Mark Weinstein at Giants blog Bluenatic writes an impassioned and epic post regarding one of the greatest and most unappreciated Giants of all time, Rodney Hampton.

Hampton was selected by the Giants in the 1990 NFL Draft and spent his entire career until 1997 with the Giants and held the franchise record for rushing yards with 6,897 until Tiki Barber passed the mark in 2004. Hampton broke the 1,000 yard mark every year between 1991 and 1995 and was a member of the XXV Super Bowl team.

Hampton scored 49 TDs for the Giants in his career, including four in a 1995 game. He played in two Pro Bowls and in 1993 he led the team to the playoffs, where he rushed for 161 yards and two TDs in a 17-10 win over Minnesota.

Weinstein describes his great affection for the Giants running back and describes his career in tremendous detail, along with painting a vivid picture of the state of the franchise in the most memorable moments of Hampton’s journey.

Be sure to check out Weinstein’s post on Bluenatic, which will bring back memories to those who have followed the Giants while growing up in the 90s, as well as a glimpse for some younger fans into the history of this storied franchise.

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Recently I had the chance to interview Ernie Palladino from The Journal News.  Ernie’s blog can be found here.

Ernie has been the Giants beat reporter since 1989.

Jared Blank, giantsfootballblog.com: One word to describe the journey of the 2007 Giants?
Ernie Palladino: Incredible

JB:  How would you rate the city’s/tri state’s reaction to the Giants compared with ‘86 and ‘90?
EP:  This was much bigger. From what we heard in Arizona, the minute Eli threw the touchdown pass to Burress, people in the city streamed out of doorways and started celebrating. Yelps could be heard from one building to the next, and Times Square looked like New Year’s Eve. As for the post-victory celebration, remember than in 1986 Mayor Ed Koch refused to have a parade, and in ‘91 the Gulf War was going on, so the Giants thought it improper to have any kind of celebration. All that changed this year.

JB:  How big of an impact was Tiki Barber’s departure on the health of the locker room?
EP:  Tiki’s departure had a positive effect in that one of the main, critical voices of the coaching staff was gone. A lot of players followed his lead, and with him gone and a leadership committee in place, players took their gripes to the committee and kept things in-house. There was a minimum of second-guessing and selfishness in the locker room this year, and virtually no behind-the-scenes criticism.

JB:  Prior to SB42 victory, was Eli Manning treated fairly by the media and fans?
EP:  I believe he was. Perhaps a bit too harshly, but his body of work suggested all the criticism that was directed toward him. He had not attained many of the goals the staff set for him in training camp. His completion average was well below what was expected, and he was making the big mistake at the critical time. Even in his comeback victories, (i.e. Chicago, Philly, Buffalo) he was not impressive, but rather had other players doing fantastic things to make it all possible. It wasn’t until that final Patriots game, and then the playoffs, where he started to blossom into a heady quarterback.

JB:  Is Eli Manning a ‘good weather’ QB or is it too soon to make that judgment?
EP:  Manning proved in Green Bay that he can win in horribly adverse conditions, so I think the whole weather discussion is academic now. Before Green Bay, I would have said he’s definitely a warm-weather quarterback. My opinion of him changed significantly after Green Bay.

JB:  With a mix of Derrick Ward, Reuben Droughns, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, how do you see the Giants RB situation playing out next season?
EP:  The Giants are currently trying to sign back Derrick Ward, who would then become the third running back behind Jacobs and Bradshaw. I wouldn’t be surprised if Droughns was sent packing before free agency starts to clear some cap room. So, assuming Droughns isn’t there, the Giants will go with that fantastic 1-2 punch of Jacobs and Bradshaw, and backed up by Ward. There is one thing that could keep Droughns around, though, and that’s the overall health. Remember, that backfield started with an overcrowded situation, but quickly thinned out because of injuries. They might just need Droughns as a safety net after witnessing what happened this year.

JB:  How does Jeremy Shockey fit back into this team after the injury and solid rookie performance of Kevin Boss?
EP: Jeremy Shockey will remain the team’s starting tight end, with Boss serving as the second tight end as his blocking skills continue to develop. Shockey, though not as dangerous a pass-catcher as usual because of his increased blocking assignments, was instrumental in the run game because of those blocking skills. To think the Giants would trade him or cut him is just about ludicrous. Also consider that he’s coming off a broken fibula, which makes him virtually unmarketable. So he’s sticking around.

JB:  What member of the Giants is the most media friendly?
EP: Justin Tuck, with Shaun O’Hara a close second. Those two were always around to answer any and all questions just about every day. But the locker room is filled with good guys. It’s not a bad room to work if you’re a reporter. Most are well-spoken, and won’t run and hide when controversy arises.

