History of the New York Giants (1994-present)

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New York Giants helmet 2000-present.
New York Giants helmet 2000-present.

The history of the New York Giants since 1994 covers 13 seasons. The Giants are an American football team which plays in the NFL's National Football Conference. With the retirement of two of their most important figures of the 1980s and early 1990s after the 1993 season, namely Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor, the Giants entered a new era. Starting in 1994 the Giants struggled under head coach Dan Reeves, and failed to reach the postseason for three consecutive seasons. With the hiring of Jim Fassel as the team's new head coach in 1997, the Giants fortunes improved and they made the playoffs several times. Led by free agent acquisition quarterback Kerry Collins, the Fassel era included an appearance in Super Bowl XXXV, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens. Although there was success, the Fassel era was also marked by inconsistency, and he was fired during the 2003 season.

Fassel was replaced by current coach Tom Coughlin who has coached the team since 2004, also to inconsistent results and media scrutiny. The Giants acquired their current starting quarterback Eli Manning via a draft day trade from the San Diego Chargers. Manning had been the quarterback at University of Mississippi, and was the first pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. During this period standout Giants players include defensive end Michael Strahan, who set the NFL single season record in sacks in 2002, and running back Tiki Barber, who set a team record in rushing yards in 2005. As of 2007 the Giants have made the playoffs in two consecutive seasons.


This article or section is part of
the New York Giants history
series.
History of the New York Giants
History of the New York Giants (1925-1978)
History of the New York Giants (1979-1993)
History of the New York Giants (1994-present)

Contents

[edit] A new era 1994-96: The retirement of Simms and Taylor

After finishing 11–5 and reaching the second round of the playoffs in 1993, the Giants took a step backwards in 1994. Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor, the two biggest figures of the late 1980s early 1990s Giants teams retired. In the wake of Simms' retirement, head coach Dan Reeves named Dave Brown, who had been a No. 1 supplemental draft choice in 1991, as the Giants' new starting quarterback. Though Brown led the Giants to wins in their first three games of the season,[1] the Giants lost their next 7 in a row to drop to 3–7.[1] The poor play of Brown received much of the blame from fans and the media.[2] However, the Giants recovered and won their last six games of the season. During this stretch they never allowed more than 20 points in a game, and finished the season with a record of 9–7.[1][3] The team's stars included Rodney Hampton, who had his 4th straight 1,000 yard rushing season;[4] second-year defensive lineman Michael Strahan, and linebackers Jessie Armstead and Michael Brooks.

In 1995 the team regressed, and finished the season with a 511 record,[5] their worst since Bill Parcells' first season in 1983.[3] Quarterback Dave Brown had a particularly disappointing season, as he finished with just 2,814 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.[5] Particular lowlights of the season were a 35–0 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the Monday Night season opener,[6] and the fans pelting the Chargers with snowballs in a late–season game.[6][7] Though the defense still played well, the Giants sent no players to the Pro Bowl for the second straight year.[8]

The Giants suffered through yet another poor season in 1996, finishing 6–10.[6] Though Brown again started every game for the Giants he turned in one of the worst seasons of any starting quarterback in the league that year, throwing for only 12 touchdowns against 20 interceptions.[9] The Giants offense was one of the worst in the NFL and, unlike in previous years, the defense was unable to keep the offense afloat. After having only one playoff appearance in 4 seasons, Reeves was dismissed after the 1996 season.[10]

[edit] Jim Fassel era

[edit] 1997-1999

The Giants hired Jim Fassel to replace Reeves before the 1997 season. Fassel had previously been the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos. One of Fassel's first decisions was to name young Danny Kanell as starting quarterback. After an opening day win against Philadelphia the Giants lost their next three games,[11] including close losses to the Baltimore Ravens and St. Louis Rams.[11] The Giants then won their next 5 games in a row, to finish the season at 10–5–1,[11] and advance to the playoffs. In the first round, despite outplaying the Vikings for most of the game, the Giants folded in the 4th quarter, and the Vikings kicked a late field goal to defeat the Giants, 23–22.[6] After the 1997 season, General manager George Young, who had helped build the Giants into a championship team in the 1980s, left the Giants to take a job in the NFL front office. He was replaced by Ernie Accorsi, a well–respected, veteran General Manager who had successful stints building the Baltimore Colts and Cleveland Browns.[12]

In 1998 the Giants were unable to build on their successful 1997 season, and needed a four game winning streak to close out the season at 8-8.[6] The Giants strength was their defense, which featured two Pro Bowlers in Armstead and Strahan.[13] However, the offense continued to be a disappointment. Brown had finally been jettisoned and replaced by Kanell and Kent Graham. However, neither quarterback provided Pro Bowl caliber play.

