When Joe Morris was on his way out of New York, Tom Coughlin – then an assistant coach – was just beginning with the Giants. But the former running back and coach go back further than the professional ranks.
Before being drafted in 1982, Morris set all-time rushing records at Syracuse, and Coughlin was there to lay the foundation.
"When I was a freshman at Syracuse, Coughlin was the offensive coordinator and running backs coach there," Morris recently told the Greenwich Time at the NFL Alumni Connecticut Chapter's annual Charity Golf Classic in Darien. "He taught me the game and how to read defenses.
"My first time with him we watched 25 plays in the field house at Syracuse, going through every play and how each and every player was moving and what his assignment was. It changed my opinion of how you do things. In the NFL, players asked me how I knew everyone's route and I told them about the college coach I had who told us to know everyone's position."
With his own championship ring from Super Bowl XXI with the Giants (as he rushed for more than 300 yards and four touchdowns in three playoff games), Morris fondly watched his team's run this past season.
"It definitely brought back some memories," said Morris. "I don't think a lot of people thought they were going to do it after they finished 9-7. But Eli Manning lifted his play so much during the postseason."
The Top 100: Players of 2012
One installment remains in NFL Network's list as voted on by players as numbers 11-20 were revealed last night. No Giants were in this particular segment, but here's a look at the list for those keeping score at home:
- RB Chris Johnson, Titans
- C Ryan Kalil, Panthers
- RB Willis McGahee, Broncos
- OT Donald Penn, Buccaneers
- LB D'Qwell Jackson, Browns
- QB Tim Tebow, Jets
- RB Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks
- CB Cortland Finnegan, Rams
- FB John Kuhn, Packers
- QB Tony Romo, Cowboys
*, Giants
89. DE Dwight Freeney, Colts
88. RB Michael Turner, Falcons
87. LB London Fletcher, Redskins
86. RB Darren Sproles, Saints
85. LB NaVorro Bowman, 49ers
84. DE Chris Long, Rams
83. RB Fred Jackson, Bills
82. OT Joe Thomas, Browns
81. DT Vince Wilfork, Patriots
- WR Jordy Nelson, Packers
- Nnamdi Asomugha, Eagles
- LB Derrick Johnson, Chiefs
- WR A.J. Green, Bengals
- OL Carl Nicks, Buccaneers
- TE Jason Witten, Cowboys
- QB Joe Flacco, Ravens
- CB Johnathan Joseph Texans
- LB Lance Briggs, Bears
- WR DeSean Jackson, Eagles
- QB Michael Vick, Eagles
- CB Carolos Rogers, 49ers
- DE Elvis Dumervil, Broncos
- OT Joe Staley, 49ers
- S Earl Thomas, Seahawks
- WR Roddy White, Falcons
- G Logan Mankins, Patriots
- LB LaMarr Woodley, Steelers
* , Giants
61. QB Philip Rivers, Chargers
- RB Darren McFadden, Raiders
- OT Jake Long, Dolphins
- LB Jonathan Vilma, Saints
- DE Trent Cole, Eagles
- WR Greg Jennings, Packers
- CB Patrick Peterson, Cardinals
- LB Brian Cushing, Texans
- TE Tony Gonzalez, Falcons
- LB Von Miller, Broncos
- LB Brian Urlacher, Bears
- QB Peyton Manning, Broncos
- C Maurkice Pouncey, Steelers
- WR Devin Hester, Bears
- WR Mike Wallace, Steelers
- CB Champ Bailey, Broncos
- FB Vonta Leach, Ravens
- DE Jason Babin, Eagles
- TE Vernon Davis, 49ers
- OT Jason Peters, Eagles
- QB Matthew Stafford, Lions
- QB Cam Newton, Panthers
*, Giants
38. DT Ndamukong Suh, Lions
37. RB Steven Jackson, Rams
36. CB Charles Woodson, Packers
35. WR Steve Smith, Panthers
34. LB Tamba Hali, Chiefs
33. RB Matt Forte, Bears
32. G Jahri Evans, Saints
- QB Eli Manning, Giants
*30. QB Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
29. LB James Harrison, Steelers
28. RB Frank Gore, 49ers
27. LB Clay Matthews, Packers
26. DE Julius Peppers, Bears
25. RB Arian Foster, Texans
*24. DE Jason Pierre-Paul, Giants
*23. WR Wes Welker, Patriots
22. RB Ray Rice, Ravens
21. TE Rob Gronkowski, Patriots
- LB Ray Lewis, Ravens
- S Troy Polamalu, Steelers
- RB LeSean McCoy, Eagles
- DE Justin Smith, 49ers
- S Ed Reed, Ravens
- WR Andre Johnson, Texans
- TE Jimmy Graham, Saints
- DE Jared Allen, Vikings
- RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars
- LB Terrell Suggs, Ravens
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