Giants doing top 100 players ... have released 91-100

[Brian wolf]

Toomer was an underrated player whose stats suffered once Fassel and Collins left the team. He got hurt in 2006 but helped the team win the SB in 2007.

With Barber and his 17,359 all purpose yards and 68 TDs--not to mention possibly saving Coughlin's job--you would think he would rank higher? People forget how important he and Toomer were with the Giants making the SB in 2000/01. They combined for only 21 total touches against the Ravens in the SB loss.

Yes, I am nitpicking, but Cannady not making the 100 list and Price only ranked #98, blows my mind ...

I really didn't feel Carson would make the top 10, despite having a great Giants career.

[Bryan]

I really didn't feel Carson would make the top 10, despite having a great Giants career.

So is the top 10 some order of the following?

16)Carson
12)Huff
11)E Manning -- will be higher but regressed too much

8) Gifford -- all time TDs scored leader
7) Strahan -- great rusher and very good against the run

5) Robustelli -- set the tone on defense
4) R Brown -- faster and more athletic than skill positions
3) Hein -- great center with 10 interceptions on defense
2) L Taylor -- will probably be #1 ... most feared defender
1) Tunnell -- interceptions, accolades and 10 TDs scored

[ChrisBabcock]

I'd rank them as such....

Taylor
Hein
Tunnel
Brown
Gifford
Huff
Strahan
Robustelli
Manning
Carson

[Bryan]

Toomer above Strong?

Toomer is like a Brian Kelly to me in that he doesn't move the needle. Would you take Toomer's career over three great years from Shofner? I think that would be a tough question.

[Halas Hall]

Your lists are terrific, well done.

Side note: living twenty miles from Met Life Stadium, I think rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers is like 7 or 8. The summer hype is plainly ridiculous, probably because it's looking like a 6-11 season for the Giants in 2024.

[Brian wolf]

The Toomer/Shofner question is tough because I ranked Shofner ahead. Shofner and the defense is why they went to three straight championship games, with Tittle and Gifford being revitalized.
I don't feel Tittle makes the HOF without him. Shofner also helped Thomas and Morrison out but Tittle utilized all of them well.

Toomer has the yardage and receiving TDs records for the Giants but what helps him are good postseason games in the 2000/01 NFC Championship game, and the entire 2007/08 SB run. Only GB did a decent job against him, but without his performance against Dallas, they don't go all the way. He had a good SB game as well unlike 2000/01 against a great Ravens defense.

In the 2002/03 playoffs, he had a great game against the 49ers as the Giants built a 31-14 lead, but Jeff Garcia led an improbable comeback. Giants fans I talked to, felt had they won, they would have given Tampa or Philly a good divisional playoff game.

So, with a ring and Giants records, he might be slightly ahead of Shofner, who didn't have the postseason success. Shofner's career though, was far better than Toomers'. If only Shofner had caught that bullet from Tittle in the end zone against the Bears, Giants history might be much different, but the Bears may have still won that championship game?

Great call on the Giants Top 10, Chris ... that might be the order?

[Brian wolf]

Prediction

Taylor
Hein
Tunnell
Manning
Gifford
Strahan
Brown
Huff
Robustelli
Carson

[Bryan]

Prediction

Taylor
Hein
Tunnell
Manning
Gifford
Strahan
Brown
Huff
Robustelli
Carson

I think this is an accurate prediction as to how they will be ranked, but here is how I would rank them:

Taylor
Hein
Tunnell
Huff
Strahan
Brown
Gifford
E. Manning
Robustelli
Carson

[Brian wolf]

You wonder how Manning's last 7-8 years would have panned out had Cruz and Nick's stayed healthy, though Nicks left in free agency once Beckham was aboard? Boss had been a decent replacement for Shockey, but he and Jake Ballard were gone after 2011.

Losing Cruz was a big blow, though other receivers helped Eli out. Still, with Beckham Jr, you would think Eli would have done better than a 39-61 record as starter and only one playoff appearance from 2013-19.

[Halas Hall]

I am curious - where do folks think John Cannady should be ranked? I never saw him play and do not know much about him.

Thank you.
Nick