TOMS RIVER – For two hours on a recent Saturday afternoon, Santos Sports was New York Giants Country.
The Ocean County Mall collectibles and memorabilia store presented a dual autograph signing involving legends Lawrence Taylor and Ottis Anderson. They signed autographs and posed for pictures for about 200 fans.
Taylor, a linebacker, and Anderson, a running back, starred on the 1986 Super Bowl XXI and 1990 Super Bowl XXV championship teams. Taylor earned numerous honors, led by his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Anderson was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXV after rushing for 102 yards and one touchdown and catching one pass for seven yards in a 20-19 win over the Buffalo Bills. He helped the Giants set the Super Bowl record for time of possession.
They signed pieces of paper. They signed action and still photos of themselves. They signed one man’s Giants firefighters helmet. They signed piles of jerseys (Taylor wore No. 56. Anderson wore No. 24.) Fans wore Taylor and Anderson jerseys and jerseys of past and present Giants.
“This was L.T.’s fifth visit to the store,” said event spokesman Jack Santos, a former Toms River High School East and Toms River South athlete. “L.T. is a regular client of ours. He’s great, a good guy. He has the best stories. He tells them to the fans – and they are all true. He can write a couple of books…Ottis is a borderline hall of fame. This was his first visit to the store.”
The unofficial winner of the Youngest Fan Award was four-month-old Cameron Leon. Attired in a Giants jersey and Giants baby booties, he was accompanied by his mother, Christina, and grandmother, Maria, both of Toms River.
Taylor and Anderson signed several footballs. One belonged to Julian Palmer, a member of the Toms River Seahawks of the Jersey Shore Pop Warner Football League.
“I loved it,” he said. “Cool players. I liked them. I watched their highlights.”
“Me too, cool to meet both of them,” Palmer’s sister, three-year-old Dasia Marshall, chimed in.
Another happy fan was Nicholas LoRusso of Garwood, whose football was autographed.
“Awesome, great experience,” he said. “My girlfriend, Stephanie Do Santos, got this football as a birthday gift for me. I was born Sept. 30 and she surprised me with it today. I am a long time Giants fan. I played defensive end in high school for Freehold Township. I saw highlights online of L.T. playing. He was aggressive, dominant, a true leader.”
“It’s a good feeling to be remembered,” Anderson said. “A lot of people don’t remember what they did 40 years ago. It feels good that they still remember us. We played for each other. We knew if we stuck together and overcame obstacles we would be successful.
“George Martin, Harry Carson and Phil Simms were our leaders. They guided us to the win (39-20 over the Denver Broncos). All rings represent togetherness … blood, sweat and tears. Both rings are special. One can’t be separated from the other.
“We were a ground and pound type of offense. Joe Morris ran for over 1,500 yards. He guided us to the title through his running.”
Anderson starred for the University of Miami. He was born in West Palm Beach, Fl.
“The second ring fulfilled my dream,” he said. “I was the game’s MVP in the state of Florida. There was excitement. It was very satisfying. It happened 12 years after college. My dream did come true.”
There was a time when Anderson and Taylor were adversaries.
“I played against L.T. for five years when I was with the Cardinals,” Anderson said. “He did things that were not nice. He ran me down from the side when I was on an 80-yard run. I fumbled the ball and they recovered. Anything he wanted to do he could do. That is how he deserves to be called the greatest.”
Anderson, who began his career with the St. Louis Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals), rushed for 10,273 yards and 81 touchdowns as an NFLer. He averaged more than four yards per carry. He caught 376 passes for 3,062 yards and five touchdowns.
“I like it here,” said Anderson, referring to the store. “It’s been good. I would love to come back as a hall of fame member when it happens. I deserve to be in the hall of fame. My credentials speak for themselves. At the time I retired, I was eighth all-time in rushing yards. Seven other guys got in who I was ahead of in rushing. They had less yardage and less touchdowns than me. Get the hall of fame right this year. They know what I mean.”
Taylor, asked who he would like to defend against, said, “Back in the day, I’d like to play against Tom Brady (a legendary quarterback). I would love to see if I could rock his rocks. I am thankful I played against some great quarterbacks in Joe Montana and Ron Jaworski. I am happy to play in the era I was in.”
Taylor said the 1986 team was unified.
“It was a very close team,” he said. “We were ass kickers. In 1985, we made some mistakes. The 1990 ring is probably more special as nobody expected us to do it. In ’86, we had the best team. In ’90, we had guys go down. A lot of people went down. We fought back. We were not supposed to be there and we won it … the second ring.”
Taylor has dealt with off the field issues.
“It’s good to be alive,” he said. “I am happy to be alive. I am not supposed to be alive. Given the life I have lived, I should not be alive. I am happy that things turned out.”
Taylor knocked Washington Redskins (now the Washington Commanders) quarterback Joe Theismann out of the game permanently with a sack Nov. 18, 1985 at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. Taylor hit the former South River and University of Notre Dame player from behind on a flea flicker play. A knee drove into Theismann’s lower back, resulting in a compound fracture of his right tibia and fibula. Taylor immediately waved frantically for medical help after realizing the severity of the break.
Chosen by the Giants second in the first round out of the University of North Carolina in the 1981 NFL Draft, Taylor signed Tar Heels jerseys. He excelled for the Tar Heels from 1977-80. He starred for the Giants from 1981-93. He was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1986.
He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1981, 1982 and 1986. He was honored as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1981. He was an eight-time first-team All-Pro (1981-86, 1988 and 1989).
He was a second-team All-Pro in 1987 and 1990. He led the NFL in sacks in 1986. He was named to the NFL 1980’s All-Decade Team. He was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. He was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. A member of the New York Giants Ring of Honor, his No. 56 jersey was retired. He made 1,088 career tackles, recovered 11 fumbles, picked off nine passes and scored two defensive touchdowns.
(Photo courtesy Tom Naclerio)
Anderson was selected eighth in the first round by the Cardinals in 1979. He played for the Cardinals from 1979-86 and the Giants from 1986-92. A member of the New York Giants Ring of Honor. he was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1979 and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 1989.
He was a first-team All-Pro in 1979 and a second-team All-Pro in 1980. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 1979 and 1980. He was ranked as the 51st greatest New York Giant of all time.
