1977 Profile: Ray Rhodes

Wide Receiver-Cornerback
No. 82
Tulsa
"Rhodes was the 10th round draft pick of the Giants and proved to be a valuable utility man with versatility. The swift youngster was a reserve wide receiver, catching nine passes for 138 yards and a 15.3 average, and also led the club in punt returns with 10 for 124 yards, including a 40-yarder which set up a touchdown against Kansas City. Ray also had a kickoff return for 27 yards and blocked a punt against the Eagles on special team duty in 1975.
That year, Ray won a starting job at wide receiver in competition against vets Bob Grim and Don Herrmann and proved to be as dangerous as any wide receiver in the division. All told, he had 26 catches for 537 yards, and his 20.7 yards-per-catch average was the best in the entire NFL. His six touchdown catches led the Giants in that department.
Ray specializes in circus catches, making any number of near-impossible receptions, and he also becomes a threat after he catches the ball, with wicked moves and good speed and running ability.
Last season, playing 13 games, Ray suffered minor injuries which hampered him and ended the year with 16 catches for 305 yards and a touchdown, a 63-yarder against the Redskins in the season opener.
He began his collegiate career at TCU as a running back, showing 786 yards on 176 carries for a 4.9 average, then transferred to Tulsa where he was a wide receiver and a teammate of Drew Pearson of the Cowboys. Rhodes had 43 catches in two seasons for five touchdowns and averaged 26.1 on kickoff returns. He also earned two letters in track.
Raymond Rhodes was born in Mexia, Texas and played football, basketball and ran track at Mexia High School. He now lives in Dallas."

-1977 New York Giants Media Guide

1977 Profile: Clyde Powers

Strong Safety
No. 29
Oklahoma
"The No. 5 draft choice of the Giants in 1974, Powers won himself a spot on the club with fine work during the preseason. He played in all 14 regular season games as a strong safety and special team man and showed versatility and potential. Clyde started at strong safety in seven games and proved to be a fine hitter.
In 1975, he moved into the starting job at strong safety and had himself a big season. Clyde was among the league leaders in tackles, covered extremely well and had three interceptions, including a big one in the win over Buffalo on Monday Night. Last year, he again came up with a solid season's work, playing all 14 games, getting a pass interception and leading the secondary with 108 tackles.
A three-year letterman at Oklahoma, Powers was an All-Big Eight selection in his senior year and was picked to play in both the Senior Bowl and the Blue-Grey postseason games. He had eight interceptions in his collegiate career, including two touchdown returns against Kansas and Clemson.
Clyde Powers was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi. He grew up in Lawton, Oklahoma, where his father was stationed in the Army, and was a three-sport standout at Lawton High School. He lists fishing and bowling as his favorite hobbies."

-1977 New York Giants Media Guide

1977 Profile: Tom Mullen

Offensive Tackle
No. 73
Southwest Missouri State
"The No. 2 draft choice of the Giants in 1974 but not as heralded an arrival as John Hicks, Mullen nonetheless proved to be a stellar addition to the club. Like Hicks, he stepped right into the starting lineup, at left guard, and performed with distinction. Mullen was also named to the All-NFL Rookie team by UPI, Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writer's Association, giving the Giants both guard positions on those rookie teams.
Nicknamed 'Moon' for obvious reasons, Mullen proved to be an outstanding pass blocker, perhaps as fine a pass blocker one year removed from college as the Giants have ever had. Like Hicks, he has the potential to become an All-Pro at his position.
He continued his top-flight work in 1975 at both left guard and left tackle but was hampered by a shoulder injury and missed several games. When he was healthy, he was a bulwark. During the off-season Tom underwent successful surgery on his bothersome shoulder problem, then suffered a bicep rupture ... but came back last year to play strongly at left tackle throughout the year until he went down with a knee injury in the 12th game, underwent surgery and missed the final two contests after playing the first 12.
Tom earned four letters at Southwest Missouri State as a tackle, and his honors included All-Conference twice, honorable mention All-American twice and team MVP and captain in his senior campaign.
Thomas Patrick Mullen was born in St. Louis and played his high school sports at Vianney High School in Kirkwood, Missouri. Moon lists swimming and water skiing as his favorite hobbies, as well as golf and tennis."

-1977 New York Giants Media Guide

R.I.P. Ron Johnson

Ron was the first African-American captain of the Michigan football team.

R.I.P. Lindon Crow

A Pro Bowl selection as a defensive back for the Eastern Conference champions of 1958 and 1959.

1977 Profile: Ron Mikolajczyk

Offensive Tackle
No. 62
Tampa
"The Giants obtained Mikolajczyk from the Oakland Raiders for a 7th round draft choice prior to the regular season. The big man moved right in as a starter at guard in the season opener against Washington and continued as a starter until sidelined by minor injuries. Later he was switched to tackle, which would appear to be his best position, appearing in a total of nine games during the season.
Originally drafted No. 5 by Oakland in 1973, Ron had played with Toronto in the CFL in 1972 after dropping out of Tampa. Following his release by the Raiders, he was with Memphis of the WFL for two seasons before returning to the Raiders in 1976. Also a professional wrestler, Mikolajczyk has been on the pro tour for the past couple of years and had a victory in Madison Square Garden by a pin during the past off-season.
He was a two-way tackle for two years at the University of Tampa, showing sufficient potential for him to drop out before his senior season to play in the Canadian Football League.
Ronald Mikolajczyk was born in Passaic, New Jersey and starred at Passaic High School as a teammate of Jack Tatum, now with the Oakland Raiders. Ron resides in Tampa during the off-season."

-1977 New York Giants Media Guide

R.I.P. Dick Modzelewski

Along with Robustelli, Grier and Katcavage, part of one of the greatest defensive lines in the history of pro football.