Aug. 25, 1964 - The New York Giants, smarting after three straight exhibition losses, completed two deals today involving No. 1 draft pick Joe Don Looney (pictured) and star fullback Phil King, and they also dropped Hugh McElhenny and Glynn Griffing.
Looney, whom the Giants had tabbed as the strong running back they desperately needed, was sent to the Baltimore Colts along with tackle Lou Kirouac for end R.C. Owens and defensive back Andy Nelson. Both Owens and Nelson are seven-year veterans in the NFL, and each suffered bad injuries last season.
Looney, 230 pounds of speedy, eccentric ball carrier, was injured in the All-Star game and never played a second for the Giants, even in practice.
Most rookies are overeager, but Looney was the opposite — he seemed totally disinterested.
“Physically, he has everything to become a great player,” said Giant coach Allie Sherman. “But we had Thurlow, Wheelwright, and Childs, plus the veterans, Joe Morrison, Alex Webster, and Dick James, six running backs, all we can carry. We had a chance to make a trade, to get something important for Looney, and so we took it.”
King, 28 and a seven-year veteran, was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a future draft choice.
McElhenney, a 35-year-old halfback, was one of the greatest runners in league history with San Francisco before moving on to New York to rejoin his one-time teammate with the 49ers, Y.A. Tittle. Griffing was the Giants’ top draft pick last year and was the No. 1 substitute for Tittle in 1963.
Cut along with McElhenney and Griffing as the Giants reduced their roster to the 45-man limit were second-year-man Louis Guy, a defensive back, and rookies Millard Fleming, Tom Costello, Frank Lasky, and Bill Pashe.
In addition, the Giants announced that they have reactivated all-pro defensive end Andy Robustelli. Robustelli retired as an active player at the conclusion of the 1963 season but has agreed to get back into uniform once again and try to plug some of the holes in the defense.
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