Age: 26
4th
season in pro football, 1st with Giants
College: Purdue
Height: 6’2” Weight: 198
Prelude:
The versatile
Barnes played halfback and end on offense in college as well as cornerback on
defense. He was chosen by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 1958 NFL
draft and intercepted four passes as a rookie, one of which he returned for a
touchdown. Fast and intelligent, Barnes had another five interceptions in ’59
and was named to the Pro Bowl. In a three-team trade following the 1960 season,
the Bears traded him to the Rams to obtain QB Bill Wade and LA in turn sent him
to the Giants for CB Lindon Crow, who Barnes replaced in the starting lineup.
1961 Season Summary
Appeared in all
14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 7 [5, tied with four others]
Most
interceptions, game – 2 at Pittsburgh 9/24, at Dallas 10/15
Int. return
yards – 195 [1]
Most int.
return yards, game – 102 (on 2 int.) at Dallas 10/15
Int. TDs – 2
[1, tied with Jerry Norton, Dale Hackbart & Bill Stacy]
Fumble
recoveries – 1
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 2
Yards – 74
Average gain
– 37.0
TDs – 1
Scoring
TDs – 3
Points – 18
Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship at Green Bay)
Interceptions
– 0
TDs – 0
Awards &
Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, UPI, Sporting News, NY Daily News
Pro Bowl
Giants went 10-3-1
to finish first in the NFL Eastern Conference while leading the league in
interceptions (33), turnovers (54), and fewest points allowed (220). Lost NFL
Championship to Green Bay Packers (37-0).
Aftermath:
Barnes went
to the Pro Bowl following each of the next three seasons and he received
second-team All-NFL honors after intercepting six passes in 1962. He made up
half of an outstanding cornerback tandem with Dick Lynch, but with the Giants
dropping to the bottom of the standings in ’64 and looking to rebuild, Barnes
was traded to Cleveland in 1965 at age 30. He spent seven seasons with the
Browns and was chosen to one last Pro Bowl in 1968. Overall, over the course of
14 years, Barnes intercepted 45 passes, seven of which he returned for
touchdowns. Of those totals, 18 interceptions and three TDs came with the
Giants. He received at least some first-team All-NFL recognition five times and
was named to six Pro Bowls, achieving that honor with all three teams for which
he played.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
