Tag: Lawrence Taylor

NFL’s all-time best by jersey number: 4 Giants make the cut

Touchdown Wire recently listed the best NFL players to wear a specific jersey number and 4 retired New York Giants made the cut.

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The NFL is entering its 104th season in 2023 and many great teams and great players have graced their fields and events for over a century. Over that time, every uniform number has been worn and made immortal by those players.

Which leads us to ask: which players wore each number the best?

In a recent article titled, ‘The best pro football player to wear every jersey number,’ Touchdown Wire’s Dug Farrar gives it his best shot.

For enthusiasts of the New York Giants, several members of Big Blue made the list:

  • Benny Friedman, No. 6
  • Emlen Tunnell, No. 45
  • Lawrence Taylor, No. 56
  • Roosevelt Brown, No. 79

All four are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Other Giants receiving’ honorable mentions’ include the following:

Kerry Collins (No. 5), Ray Flaherty (No. 6), Mel Hein (No. 7), Steve Owen (No. 9), Eli Manning (No. 10), Phil Simms (No. 11), Y.A. Tittle (No. 14), Frank Gifford (No. 16), Sam Madison (No. 29), Harry Carson (No. 53), Kareem McKenzie (No. 67), Sam Huff and Leonard Marshall (No. 70), Andy Robustelli (No. 81), Fred Dryer (No. 89), Jason Pierre-Paul (No. 90), Michael Strahan (No. 92) and Jesse Armstead (No. 98).

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Giants legend Lawrence Taylor selected to The 33rd Team’s best all-time front 7

Dave Wannstedt of The 33rd Team released his best all-time front 7 and New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor topped his list.

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If you ask New York Giants fans who the greatest player in the nearly 100-year history of the franchise is or was, most will say linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who terrorized opponents from 1981-1993.

Taylor is widely regarded as the best outside linebacker of all time and was the original ‘edge’ rusher that teams still seek out to this day.

In a recent piece for The 33rd Team, former college and NFL head coach and defensive guru, Dave Wannstedt, named Taylor as one of his all-time ‘front seven’ players in NFL history.

If we are talking edge rushers, it has got to be L.T. Bill Belichick, the greatest coach of all-time, said he was the best player of all-time, and his statistics back this up.

Taylor is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY). That speaks for itself.

But, more importantly, in my opinion, he played in that 3-4 New York Giants defense with Bill Parcells and Belichick, and he changed the game.

True. “L.T.” as he went on be known turned the Giants from doormats into contenders overnight. He was truly feared by offenses around the league from the very first moment he stepped on the field as a rookie out of North Carolina in 1981.

In 1981, the Giants rode the Taylor wave to their first postseason appearance in 18 years and eventually would win two Super Bowls with him.

People do not realize what a game-wrecker Taylor was as a pass rusher. That’s how he made his living. So much so that when he would drop into coverage, offensive live coaches and coordinators would put a smile on their faces and clap.

His dominance on the line forced offenses to turn protection to whichever side Taylor was on. Coordinators wanted to make sure you got a big offensive lineman blocking L.T. rather than running the opposite way and expecting a running back to block him.

That’s what most teams did. When L.T. was on the field, you must use the lineman to him to give you the best chance to slow him down.

As a six-decade follower of the Giants and the NFL, I can personally tell you that Wannstedt got this right. Taylor was a player with skills that the NFL had never seen before — and perhaps have not seen since. He was playing on a different plane than the other 21 bodies on the field.

Rounding out Wannstedt’s front seven are: linemen Reggie White, Aaron Donald and’Mean’ Joe Greene and linebackers Junior Seau, Derrick Brooks and Ray Lewis.

A solid front if there ever was one. This is all debatable as many would ask where players such as Deacon Jones and Bruce Smith landed on Wannstedt’s list.

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Bill Belichick names his GOAT players at all three phases of football

Who are Bill Belichick’s offensive, defensive and special teams GOATs?

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New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick truly believes he’s coached the greatest players of all time at every phase.

On defense, he coached the great Lawrence Taylor with the New York Giants, and of course, he won six Super Bowls with quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots.

After hearing Belichick’s recent interview with The 33rd Team, which was transcribed by NESN’s Jason Ounpraseuth, it might be time to add special teams player Matthew Slater to that list.

“I’ve been very fortunate. I feel like I coached the best offensive player in Tom, the best defensive player in football in (Lawrence Taylor) and the best special teams player in football: Matt Slater,” Belichick said.

Slater just might be the most underrated player on that list, despite having a resume that clearly puts him among the all-time greats.

The 10 Pro Bowls and five First-Team All-Pro nods are just some of the things that puts him into the all-time great conversation. He’ll be a Pro Football Hall of Famer when it is all said and done, but after Belichick’s remarks, he could ascend to even greater heights than that.

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Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy details how Micah Parsons can take next step

Micah Parsons is already playing at an elite level, but Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy believes there is still an untapped dimension.

Give an expansion team Micah Parsons as their defensive cornerstone and they will be set with a one-man wrecking crew.

