October 21, 2016

Highlighted Year: Ward Cuff, 1938

Wingback/Defensive Back, New York Giants



Age: 26
2nd season in pro football & with Giants
College: Marquette
Height: 6’1”   Weight: 198

Prelude:
Cuff starred in track as well as football in college and was part of the Marquette team that went 7-1 in 1936 before losing to TCU in the first Cotton Bowl. He was chosen by the Giants in the fourth round of the 1937 NFL draft and was primarily a backup in his rookie season, although he had a two-touchdown performance against Brooklyn. He also kicked the first two field goals of his career, the longest from 42 yards.

1938 Season Summary
Appeared in all 11 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking
Field goals – 5 [1, tied with Ralph Kercheval]
Most field goals, game – 2 vs. Pittsburgh 10/3
Field goal attempts – 9 [2, tied with Jack Manders & Clarke Hinkle]
Field goal percentage – 55.6 [1]
PATs – 18 [1]
PAT attempts – 20 [1]
Longest field goal – 23 yards vs. Philadelphia 9/25

Rushing
Attempts – 18
Yards – 38
Yards per attempt – 2.1
TDs – 0

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 8
Yards – 114
Yards per catch – 14.3
TDs – 1 [16, tied with many others]

Scoring
TDs – 2         
Field Goals – 5
PATs – 18
Points – 45 [4]

Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship vs. Green Bay)
Field goals – 1
Field goal attempts – 2
PATs – 2
PAT attempts – 2
Longest field goal – 14 yards

Rushing attempts – 2
Rushing yards – -12
Average gain rushing – -6.0
Rushing TDs – 0

Kickoff returns – 1
Kickoff return yards – 27
Kickoff return TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Awards & Honors:
2nd team All-NFL: INS
Pro All-Star Game

Giants went 8-2-1 to finish first in the NFL Eastern Division. Won NFL Championship over Green Bay Packers (23-17).

Aftermath:
The versatile Cuff played another seven seasons for the Giants and saw action at wingback, fullback, and halfback and typically handled the placekicking. He twice led the NFL in field goals while with New York, with a high of seven in 1939. His best rushing season was in 1943, when he gained 523 yards on 80 carries (6.5 avg.) and his best for pass receiving was in 1941, with 19 catches for 317 yards (16.7 avg.), the same year in which he intercepted four passes for a league-leading 152 yards. Having scored 305 points for the Giants, Cuff finished his career with the Cardinals in 1946 and Green Bay in ’47, where he led the league one last time with seven field goals. Overall, Cuff rushed for 1851 yards on 344 attempts (5.4 avg.) and 7 TDs, caught 106 passes for 1559 yards (14.7 avg.) and 13 touchdowns, intercepted 13 passes, one of which he returned for a score, and averaged 12.1 yards on 37 punt returns and 25.1 yards returning 14 kickoffs. He kicked 43 field goals out of 98 attempts (43.9 %) and was successful on 156 of 162 extra points for a total of 411 points. Cuff was named to three Pro/NFL All-Star Games. His #14 was retired by the Giants (who un-retired it for Y.A. Tittle but was later retired again to honor both players).

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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