JB:  Talk a little bit about Coach Tom Coughlin’s relationship with the media and how if at all he has changed since he took the job?

EP: I really never had a problem with Coughlin’s attitude toward us. He’s a guy who would rather spend five hours reviewing game film than five minutes being interviewed. That’s fine. And that never really changed this year. What did change were some of his policies, like access to the assistant coaches and coordinators. That still needs work, but at least we got some coordinator almost every week. He could still get aggravated at times, but that’s fine. That’s who he is, and I don’t need him to change his personality.

JB:  In Jerry Reese’s first draft as Giants GM, all eight players he drafted made the team and many had major contributions to a Super Bowl victory. Do you recall a more successful Giants Draft class?

EP: Really, it’s hard to remember a class that contributed so much. A lot of others had most of the draft making the team, but in this one, all but Adam Koets became key contributors. An amazing draft - a home run as Ernie Accorsi called it.

JB:  Are you surprised Steve Spagnuolo did not take the Redskins job?

EP: Not at all. For one thing, the Redskins’ situation is a mess. Daniel Snyder is a meddler, the team is $20 million over the salary cap. The whole organization is chaotic. Besides, Steve has a good head on his shoulders. He knows he could use another year as a defensive coordinator to better prepare him for a head coaching job. If he does next year what he did this year with the defense, he’ll have his choice of better situations.

JB:  What was your take on SpyGate?

EP: Way overblown. I don’t condone cheating, and Belichick and the Pats were punished appropriately. But I question how much value there really was in taping the sideline signals. Coaches change their signals every game and take extreme precautions to avoid having their secrets stolen. I don’t think Spygate taints any of the Pats’ previous Super Bowl accomplishments. So, you ask, if there’s no value in it, why did Belichick do it? Because, like all coaches, he thought he might get an edge. All football coaches are control freaks to an extent, and all do everything they can to gain as much information as possible, even if such info is so miniscule that it can’t possibly help them win a game. That’s the case here. He got caught, that’s what makes this different than the typical coaching hijinks (spying from hotel windows, scanning newspapers and websites, etc.)

JB:  Are you in favor of the NFL playing games outside of the continental US?
EP:  No. I hate it. For one thing, it deprives a team of a home game. For another, I see no reason to bother the soccer-playing world with a game that holds minimal interest for them. This is simply an NFL marketing ploy to sell more jerseys and sweatshirts in an untapped market. Needless and greedy is what it is.

JB:  How many Super Bowls have you attended?

EP:  I lost count, actually. But I believe this was my 11th or 12th Super Bowl.

JB:  Describe your overall Super Bowl 42 experience.

EP:  Super Bowl is a very busy time for a reporter. Up early, working late. Many stories to be written and, in the case of Arizona, two fewer hours every day to get it all done because of the time change. These are not fun experiences. But as a professional, it’s where you want to be. Can’t tell you what a thrill it was to tell the story of that game and that whole incredible, improbable playoff run. One of, if not the, greatest stories I’ve covered in my 32-year career. That’s our reward for all the work of the Super Bowl week, a great game and a great story.

JB:  Do you feel the two week break between Conference Championships and the SB is necessary and is that something you feel will ever change?

EP:  It’s totally unnecessary, but it will never change, either. The league is getting too much publicity mileage now out of that extra week. It is, I’m afraid to say, here forever.

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Earlier this week, I had the chance to interview former Giants star defensive end, Leonard Marshall. He discussed his tenure as a Giants, playing next to Lawrence Taylor, as well as the current Giants team.

Gary Grund, Giants Football Blog: Your father didn’t like the idea of you playing football at first. As your career went on, how did your father look at your profession?

Leonard: My parent’s leadership and their perseverance was so critical in assisting my development. He looked at me the same way as a professional football player as he did when I was this teenager participating in sports back in Louisiana. The only difference at the pro level was that I had the chance to play a kids game, for a king ransom.

Gary: This is probably one of the most asked questions you get receive, but your hit that knocked Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana out of the 1990 NFC Championship game was ranked as the third most “devastating hit” in NFL History by The Best Damn Sports Show Period. What was it like to shell out one of the hardest hits onto one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game?

Leonard: “The Hit,” as it’s known to the football community was one of the greatest plays ever in sports. I was so critical to our success as a football team in 1990. I love it as a play for two reasons. For one, this is what I did at a very high level, which was compete like there’s was no tomorrow. Two, I was blocked, clipped, and I crawled to see Joe Montana signal to Jerry Rice to run. My teammate and partner in crime, when it came to QB’s, made him pull up and I had the chance to make the play or the “Hit” heard around the world in professional football. It sprung my team forward and ended the three-peat theory for the 49ers.

