If you could pick any team from the Giants' 100 seasons for a "Hard Knocks" documentary that would have been made at that time, which year would it be? Bonus question: Who would narrate it?
John Schmeelk: This might be the easiest answer ever: the 1986 Giants. You have Bill Parcells, whose personality, intensity and sense of humor would have made him a television star. His volatile relationship with Phil Simms, who was also never afraid of talking back, would have been must-see TV. Then there was Lawrence Taylor, whose mere presence would have required the program to be on HBO (even though it already is). Harry Carson was the team leader, but also had conflicts with management regarding his contract, which was some more drama for everyone to enjoy. I would have also enjoyed getting an inside look at Carl Banks, and how he operated as a young NFL player. How about an inside look at Bill Belichick's defensive meetings? I want to see the genius in action. Sign me up for this.
Dan Salomone: Just send a crew to Toots Shor's Restaurant in 1956 and let the cameras roll. The heights reached today by the NFL can be traced to that era. Professional football was on the rise in the 1950s, and just as importantly, so was television. The result was an explosion across the country, and by the middle of the next decade, professional football had become the nation's favorite sport to watch. And it still is today.
After winning their third championship in 1938, the Giants lost six consecutive postseason games from 1939 to 1950. The drought ended in 1956, one of the most significant years in Giants history. After 31 seasons in the Polo Grounds, they crossed the Harlem River and began playing their home games in Yankee Stadium. Andy Robustelli was obtained in a trade and Sam Huff arrived via the draft. Frank Gifford was the NFL Player of the Year and Roosevelt Brown the Lineman of the Year. All four players would one day be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
The staff also had larger-than-life figures. The 1956 Giants were coached by Jim Lee Howell, who had succeeded Hall of Famer Steve Owen two years earlier. Howell's top assistants were Vince Lombardi on offense and Tom Landry on defense.
It is not surprising they won the NFL title that season. Two years later, they played in the "Greatest Game Ever Played" against the Colts and in the process put the NFL on the map.
"I think everything building to 1958 was the rebirth of pro football," Gifford said. "Television made pro football. It was perfect for television. It was almost made for television as opposed to other sports, and it was emerging. And we were emerging with it. And it just captivated the country, particularly New York. We just walked around the town like we owned it."
As for the narrator of this "Hard Knocks" dream scenario, let's go with another Frank. Frank Sinatra.
Matt Citak: For me, the clear answer here is the 2007 Giants. Where do I start? There is no argument that Michael Strahan is not only one of the greatest Giants, but he is also one of the most talented pass rushers in NFL history. But he looked like he was heading into retirement following the 2006 season when he didn't report to training camp and missed the entire preseason. While we obviously know he showed up before the start of the season and played a crucial role in the Super Bowl run, this sort of storyline would be gold in a "Hard Knocks" documentary. But wait, there's more. Strahan opted in for one final season with the Giants, but running back Tiki Barber decided the 2006 campaign would be his final hurrah in the NFL. The Giants' all-time leading rusher ran for over 1,500 yards and topped 2,000 yards from scrimmage in each of his final three seasons. Barber left football while still in his prime, having made three consecutive Pro Bowls and reaching at least 1,670 total yards from scrimmage in six of his final seven seasons. His retirement left a void not only in the backfield, but in the locker room, as well. Fortunately for the Giants, the running back's decision led to Eli Manning truly stepping up as a team leader.
This was merely the drama leading up to the regular season. The '07 Giants began 0-2, losing both games by double digits, before ripping off six consecutive victories, the final one being a win in the NFL's first ever game in London. A back-and-forth second-half of the season, ending with the thrilling 38-35 loss to the undefeated New England Patriots, resulted in the team finishing 10-6 and earning the No. 5 seed in the NFC. They went on to win three consecutive road games, including the NFC Championship in Green Bay, which was one of the coldest games in NFL history, to clinch a spot in Super Bowl XLII and a rematch against the heavily-favored Patriots. As we all know, the '07 Giants completed what is still widely regarded as one of the greatest Cinderella stories in both NFL and professional sports history with their 17-14 victory over the Patriots, which prevented Bill Belichick and Tom Brady from finishing their perfect season. This also allowed Strahan to ride off into the sunset with a Super Bowl ring in tow. It would be difficult to create a more appealing storyline for a season than that of the 2007 Giants.
As for who would narrate this documentary, I'm going with the combination of Jerry Ferrara and Kevin Dillon. The famous HBO series "Entourage" originally aired from 2004-2011. Ferrara and Dillon, who played Turtle and Drama, respectively, in the hit series, are both big Giants fans. Given the popularity of the show at the time, it's only fitting that the two narrate the franchise's most magical season.
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