Prior to the 1999 season the Giants signed quarterback Kerry Collins.[6] Collins had been the first–ever draft choice of the expansion Carolina Panthers and in his second season led the Panthers to the NFC Championship game. However, problems with alcohol, conflicts with his teammates and questions about his character led to his release from the Panthers.[14] Mike Ditka, coach of the New Orleans Saints signed him shortly after his release; however the experiment failed and shortly thereafter Collins was released again.[14] Although many people, including Sports Illustrated football beat writer Peter King seriously questioned the wisdom of Accorsi and the Giants giving Collins a $16.9 million contract,[15] especially when there was little interest for Collins's services league-wide, Accorsi was confident that Collins was a wise investment.[15]

The 1999 season featured many strong individual performances by the Giants, especially on offense. Receiver Amani Toomer had a breakout season, accumulating over 1100 yards receiving and 6 touchdowns.[16] Fellow receiver Ike Hilliard also had a solid season, finishing just shy of 1000 yards receiving on the year.[16] Tight end Pete Mitchell contributed 58 receptions,[16] and Tiki Barber emerged as a premiere pass–catching running back, catching 66 passes on the year.[16] The defense was also solid, ranking 11th in the league and sending Armstead and Strahan to the Pro Bowl again. Though the Giants stood at 7–6 after 13 games, they lost their final three games of the season,[16] to missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season.[16]

[edit] 2000: Super Bowl season

The 2000 season was considered a make–or–break season for Fassel. Like his predecessor, Dan Reeves, Fassel had enjoyed great success in his first year, but disappointment in the following two seasons. The conventional wisdom was that Fassel needed to have a strong year and a playoff appearance to retain his job. The Giants' big draft acquisition was running back Ron Dayne, Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Wisconsin. Before the draft the team was debating whether to select Dayne or Shaun Alexander.[17] The plan for Dayne was that the power running style he had at Wisconsin would combine nicely with Barber's speed and pass–catching ability. The two were called the Giants "Thunder and Lightning" backfield and was a key to the season.

After two back–to–back losses at home against St. Louis and Detroit, the Giants fell to 7–4 to start the season[18] and their playoff prospects were in question. In what would be his defining moment as Giants head coach, at a press conference following the Giants' loss to Detroit, Fassel guaranteed that "This team will be in the playoffs."[6] The Giants responded, winning the next week's game against Arizona and the rest of their regular season games to finish the season 12–4[18] and earn a bye as the NFC's top seed.

The Giants won their first playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles, 20–10.[18] In the NFC Championship game faced the Minnesota Vikings, who were appearing in their second NFC Championship game in 3 seasons. Many people predicted that the Vikings and their high powered offense, led by Daunte Culpepper and receivers Randy Moss and Chris Carter would defeat the Giants and go on to the Super Bowl. However, the Giants dominated from the very beginning, jumping out to a 14–0 lead in the game's first moments and ultimately winning, 41–0.[18] The win marked the second time the Giants had won a Conference Championship in their home stadium by shutout. After the game Giants co-owner Wellington Mara delivered his famous "worst team ever" speech:

“ This team was referred to as the worst team ever to win the home–field advantage in the National Football League. And today, on our field of painted mud, we proved we're the worst team ever to win the NFC championship. In two weeks, we're going to try to become the worst team ever to win the Super Bowl.[19] ”

Though the Giants kept the game close in the first half, and went into halftime down only 10–0,[6] the Ravens thoroughly dominated the second half. The Ravens defense (and specifically MVP Ray Lewis) frustrated Kerry Collins all game long, resulting in Collins turning in one of the worst playoff performances in Super Bowl history. Collins completed only 15 of 39 passes for 112 yards and 4 interceptions.[20]

The Ravens won the game 34–7 in one of the most lopsided Super Bowls ever.[6] The only Giants score came on a Ron Dixon kickoff return for a touchdown.[6] On the very next kickoff, the Ravens countered as Jermaine Lewis also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.[6] Not only was this the only time this had occurred in Super Bowl history; it was one of the few times it had occurred in NFL history.

