A Great Giant Running Back : Rodney Hampton

Over the past twenty years, No. 27 has been a main stay on the NY Giants roster.  Before Jacobs…there was Dayne.  Before Ron Dayne there was Hampton.  I was always a huge fan of Rodney Hampton. 

Through out the 80’s fans flocked to the Meadowlands…sporting their favorite blue or white jersey.  One row after another, like Giant infantry, the names of Simms, Taylor, Bavaro, McConkey, or Morris were sewn or ironed on the back.  But wait a minute…this was 1990 and there was a new first round draft pick in the house!

Enter Rodney Hampton. 

That’s right…a new breed of back from Houston, Texas was making a home behind the quarterback.  No. 27 became the dawn of the new decade and was considered a big back for the Giants in those days.  Drafted at 215 pounds, Rodney played between 221 and 230 for his seven year career.  The 5’11" back was a giant compared to Billy Taylor, Joe Morris, and Dave Meggett.  Rodney, superior in talent, still had 10 pounds of muscle on the taller Butch Woolfolk.

He was one part high flying “over the top” type of back, he was one part “run you over” type of back, and he was one part “slash past you” and “turn the corner” type of back. 

I can remember the article in one of NFL preview magazines showing a picture of a Georgia running back flying over the top of a huge defensive line into the end zone.

The caption under the photo read something like…“The Giants are a much improved team now that they drafted the high-flying Georgia running back, Rodney Hampton." 

I have many fond memories of Rodney Hampton.  He went on to have five back-to-back 1,000 yards plus rushing seasons and collected 6,897 yards along the way.  That would make Mr. Hampton No. 50 all time!   Now that will change in the next few years as the great Brian Westbrook, Steven Jackson, Larry Johnson and Willis McGahee continue their careers. 

So, that got me thinking.  Who was the best Giant running back of all time?

I couldn’t decide if I should research the stats and big play ability or go with Super Bowl winners and Pro-bowlers?  How about old school vs. new school?  Either way, the New York Giants have had some fantastic running backs over their great history and some impressive ball carriers in the last 30 years.  

Carpenter, Morris, Meggett, Hampton, Anderson, Barber, Jacobs, Ward, Bradshaw and we hope to see Danny Ware have a break out season.  For those keeping stats, let’s not forget the Giants traded away the 1,000 yard rusher Ryan Grant to the Green Bay Packers in 2007.

I understand Rodney is still around participating in some special New York Giants functions and it’s also good to see Jacobs rising out of the shadow of Tiki Barber to give new life to No. 27.

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