1970: The Giants land Ron Johnson in a deal for Homer Jones

In the late 1960s, there wasn’t much for New York Giant fans to cheer about. The team fell out of contention after the 1963 season and could only muster two 7-7 seasons before the decade came to a close.

- JOHN FENNELLY

In 1969, Alex Webster, a former star running back for Big Blue, took over the reins from Allie Sherman as head coach and the team’s offensive philosophy evolved from quarterback Fran Tarkenton running for his life and making plays by the seat of his pants to a more traditional rushing attack.

The only problem was that the Giants did not have the running backs necessary to make the conversion. Tucker Frederickson never recovered from a knee injury he suffered a few years before. Junior Coffey was also hobbled by a knee. The Giants’ rushing attack was led by 32-year-old Joe Morrison and Ernie Koy. They needed a “bell cow” back to get their running game to where it needed to be.

In January of 1970, one year after the crosstown Jets shocked the world by winning Super Bowl III, the Giants made the newspapers with a notable trade. It was not received very well.

Big Blue shipped two-time Pro Bowl flanker Homer Jones off to Cleveland for veteran defensive tackle Jim Kanicki, linebacker Wayne Meylan and second year running back Ron Johnson.