1973 New York Giants Receivers Profiles

RICH HOUSTON

Wide Receiver

No. 84

East Texas State

"Rich collaborated with Norm Snead on a 94-yard scoring pass last season. He's a genuine long-bomb threat, has exciting speed, and is a difficult man to tackle."

-1973 Topps No. 391

BOB GRIM

Wide Receiver

No. 27

Oregon

Drafted by the Vikings in 1967, Bob was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1971. He came to the Giants in the trade that sent Fran Tarkenton back to Minnesota. Along with being a starting wide receiver, he also returns punts and kickoffs.

LINZY COLE

Wide Receiver

No. 25

Texas Christian

"Acquired from the Oilers after the start of the 1972 season, Linzy was the Bills' second leading return artist. He has excellent speed, quickness and good hands."

-1973 Topps No. 449

BOB TUCKER

Tight End
No. 38
Bloomsburg
"The top pass catcher in the NFC in 1971, he slipped to only second in 1972, finishing behind Philadelphia's Harold Jackson. Tucker caught 55 passes for 764 yards and an average gain of 13.9 and caught four touchdown passes.
He comes from the coal mining country of Pennsylvania. 'But I was a skinny kid and I wasn't much good until high school.' Bob went to a Texas school but hated the flat, dry country, and ended up back home at Bloomsburg State. He was a first-team Little All-America but was ignored in the draft. Bob played for minor league teams like Pottstown, Pa.
'I play chess games with Ron Johnson and I like to win. If I was a dog catcher, I'd want to catch all the dogs, I'd want to win.'"

-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1973 Edition

"Bob had another outstanding season in 1972 and was named All-Pro. He's fast and strong and can run with the ball after the catch."

-1973 Topps No. 80

GARY BALLMAN 

Tight End

No. 82

Michigan State

"A genius product of the on-the-job training program offered by the Steelers is Gary Ballman, who was promoted from their taxi squad late in 1962 and developed so rapidly as a flanker and kickoff-returner last year that he was the NFL's No. 2 in the latter capacity. In '63, he rushed only eight times for 59 yards (7.4 average) and caught 26 aerials for 492 yards.

Ballman figures to be a permanent starter this fall and could climb higher in the reception statistical column now that he'll carry much of the loaded toted by the departed Buddy Dial."

-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1964

"Starting his third NFL season, Gary Ballman looms as one of the most spectacular stars in pro football. Blueprinted to make the Steeler fans forget Buddy Dial, Ballman proved to be a capable receiver last season with 26 catches for 492 yards and five touchdowns. He's also a sensational kickoff-return runner, going 692 yards in 22 returns, including a 98-yard touchdown dash. Out of Michigan State, he's a sturdy [six-foot-one 200-pounder] of whom the Steelers expect great things."

-Dave Anderson, Pro Football Handbook 1964

"What was Gary's 1963 standing in kickoff returns? No. 2."

-1964 Philadelphia No. 141

"Opposing defenses never gave Gary Ballman a chance to get lonesome last year. As the Steelers' only consistent pass receiver, he was double-teamed nearly every time he took off. Which makes his 47 catches for 935 yards and seven touchdowns all the more amazing. And Gary registered the highest average gain- a whopping 19.9 yards per catch.

The 6-1, 200-pound Michigan State graduate came on fast after moving up from the taxi squad in 1963. He was the league's second-best kickoff-returner that year, and as a pass-catcher, caught 26 for 492 yards."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965

"Back at Michigan State, Gary Ballman got used to the idea of heavy duty, by playing both offense and defense. He therefore didn't mind the extra burden placed on him last year by a crippled Steeler attack, when he added ball-carrying to his other chores of catching passes and running back kicks. He ran the ball 17 times for 46 yards and three touchdowns, and he was his usual superb self as a receiver, grabbing 40 aerials for 859 yards and five touchdowns. One of his scores came on an 87-yarder- the second longest one of the season. He averaged 21.5 yards per catch. Now in his fifth NFL year, Gary is most dangerous on the down-and-in."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966

"Need something to be done? Gary'll do it. He has run back kicks and punts. He's been a running back, scoring three touchdowns running last year. He's also Pittsburgh's leading receiver with 40 catches for 859 yards and five touchdowns, 21.5 yards a catch."

-1966 Philadelphia No. 145

GARY BALLMAN IN ACTION

"Driving down the field in a series of plays to bring them into a scoring position, the Pittsburgh drive ends with a touchdown. Gary Ballman grabs Bill Nelsen's pass to cross the goal line standing up. New York's Lou Slaby and Jim Patton can't stop Gary."

-1966 Philadelphia No. 156

"In obtaining Gary Ballman from the Steelers, the Eagles got an accomplished football player who does much more than simply catch passes. Though receiving is Gary's forte, he is such a dedicated type that he has excelled in runbacks and shown that he can also carry the ball when necessary. 

