NFL during the glory years, but after 1963 he didn't really do much. He wouldn't make my wilderness team. Let's see if we can come up with a Super Bowl contender from a group of players that were acquired between 1960 & 1979 and played here between 1964 & 1983.

I'll start with a couple, then others can add to it.

QB-Fran Tarkenton- 1967 trade for 2 first, 2 second and 1 third round picks. Played at HOF level his first 4 years here.

DT- John Mendenhall- 1972 third round draft pick. I don't think he ever made the Pro Bowl, but he played at close to pro bowl level.

OK, we need 20 more starters for our offense and 4-3 defense plus kickers, return men, Head Coach and if you disagree with my first 2 choices, a couple more starters.