[edit] 2001-2003

The Giants were unable to build on their Super Bowl success in 2001, finishing the season 7–9[21] and out of the playoffs for the third time in four seasons. Kerry Collins continued to have success as the Giants' starting quarterback, throwing for over 3,700 yards and 19 TD's.[21] Tiki Barber finished as the Giants leading rusher again, while tying Amani Toomer for the team lead with 72 receptions.[21] But the standout player of the Giants 2001 season was Michael Strahan. Strahan set an NFL record by recording 22.5 sacks during the season,[22] and won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award. He broke the 17 years old NFL record previously held by Mark Gastineau.[22]

The 2002 season saw the arrival of tight end Jeremy Shockey from the University of Miami who provided Kerry Collins with yet another target. Collins would enjoy one of his best seasons as a pro in 2002, throwing for over 4,000 yards.[23] Tiki Barber had his best season to date, rushing for 1386 yards and also catching 69 passes for 597 yards.[23] The Giants started the season at 6–6 but won their last 4 games to finish the year 10–6,[23] and secure a first–round playoff game against the NFC West champion San Francisco 49ers.

The Giants controlled the 49ers throughout the game, and with 4 minutes left in the 3rd quarter held a seemingly insurmountable 38-14 lead.[24] The 49ers rallied however, scoring a field goal and three touchdowns—two on Jeff Garcia touchdown passes, one on a Garcia 14–yard touchdown run, and two two–point conversions made by Terrell Owens—which ultimately gave the 49ers a 39-38 lead with a minute to go.[24] Collins then quickly drove the Giants down to the 49ers 23–yard line with six seconds to play, setting up a 41–yard potential game winning field goal attempt by Matt Bryant.[24] However, Bryant never got an opportunity to make the kick. 40–year–old long snapper Trey Junkin—who had been signed out of retirement solely for this playoff game—snapped the ball low and punter Matt Allen could not spot the ball properly for the attempt.[24] With no other options, Allen threw it downfield to offensive lineman Rich Seubert.[24] The Giants were penalized for an illegal man downfield (Seubert), and the game was over. However, after the game, the NFL recognized that San Francisco should have been penalized on that play as well for pass interference. This would have created offsetting penalties and given New York a chance to kick again. After the game a devastated Junkin said "I cost 58 guys a chance to go to the Super Bowl. I'd give anything in the world, except my family at this point, right now to still be retired."[24]

The loss was Fassel's second devastating playoff loss in three postseason appearances. The Giants started out the 2003 season 4–4, but lost their final 8 games to finish 4–12.[25] This included 7 consecutive losses in the second half of the season, in which the Giants failed to score more than 13 points.[25] With two games remaining in the season, Fassel requested a meeting with team management, and asked, if he was to be fired, that they do so now rather than wait until the end of the season.[26] Management complied with his request, and formally fired Fassel on (or around) Dec. 17, 2003. However in an unusual turn of events, the Giants agreed to allow him coach the team for the remainder of the season so long as Fassel assured them that the team would not "quit" on him.

[edit] Eli Manning era: 2004-present

[edit] Eli Manning arrives

Main article: Rivers-Manning Trade
Coming out of Ole Miss in 2004 Eli Manning was the prized draft pick in the 2004 NFL draft.
Coming out of Ole Miss in 2004 Eli Manning was the prized draft pick in the 2004 NFL draft.