But in four years with the Steelers, he caught 154 passes for 2,949 yards. In 1966, he made 41 receptions for 663 yards, a 16.2 average and five touchdowns. One of his scores was good for 79 yards. Defenders covering him know Gary's pet move is to go deep down and cut in.

He attended Michigan State, where he played both offense and defense."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967

"Gary spent his first year on the taxi squad but came on with a rush in 1963. In '66, he was second on the team with 41 catches and five touchdowns via the pass. He gained 663 yards through the air. He also returned 20 kicks for 477 yards."

-1967 Philadelphia No. 148

"Another reason the Eagles flew on fluttery wings last season was the inability of Gary Ballman to go at full speed. One of the league's most prolific pass-catchers and runback specialists in his previous five years with the Steelers, Gary nursed pulled hamstring muscles through most of the year. He missed only two games but was subpar in several others. Still, he caught 36 passes for 524 yards and six touchdowns- not bad for a fellow who averaged around 40 a season for three years in a row with nearly 2,500 yards.

Now in his seventh NFL season, the 6-1, 205-pounder runs short and long patterns equally well, and he has the strength to outgrapple defenders for the ball in close quarters. He played his college ball at Michigan State."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968

"In 1967, Gary led the Eagles in pass receptions. Injuries sidelined him for half of last year's campaign, but he was still able to grab 36 passes.

Gary led the NFL with 19.9 yards per catch in 1964."

-1968 Philadelphia No. 58

"The best way to describe Gary Ballman is to say he's a pro's pro. This guy is a football player- all 6-1, 205 pounds of him- a guy who can do it all. He can carry the ball, as he did as a collegian at Michigan State, run back kicks, and catch passes, which is what he does best.

Running at full speed again last year after spending most of 1967 playing with pulled hamstring muscles, Gary caught 30 passes for 341 yards and four touchdowns. He's capable of doing much better, and probably will if he's working with a healthy quarterback.

Gary spent his first five years as a pro with the Steelers, with whom he caught 154 passes for 2,949 yards. His best season was 1964 when he had 47 receptions for 935 yards and seven touchdowns."

-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1969

"An off-season trade in 1967 brought Gary to the City of Brotherly Love in exchange for two players and a top draft pick. A favorite receiver of quarterback Norm Snead, he's been used on kick-off returns.

Gary played in the Hula Bowl in College."

-1969 Topps No. 41

"A very versatile guy is the veteran, who begins his ninth pro season this year. Having already earned reputations as a wide receiver, running back, and kick returner, Gary opened a new phase of his career last season by moving over to tight end when Fred Hill was injured. Tight ends are supposed to big fellows who can block enemy tackles when the occasion warrants. At 205 pounds, Ballman often had to give away 50  pounds or more. But he survived and even flourished, grabbing 31 passes for 492 yards and two touchdowns.

Gary caught an 80-yard touchdown pass- the Eagles' longest of the year- against New Orleans and pulled out a victory over St. Louis with a dramatic 23-yard score.

A Michigan State grad, Brad played five seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers before being traded to the Eagles in 1967. At 30, he is one of a handful of 'old pros' who give the young Eagles a solid backbone of experience."

-Brenda and Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1970

"An outstanding pass receiver equally adept at going deep or catching short passes and turning them into long gainers, Gary's reception was an 80-yarder he turned into a touchdown in 1969. He was instrumental in how the Eagles fared last season and his experience and ability proved to be a great team asset.

Gary joined the Eagles in a trade with Pittsburgh in 1967. In college, he appeared in the Hula Bowl."

-1970 Topps No. 47

"One of the steadiest receivers in the league, Gary Ballman has caught at least 26 passes a season in the last nine years. The Eagles obtained the 31-year-old receiver from Pittsburgh in a 1967 trade. The onetime Michigan State star shifted between tight end and wide receiver last season and wound up with 47 receptions.

The toughest challenge for Gary in 1970 was controlling his weight. He needed the muscle of his pre-season 228 pounds to execute his blocking assignments at tight end but took off 15 pounds to give him added speed for the outside job. Finally settling down at around 216, Gary capably carried out both jobs and came up with a number of clutch receptions."

-Brenda Zanger, Pro Football 1971

"Ballman was the second-best pass catcher for the Eagles in 1970, picking 47 for 601 yards and an average gain of 16.6 yards per catch. His longest was only 26 yards since he tends to run short hooking patterns to the inside or the outside. He caught three touchdown passes. Ballman ranked 10th in the NFC in rushing. He also functions as a tight end although he is not really big enough for the position.

1970 was his second-best year as a pro, his first having been 1964 when he caught 47 passes for 935 yards for Pittsburgh. Born in Detroit, he was All-Big Ten at Michigan State. Ballman was drafted eighth by the Steelers in 1962, where he was a running back used mostly on swing pass patterns. He came to the Eagles in 1967 in a trade for Earl Gros and Bruce Van Dyke.

He's married and is a stockbroker in the off-season."

-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1971 Edition)