3 New York Giants Among Top 40 Most Hated NFL Players Of All-Time
By Neal Lynch
Bill Bender of The Sporting News counted down the top 40 most hated NFL players of all-time and three New York Giants made the list.
Bender’s rankings seem to only go back as far as Jack Tatum, whose rookie year was 1971, so there should’ve been a qualifier tacked on like “of the past 45 years”. Because I’m pretty sure most Giants fans would vote for Chuck Bednarik making the cut.
Bender also notes that Aaron Hernandez, Rae Carruth, O.J. Simpson and Ray Rice were left off because “There’s no sense in debating those players’ place on this list.” Instead, Bender and Company “narrowed the focus to players who were hated while they were on the field.”
So, let’s take a look at the three most hated New York Giants players from the article:
"40. Eli Manning“Manning’s NFL career started with a refusal to play for the Chargers, who drafted him with the No. 1 pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. He also has been viewed as Peyton’s younger brother. Manning’s hot-and-cold play drives fans crazy — he’s second among active quarterbacks with 199 interceptions yet has two Super Bowl rings. Manning did beat Tom Brady twice, and there’s this DirecTV commercial. Should we cut him a break?”"
Hate’s a strong word. Most Giants fans will disagree with this simply because how can you hate a guy who’s so thoroughly teased by his own supporters? We love Eli for what he’s been able to accomplish, but it’s still frustrating to no end to see him do the ‘aw shucks’ routine after a horrific interception or drive-killing fumble.
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But, the haters are out there. My brother-in-law is a Chargers fan and still sends me the meanest of memes and texts every time Eli and the Giants are playing on the big stage. Eli’s not a criminal. He’s not a loudmouth. He’s not a cheater. Those were the three big qualifiers for SN’s list. Take away the draft day trade demand and what can you hang on Eli? Are you mad because he’s not more of an a-hole? Because he doesn’t let his emotions get the best of him?
Bleacher Report’s Senior Writer Tony Santorsa said Eli was one of the most hated players by his own fanbase in NFL history, noting what could’ve been had it not been for the two Super Bowl rings.
Tiki Barber was also on that list and I’m sure if Tiki’s comments about Eli came before he retired, he’d probably be on the Sporting News list.
Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress made the Bleacher Report list as well. J-Shock could’ve been the most beloved, capturing the excitement of Giants fans his first few seasons only to have his play not match his mouth, alienating the fanbase and the team. Burress’ attitude also became an issue before he shot his leg and ended his Giants career. One hopes Beckham doesn’t fall into those pitfalls.
"36. Odell Beckham, Jr.“It’s not so much the fans; Beckham’s highlight-reel catches are always worth a second and third look. It’s his reputation within the league as a complainer and instigator that has heated up after battles within the NFC East and the wrestling match with former Panthers cornerback Josh Norman last season.”"
Only two seasons under his belt and he’s already made the “all-time” list of most hated players. He’s the complete opposite of Eli. Brash, bold, outspoken, brazen, flashy, flamboyant, fiery, and ill-tempered. Tom Coughlin, the quintessential disciplinarian, even refused to sit him down during the Josh Norman fiasco.
How will Ben McAdoo handle him? We saw what happened when Odell didn’t play against the Minnesota Vikings late last season. I’m sure it will make the decision to give Beckham a timeout to cool down easier with Victor Cruz back and Sterling Shepard in the mix.
Still, Beckham is only 23 years old. He’s the youngest on that list by far. His placement is a testament to how competitive and how good he is. To how bad he can make defenders look. To his unrivaled level of high energy. To how expressive he is. To his astronomical rise to superstardom. He’s got a target on his back. Beckham is a more eccentric version of Randy Moss and has the potential to surpass him statistically, but also in terms of being most hated. I don’t know if I could stand him being on another team.
"35. Lawrence Taylor“Taylor is arguably the greatest defensive player in NFL history, but some of that was offset by his reckless behavior on and off the field during his career with the Giants. He served a 30-day suspension in 1988 after testing positive for cocaine, and he had substance abuse problems that led to multiple arrests after his career was over. Taylor is more revered now, but it was a different story during his playing days.”"
RantSports also named L.T. the most hated Giants player in franchise history. I was just a kid when Taylor played. His career came to an end before I made it to high school. I wasn’t aware of his off-the-field troubles at the time. You wonder if it were those troubles that fueled his success on the field, or if they ended up making him less effective.
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He drove Harry Carson insane. He caused Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick, two of the most no-nonsense coaches in NFL history throw up their hands in submission. Volatile, violent, and vilified for terrorizing quarterbacks and the men paid to block him. If you’re an Eagles, Cowboys, or Redskins fan, then your hatred is justified. But, if you’re a football fan who doesn’t follow those teams, your appreciation for L.T. is unmatched. Hated, but impossible to diminish.
Via Sporting News