1979 Profile: Dave Jennings

"Keeps a diary (in a Yale University Spiral Notebook) 'so I can look at it years from now and recall little things.' In that diary is how Jennings was once told that Rosey Grier was once benched and spent the entire game eating peanuts, which he had hidden in his thigh pads. Also, Jennings has recorded details of his first pro season when Houston cut him before he caught on with the Giants.

Born June 8, 1952, in New York City, he's a versatile athlete who defeated the likes of Tony Dorsett and Lynn Swann in the Superstars competition. Jennings is a vital cog in the Giants' limited-offense format."

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)

"Dave enjoyed his finest pro campaign in 1978. He was the second leading punter in the NFC with a 42.1 average, the highest of his career, and saw action in the Pro Bowl Game in January.

Dave is a third cousin of Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk."

-1979 Topps No. 25

New York Giant punter Dave Jennings has a fantasy: "I always have a dream where I score the winning touchdown in the final two seconds. It's a one-handed catch, naturally. I get knocked around pretty hard, but somehow, I manage to keep my balance. And, as time runs out, I cross the goal line."

-From News, Quotes & Comments  (Football Digest, January 1980)

1979 Profile: Gary Jeter

Defensive Tackle

No. 70 

USC

"Surly most of his rookie season because of little playing time, Jeter started most of last year after Troy Archer broke a bone in his foot. Improving all the time, he certainly has no problem with confidence, gladly enumerating his own talents to anyone who will listen. 'Imagine,' he once said, 'John Riggins trying to outrun me.' Jeter says his ankles must be taped because they are 'real small; I guess that's why I can run so fast.'

He was born January 24, 1955, in Weirton, West Virginia, and grew up in Cleveland. An All-American at USC, he always has been the big kid on the block, having played at 275 in a high school all-star game."

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)

"Whenever the Jets play the Giants, there's always a verbal war between the fans of both teams. However, in this year's 14-6 preseason Jet victory, there was no bigger battle than the one between Jet offensive tackle Chris Ward and Giant defensive end Gary Jeter. 'I think we had a little Ali-Frazier situation out there,' Jeter says. 'He has a lot of pride,' says Jeter, who forced Ward into five holding penalties. 'He went to Ohio State, I went to Southern Cal; there's a lot of animosity there. But you know me, I don't intimidate. I'm ready to leave the bad feelings on the field. I wouldn't call him an enemy, but I wouldn't invite him to dinner, either."

-from News, Quotes & Comments, Football Digest (December 1979)

1979 Profile: Ray Rhodes

"A starting wide receiver for two seasons, he was switched to cornerback partly because the Giants found bigger and faster wide receivers, but mostly because they were desperate on defense. 

Rhodes was considered the most dependable secondary man the Giants last year, except he spent a lot of time nursing injuries. A smash to one shoulder caused the ribs on the opposite side of his chest to pop away from the ligaments. 'It hurt to cough, laugh, breathe,' he says. Sometimes, it hurt to watch him try to play anyway.

Rhodes was born October 20, 1950, in Mexia, Texas." 

-John Jeansonne, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)

"A versatile player for the Giants, Ray led the Giants in punt returns as a rookie in 1974. He had a 40-yard interception return against the Redskins in 1977. helping to clinch a 17-6 victory.

Ray was a college teammate of the Cowboys' Drew Pearson."

-1979 Topps No. 412