Sam Huff Still Undecided about NFL Future

May 14, 1964 - A month has gone by since Sam Huff was traded to the Washington Redskins by the New York Giants. In two months, the Redskins open their training camp at Carlisle, Pa., but Huff still has not decided whether he will be among those present.

“Pro football has to be a two-way street,” said Sam today. “The player deserves some protection. The club can’t expect the player to give everything he’s got year after year without giving him some assurance in return.”

So, on the way to Washington, Huff wants assurances from the Redskins that he will neither be traded nor cut, improbable as the latter might seem. Should Sam refuse to play, the trade stands and Washington is stuck.

Sam is dedicated, and he believes that quality represents what he calls “the Giant spirit.” He said: “In my years with the Giants, we didn’t have any better players than the other contenders. We were no super team. We won again and again because of the Giant spirit. We had more desire and we put out more than the others.”

Huff never missed a game in eight years and often played hurt. “So did a lot of the others,” he said.

Will the Giant spirit continue without the likes of Huff, Dick Modzelewski, and Andy Robustelli in the lineup?

“Now, I have to believe everybody on the team, except Y.A. Tittle, is worried about being traded,” said Huff. “That can’t help.”

Huff believes that Giant coach Allie Sherman broke a policy when he sent Sam to the Redskins. In the past, the Giants seldom discarded players of the first rank. Tuffy Leemans, Mel Hein, Charley Conerly, and Kyle Rote retired in New York. Sam mistakenly thought he would receive the same treatment.

Huff goes along with the belief that the Giant coach’s great success — three Eastern championships in three years — has brough him tremendous power and influence over management with regard to players.

“The Maras,” said Sam, “have given him enough rope to hang himself.”

The Redskins open the Giant home season on Friday night, Sept. 25. At middle linebacker for Washington will be Bob Pellegrini or Sam Huff.

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