After a brief search, Ernie Accorsi hired Tom Coughlin, a former Bill Parcells assistant, to be the Giants new Head Coach. Coughlin had been the inaugural head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and led them to the AFC championship game twice. The Giants decided that their primary need was a franchise quarterback. Accorsi—who had coveted John Elway when he was Colts general manager in 1983—saw University of Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning as a similar talent. Manning's brother Peyton, and his father Archie, had already established successful careers as NFL quarterbacks. Though Accorsi wanted Manning badly, and Manning wanted to play in New York, Accorsi was unable to reach a deal to trade up to acquire him with the San Diego Chargers, who subsequently used the first pick on Manning.

Manning had indicated before the draft that he did not want to play for the Chargers[27] and was clearly appeared unhappy when selected by them.[27] Shortly after the draft Chargers general manager AJ Smith called Accorsi to make a deal.[27] Part of the deal was that the Giants would select quarterback Philip Rivers out of North Carolina State University with the #4 pick overall and trade that pick, plus other selections (including the Giants #1 pick the following year), to the Chargers for Manning's rights and additional considerations.[27] When the trade was announced, the crowd in attendance at the draft (which was held in New York) cheered loudly.

When Kerry Collins made it known that he did not want to stay with the Giants until they eventually demoted him for Manning, the Giants released Collins. They later signed quarterback Kurt Warner, to serve as the interim quarterback until Manning was deemed ready to play. Warner had led the St. Louis Rams to two Super Bowls, winning one of them. However, Warner had been affected by injuries, specifically a broken hand, which reduced his effectiveness and led to his release by the Rams.

[edit] 2004

After losing the season, the Giants, behind Warner, went on to win 5 of their next 6 games to stand at 5–2.[28] The Giants then lost two close games, to the Bears and Cardinals, to drop to 5–4.[28] It was at this point that Coughlin announced that Eli Manning would become the starter for the rest of the season. Manning struggled in his first 4 starts, and the Giants did not score more than 14 points in any game.[28] However, they played better in narrow losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals. The Giants won their final game of the year against rival Dallas, to finish the season 6–10.[28] Top performers on the season included Tiki Barber who established a personal career high in rushing yardage with 1518 yards;[28] and also contributed 52 catches and 15 touchdowns.[28] Following the season Ron Dayne was released. Dayne had experienced several mediocre seasons while Shaun Alexander, who the Giants bypassed to draft Dayne, had developed into a consistent Pro Bowler.

[edit] 2005: NFC East Champions again

In the 2005 off–season the Giants acquired former Steelers' wide receiver Plaxico Burress as a free agent. The Giants won their first two games of the season, against the Arizona Cardinals (42-19)[29] and a second game at the Meadowlands against the New Orleans Saints. The game was originally slated to be a home game for the Saints but had to be moved since the city of New Orleans was still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, and the Superdome was untenable after being used as an emergency shelter for locals displaced by the hurricane.[30] Despite the Saints wearing their home colors and the Saints colors and logo being painted in one of the end zones, the game was a de facto home game for the Giants who won easily, 27–10.[6] The Giants lost to the Chargers the following week, 45–23,[29] in a game which was marked by Chargers fans booing and jeering Eli Manning for refusing to play for the Chargers.[6] Manning and the Giants rebounded the following week however, and beat the St. Louis Rams by a score of 44–24.[6]

Wellington Mara's gravesite
Wellington Mara's gravesite

On October 25, 2005, beloved Giants patriarch Wellington Mara died after a brief illness, at the age of 89.[6] Mara had been involved with the Giants since he was 9 years old, when he was a ball boy for the Giants.[6] Except a tour of duty in the military during World War II, Mara spent his entire adult life with the Giants. The New York Giants dedicat their next game to Mara, and by shut out the Washington Redskins 36–0.[6] Afterwards, the Giants went on the road and defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24–6, but when they got home, lost to the Minnesota Vikings 24–21.[29]

Just twenty days after Mara's death, on November 15, 2005, the other Giants Executive Officer and well-known businessman Preston Robert Tisch died at the age of 79. He was diagnosed in 2004 with inoperable brain cancer. Tisch was a philanthropist all his life and donated considerable sums of money to charitable causes. After his diagnosis, he donated money to institutions aimed towards the research of drugs and treatments to control brain tumors.