The former 2021 first-round pick has generated 149 combined tackles, 26.5 sacks, 33 tackles for loss, 56 quarterback hits, six pass breakups, six forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries, one of which he has returned for a touchdown.

Still, Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy believes there is another dimension the two-time first-team All-Pro can tap into.

“I think individually he will always be extremely impactful, and that’s why it’s important for us to stay focused on creating as many of those opportunities for him, and I think that’s the whole conversation of where he’s going to line up,” McCarthy told reporters at organized team activities June 1. “So, and I’m just telling you from an offensive perspective when you line up a premier player up in the same spot, it’s easier to apply help there.”

McCarthy saw as coach of the Green Bay Packers how explosive outside linebacker Clay Matthews was as a rookie. Matthews followed up a 10-sack rookie season, which was good enough to earn a Pro Bowl, with a stellar second year. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers would move around Matthews and allow him to attack from different positions. Matthews followed up with 13.5 sacks, a first-team All-Pro, and was integral in helping the Packers win Super Bowl XLV.

The Cowboys have seen defensive coordinator Dan Quinn similarly scheme Parsons around the field to provide better pass rush opportunities.

Parsons’ last level of greatness will be how many opportunities he can create for his teammates, according to McCarthy.

Said McCarthy: “Impact players not only affect the game with their individual production, but it’s really always being aware of where he is will definitely create opportunities for other guys.”

The Parsons effect has been felt even in small doses. Dallas was tied for the 13th-most sacks in 2021, but finished No. 3 in 2022. The Cowboys also led the NFL in takeaways in each of Parsons’ two seasons.

If creating for others is an element Parsons can influence, then the former 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year should be able to hone it.

“He’s going to compete at everything that he does,” said McCarthy. “That’s just the way he’s wired up obviously with the athletic and physical gifts that he has. But his drive and competitive spirit is as good as I’ve seen in a young player.”

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Giants legend Lawrence Taylor partnering with Music Beats Cancer

New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor is partnering with Music Beats Cancer for the Celebrating Survivors: A Concert Fundraiser on June 8.

New York Giants legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Lawrence Taylor, is partnering with Music Beats Cancer and will kick off the launch of the first annual Celebrating Survivors: A Concert Fundraiser on June 8.

The fundraiser will be held at Terminal 5 in New York City and will feature Taylor and Led Zeppelin cover band Get The Led Out.

“We salute those who are doing what they can to live with and beyond their cancers. More work needs to be done to improve patient outcomes. Biomedical innovators are key if we wish to see change in the war on cancer, and they need our support now more than ever,” said Music Beats Cancer founder Dr. Mona S. Jhaveri.

The goal of Music Beats Cancer is to “severe funding gap remains for innovators who are developing promising technologies for fighting cancer.”

Music Beats Cancer’s mission statement is to boost cancer-fighting technologies in the product-development industry, leading to more solutions. The nonprofit organization leads those involved to support the advancement of new solutions and promising treatments for cancer, all while connecting it to the love for music.

By partnering with independent music artists in 15 different genres, each talent helps raise awareness and funds for cancer research, with some of the bigger names hitting $7,000-$6,000 worth of support. Raising over $350,000 since its start, they are assisting in bridging the funding gap seen in cancer research known as the “Valley of Death.”

The red carpet ceremony will run from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET and that’s when fans will have the opportunity to meet and take photos with Taylor. The concert will then run from 7:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. ET.

For more information about the fundraiser or to purchase tickets, click here.

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Julian Love names his top 5 Giants defenders of all time

Julian Love lists his top 5 New York Giants defenders of all time which is highlighted, of course, by the legend himself, Lawrence Taylor.

New York Giants safety Julian Love has made a huge impact on defense over the past few seasons. He is a Notre Dame guy who is a student of the game.

In a recent piece on the website The 33rd Team. Love listed his top five all-time Giants defenders.

As a person who has covered this team for the past quarter century and has been an ardent fan and follower for more than 55 years, I find this list to be dead-on.

Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan, and Harry Carson are Hall of Famers in the Super Bowl era, which is a special accomplishment so they all belong on the list. Carl Banks and Jessie Armstead were among the best at their positions while they played, so I have no issue with them being on this list as well.

Some honorable mentions in my book from the Super Bowl era: Brad Van Pelt, Leonard Marshall, Mark Haynes, John Mendenhall, Spider Lockhart, Osi Umenyiora, and Justin Tuck.

It’s difficult to compare eras and for someone to be listed from the ’round ball’ era would be a tough call.

That being said, here is a quick list of some players from the previous era that deserve mentioning: Sam Huff, Emlen Tunnell, Andy Robustelli, Jimmy Patton, and Erich Barnes.

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Giants legend Lawrence Taylor doesn’t believe Tom Brady is the G.O.A.T.

New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor explains why Joe Montana, not Tom Brady, is the greatest quarterback of all time.

Retired New York Giants legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Lawrence Taylor, appeared on the I Am Athlete podcast earlier this week and caused some controversy.

