1968 Giants Linebacker Profiles

VINCE COSTELLO
Middle Linebacker
No. 57
Ohio
"Giant fans, who hadn't been treated to quality middle linebacking since Sam Huff left New York, got a treat last year when Vince Costello joined the club after a successful career with the Browns. Though at 36 he's reaching the twilight stage, Vince still the fire and savvy that made him one of the best in trade.
There were times last season when he got in the way of enemy passes so instinctively that one supposed he was tuned in on the other team's huddle; he directed the Giant defense shrewdly and proved to be the perfect catalyst in pulling together a youthful and relatively inexperienced unit. And he came up with four interceptions.
Vince broke in with the Browns as an unheralded free agent from Ohio University in 1956, and starred at middle linebacker for next decade.
Maybe he'll need a little rest this year, but with his old pro's brain, he knows how to save a few steps by now."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968


TOMMY CRUTCHER
Linebacker
No.56
Texas Christian
"This will introduce you to Tommy Crutcher, who looks and plays just as tough as his name sounds. Not that Tommy is entirely a stranger to football fans in general and Giant fans in particular. They've all seen enough of him as a member of the Packer suicide squads in recent seasons, usually because he was the first man to get to the ball carrier and cream him.
As the Packers' No. 4 linebacker, he saw occasional duty backing up Lee Roy Caffey, and veteran observers confess they didn't know when a substitution had been made until they saw Tommy's number - that's how close in talent he's rated to Caffey. Now the Giants have him, the prize in an off-season trade that sent offensive tackle Francis Peay to Green Bay.
A bruising 6-3, 230-pounder, Tommy played his college ball at TCU and has been in the league five years."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968


KEN AVERY
Linebacker
No. 54
Southern Mississippi
"You can spot it real early with some players, and sometimes you can be fooled by what you see. But the Giants believe that Ken Avery is the real thing and that he won't disillusion them about his prospects of developing into an outstanding linebacker.
At an even six feet and 220 pounds, he is not as big as most linebackers, but he is muscular, combative, and eager. Sometimes too eager. Which is why he got fooled a couple of times last year. But the point is he learned.
Though he came to camp unheralded, he won a starting job. He immediately impressed everyone with his drops on pass coverage - vital for a linebacker - and also his strength against the running game. He not only isn't afraid to stick his nose in there, but he comes in there strong enough to bust up the interference line and then has the pursuit to finally get to the ball carrier.
The Giants drafted Ken as a future in 1966. A native New Yorker, he played his college ball at Southern Mississippi."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968