The Giants then travelled to Seattle to play Seahawks. With the score tied at 21, kicker Jay Feely missed three field goals that would have given the Giants the lead.[31] The Giants lost 24–21 when Seahawks kicker Josh Brown kicked a 36–yard field goal.[31] The Giants then defeated the Cowboys 17–10.[32] the Giants defense made opposing QB Drew Bledsoe go 15 of 39 for 146 yards with only one touchdown pass and two interceptions.[32] The Giants then traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and defeated the defending NFC champion Eagles 26–23.[29]

Tiki Barber set Giants single season and single game rushing records in 2005
Tiki Barber set Giants single season and single game rushing records in 2005

On December 17, 2005, in their 27-17 home victory against the Kansas City Chiefs, Tiki Barber broke the team's single game rushing yard record with 220 yards, which broke the previous record of 218 yards, which had been set by Gene Roberts on November 12, 1950.[33]

The Giants were able to clinch at least a wild card berth without playing when the Minnesota Vikings fell to the Baltimore Ravens 30–23 in week 16. The Giants then won the NFC East title for the first time since 2000 with a 30–21 win against the Oakland Raiders. The team's appearance in the 2005 postseason was their 27th, tied with the Dallas Cowboys and the St. Louis Rams for the most ever by an NFL team. The Giants lost 23–0 to the Carolina Panthers in the first round.[6] After the game, Tiki Barber expressed his displeasure about Tom Coughlin's gameplan. However, the two looked at game film together and worked out their differences. The 2005 Giants had five pro bowlers, including Barber (who set a team record in rushing yards during the season[34]), Shockey, Strahan, Defensive End Osi Umenyiora, and Special teamer David Tyree.[35]

During the season it was also announced that the New York Giants, New York Jets and the New Jersey Sports and Exhibition Authority had reached an agreement where both teams will work together to build a new stadium adjacent to the current Giants Stadium. The teams also committed to remaining at the Meadowlands for the next 99 years. The stadium is projected to be an open–air facility that will hold 80,000 fans, will be managed jointly by the Giants and Jets, and is projected to be ready for the 2009 season. It is the first two–team joint stadium agreement in NFL history.

[edit] 2006

Main article: 2006 New York Giants season

The Giants regressed to an 8–8 season in 2006. The season featured inconsistent play, criticism of the coaching by the media and players, and inconsistent play from Eli Manning.[36] The Giants won five consecutive games following a 1–2 start[37] to gain a two game advantage in the NFC Eastern Division, but then key injuries to the offense and defense took its toll. Frustrations with the lack of production and with head coach Tom Coughlin began to surface as the Giants lost six of seven in the second half the season.[37] One of the team's most disappointing losses was a 24–21 defeat to Tennessee, in which the team surrendered a 21 point fourth quarter advantage. Following a season ending win at Washington, the Giants claimed a wildcard birth in the NFC playoffs, but were defeated in the first round by Philadelphia.[37]