Gary: How was it playing next to one of the greatest linebackers in NFL History in Lawrence Taylor?

Leonard: I had the privilege to play with the greatest two linebackers ever in professional football. My first week of mini-camp, I met this guy. At the time, he was ‘God’ in the locker room. Folks called him “Mr. T,” while I came to know him as Lawrence Taylor. He allowed me to store my things at his home in Saddle River, New Jersey. He told me, “lil’ brother, anything you need, I will help you with.” That is when we began to develop our chemistry. This propelled to the football field and the rest is history. Not only was he the best ever, he’s my friend. I love him and all we shared and someday wish we could strap them up again and sack a few more quarterbacks. He was the best ever, bar none.

Gary: What comparisons can be made between the 2007 Super Bowl championship Giants and the 1986 and 1990 Super Bowl championship Giants?

Leonard: The 1986 Giants is a team in it’s own class. It was dominating defensively. It shared a team of talent, will, and determination like no other that I witnessed working with throughout my college and professional career. The 1990 Giants and the 2007 Giants remind me of each other quite a bit. They both shared the chemistry of becoming teams of destiny in their apparent championship runs. Two strong offenses which played steady and two defenses which bent, but didn’t break. Hard-hitting on both sides of the football, poised and confident and totally committed to winning at all costs!

Gary: What was your overall impression of this current Giants team prior to the start of the season and what mid-season changes do you believe helped this team end up as the Super Bowl winners?

Leonard: In the beginning, I didn’t think the chemistry was there. They missed a few things on defense. They gave up just over 900 yards defensively and were barely consistent on offense. As the season progressed, they got stronger. Eli developed his skills as a poised confident passer and leader. Michael Strahan led and the defense followed. Osi [Umenyiora] played like old #70 at right end, which made me so proud. As you can tell, I love solid line play. Hey, this is where the game is won and lost, fans!

Gary: What does this team need to do to repeat?

Leonard: All of the above needs to remain prevalent. Consistency needs to be top priority for the New York Giants. Health has to be a top priority with God’s blessings, and the fans need to support them better than they did after we won in 1986.

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Want to relive a past Super Bowl victory? Check out this video…

Is it irony or destiny that the Scott Norwood’s field goal was a 47-yard attempt, just like Lawrence Tynes two weeks ago at Green Bay?

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Our thanks to truesportsfans, for posting a play that goes unnoticed in Giants history.

“When Bruce Smith attacked the corner deep in Giants territory and rushed an unaware and defenseless Jeff Hostetler in the end-zone, it was clear that Smith was about to make a big play. The question soon became just how big. As it turned out, Hostetler may have saved the Giants Super Bowl hopes. When Smith hacked at Hostetler’s right arm before the Giants QB had the chance to tuck it away, one would have thought the force would have caused a fumble, resulting in a loose ball in the end zone that could easily have resulted in an important defensive touchdown. And in all honesty it should have. But Hoss, the cagey veteran backup who controlled the clock virtually all game, managed to somehow keep a tight grasp on the ball, thus keeping the hopes of Giants fans in his grasp as well. “

There are many parallels between the Bills and the Pats, and many felt in 1990 the team”had to play the perfect game” and they did, thanks in part to this play by the Hoss. This is an example that a team with a slim margin of error, can give up a safety and still win.

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Lawrence Taylor, NFL and Giants legend, believes this generation of New York Giants have what it takes to beat the New England Patriots. Ian O’Connor of The Record quotes LT…

“The Patriots can be had,” Taylor said Thursday. “The Giants have made a true believer out of me over the last few weeks. I’m expecting big things from this game.”

Taylor, who will celebrate his 49th birthday tomorrow, on the eve of the Super Bowl, spends his time these days in Miami, playing golf, making appearances, and dabbling in business deals. Taylor won two Super Bowls, and said that this year’s Giants feels like the 1990 team.

“This year absolutely reminds me of the way we finished that season,” Taylor said. “On paper we weren’t the best team in the league. I think San Francisco had a better team than we did, and I think the Buffalo Bills had a better team than we did.

“I’d tell the Giants, ‘Don’t get discouraged. Don’t make it a track meet. Don’t get down when the Patriots score. Just play solid football, control the ball, and limit your mistakes.’ If the Giants do that, they can win this game. They’ve already proven they can play with these guys.”

I can’t think of a better motivator that LT. If I was coach Coughlin, I might even have him address the team before the game. Just reading those words in print has me fired up for Sunday. I simply cannot wait for the game to begin.

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