Taylor was asked to name his top five defenders of all time and left both Ray Lewis and Aaron Donald off the list. That caused a bit of an outcry from the current generation of fans.

But L.T. wasn’t done there. He had another take that is certain to cause some intense debate.

During a discussion about the greatest quarterbacks of all time, Taylor says he doesn’t view Tom Brady as the G.O.A.T. Rather, he says, that distinction belongs to retired San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana.

“Joe Montana is still my man. He’s still my man,” Taylor said. “The greatest quarterback ever, I’m still with Joe Montana. I’m not going with Tom Brady.”

Asked to explain himself, Taylor pulled no punches.

“Listen, Tom Brady got all the rules on his side,” Taylor said. “You can’t touch him. . . If you hit him, if you breathe on him, they’re gonna throw a flag.”

The game certainly has changed and Taylor has never shied away from his disdain for that. He feels the NFL has gotten a bit soft, especially when it comes to protecting offensive players and quarterbacks. And Brady most certainly benefited from that throughout his career.

Montana, on the other hand, played in an era where defenders were at their most violent. There was no comfort in the pocket and he found success despite that. And as a chief rival of the Giants, it’s no surprise that Taylor views him as the greatest of all time.

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Giants great Phil Simms recalls being starstruck as a rookie QB

Retired New York Giants QB Phil Simms reflects on his career and Super Bowls, and recalls being starstruck as a rookie facing the Steelers.

It doesn’t take much to get former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms to open up about his career.

The Super Bowl XXI Most Valuable Player appeared on the podcast Games With Names, hosted by another Super Bowl MVP — Julian Edelman — and comedian Sam Morril, this week to talk about his career and the Super Bowl.

Simms played 15 seasons for Big Blue from 1979 through 1993 and was the seventh overall selection out of Morehead State in the 1979 NFL draft.

At the time, Simms’ selection was a surprise but on this show, he revealed the Giants had told him weeks before they were going to draft him.

“Back then, thank God, ESPN and everybody weren’t going over every player so the fans really didn’t know the players. I wasn’t surprised I went seventh,” Simms said.

“There was talk of you going earlier,” Morril questioned.

“No, I think I knew all the teams that were probably going to draft me, and I knew the Giants. They basically said two weeks before the draft ‘We’re taking you!’ They told my coach that too,” Simms said.

Years later, it was revealed that San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh also coveted Simms but did not have a first-round draft pick that year having traded it away to Buffalo for O.J. Simpson.

Simms’ career didn’t fully get off the ground until 1984 due to injuries and inconsistent play. In the beginning, it did not go smoothly for him. He recalled being starstruck in a preseason game against Pittsburgh in his rookie year.

“I get under the center and there’s Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood. It was unbelievable…it was eight Hall of Famers. I have great stories about that game, but there’s me and Joe Greene. Let’s stop the game because I need some autographs. I idolized Terry Bradshaw growing up and there I was playing against him,” he said.

Simms went on to rave about the great Lawrence Taylor, who the Giants drafted second overall in 1981. Taylor made an immediate impact on the club.

“His rookie year, we had a scrimmage,” said Simms. “They had to take him out after ten plays. Had to take him out. He was sacking the quarterback every play. And I go, this guy is really everything they said he was.”

Simms was known for his public ‘debates’ with Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells, a person who still has a huge impact on his life.

“He yelled at you and then he would allow you to yell back if you knew the situation was right, and everybody on the team would laugh,” recalled Simms. “It was his way of sending a message to the whole team through players and he was great at that. He was the greatest manipulator of people I’ve ever been around in my life.”

Simms led the Giants to a 39-20 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI and recalled the 1986 NFC Championship Game in the wind at Giants Stadium — a 17-0 win over Washington.

“Washington Redskins at the time made a huge mistake. We kicked the field goal on our first drive, it was third-and-long, we had a penalty, and we had to kick another field goal. Joe Gibbs accepted it to take us out of field goal range, he thought. Well, the next play I threw it down the middle for a huge gain, got a first down and we scored. Literally, that was the game. It was over in the first quarter,” he said.

Simms is currently a studio analyst for CBS Sports.

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Giants legend Lawrence Taylor names his top 5 defenders of all time

Giants legend Lawrence Taylor revealed his list of the top 5 greatest defenders of all time and some commissions are causing controversy.

Retired New York Giants legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Lawrence Taylor, appeared on “I Am Athlete” over the weekend and was asked to name his top five defenders of all time.

Before L.T. could spit out a name, the panel immediately insisted he top the list. That left Taylor with four more spots to fill.

“Reggie White. Deacon Jones,” Taylor said to the surprise of Brandon Marshall and others. “Do you know how many people he made deaf with that hand slap to the ear and stuff?”

Taylor continued by listing Deion Sanders and Ronnie Lott. The omission of players like Ray Lewis and Aaron Donald instantly caused some controversy.

“I’ll put them on the list if y’all want me to,” Taylor said sarcastically.

Even prior to his retirement, Taylor often praised White, Jones and Lott. He’s repeatedly named them among his top five greatest of all time but the inclusion of Sanders is relatively new.

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