Tiki Barber led the Giants with 1,662 yards and over 2,000 yards from scrimmage,[38] Eli Manning threw for 3,244 yards and 24 touchdowns[39] and Jeremy Shockey led the team in receptions.[39] Defensively the team struggled all season long with pass defense (28th in the league) and with gaining a consistent pass rush.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c 1994 New York Giants, databasefootball.com, accessed March 20, 2007.
  2. ^ Berkow, Ira. Sports of The Times; Brown Hopes To Wear Out Giant Fans, The New York Times, October 25, 1994, accessed March 29, 2007.
  3. ^ a b New York Giants (1925 - ), databasefootball.com, accessed March 17, 2007.
  4. ^ Rodney Hampton, databasefootball.com, accessed March 20, 2007.
  5. ^ a b 1995 New York Giants, databasefootball.com, accessed March 20, 2007.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r History of the New York Giants www.sportsecyclopedia.com, accessed September 12, 2006.
  7. ^ Sandomir, Richard. PRO FOOTBALL;Giants Will Confiscate Season Tickets, The New York Times, December 27, 1995, accessed March 29, 2007.
  8. ^ 1995 New York Giants, pro-football-reference.com, accessed March 22, 2007.
  9. ^ Dave Brown, databasefootball.com, accessed March 18, 2007.
  10. ^ Anderson, Dave. 'It Hasn't Worked Out' For Reeves, New York Times, December 22, 1996, accessed March 29, 2007.
  11. ^ a b c 1997 New York Giants, accessed databasefootball.com, accessed March 18, 2007.
  12. ^ Mizell, Hubert. Don’t mistake where Accorsi’s rooting interest is, St. Petersburg Times, January 22, 2001, accessed March 20, 2007.
  13. ^ 1997 New York Giants, pro-football-reference.com, accessed March 21, 2007.
  14. ^ a b King, Peter. Renewed and revitalized at 28, Collins finally comes clean, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, January 22, 2001, accessed March 21, 2007.
  15. ^ a b Pompei, Dan. Collins is a low–risk signing for the QB–starved Giants—Kerry Collins signs with New York Giants; Nolan Harrison; related NFL news, The Sporting News, March 8, 1999, accessed March 20, 2007.
  16. ^ a b c d e f 1999 New York Giants, accessed databasefootball.com, accessed March 18, 2007.
  17. ^ Pennington, Bill. PRO FOOTBALL; Giants Might Choose Between Alexander and Dayne, The New York Times, April 12, 2000, accessed March 29, 2007.
  18. ^ a b c d 2000 New York Giants, databasefootball.com, accessed March 21, 2007.
  19. ^ Wilner, Barry. Giants pound Vikings into submission, USA Today, January 21, 2001, accessed March 21, 2007.
  20. ^ Super Bowl XXXV Summary, hworth.net, accessed March 29, 2007.
  21. ^ a b c 2001 New York Giants, databasefootball.com, accessed March 20, 2007.
  22. ^ a b Associated Press, Strahan breaks Gastineau's 17–year–old record, espn.com, January, 2001, accessed March 22, 2007.
  23. ^ a b c 2002 New York Giants, databasefootball.com, accessed March 17, 2007.
  24. ^ a b c d e f Associated Press, Garcia, 49ers erase 24-point deficit, espn.com, January 5, 2003, accessed March 22, 2007.
  25. ^ a b 2003 New York Giants, databasefootball.com, accessed March 17, 2007.
  26. ^ Associated Press, Fassel wants another coaching job, December 19, 2003, accessed March 23, 2007.
  27. ^ a b c d Magee, Jerry. Nothing personal, San Diego; Eli Manning just didn't want to be a Charger, San Diego Union-Tribune, September 21, 2005, accessed March 21, 2007.
  28. ^ a b c d e f 2004 New York Giants, databasefootball.com, accessed March 21, 2007.
  29. ^ a b c d 2005 New York Giants, databasefootball.com, accessed March 16, 2007.
  30. ^ Maske, Mark. Saints to Play Home Opener at Giants Stadium, Washington Post, September 3, 2005, accessed March 23, 2007.
  31. ^ a b Associated Press, Three missed FGs doom Giants in OT loss to Seahawks, November 27, 2005, accessed March 21, 2007.
  32. ^ a b Associated Press, Giants alone atop NFC East after narrow win vs. 'Boys, December 4, 2005, accessed March 21, 2007.
  33. ^ Associated Press, Tiki torches Chiefs in Giants' win, December 17, 2005, accessed March 21, 2007.
  34. ^ ,Tiki Barber plans to stay busy after retirement, NFL.com, accessed March 22, 2007.
  35. ^ 2005 New York Giants, pro-football-reference.com, accessed March 21, 2007.
  36. ^ Branch, John. PRO FOOTBALL; After All That Turmoil, the Giants Now Seem Likely to Stay the Course, The New York Times, January 14, 2007, accessed March 20, 2007.
  37. ^ a b c 2006 New York Giants Schedule, espn.com, accessed March 21, 2007.
  38. ^ Tiki Barber, espn.com, accessed March 21, 2007.
  39. ^ a b 2006 New York Giants player stats, espn.com, accessed March 21, 2007.

[edit] External links

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