Haynes was an interesting cornerback because he had great coverage skills and great hands, but hardly ever intercepted any passes. Because he was the best defensive back on the team by a wide margin, nobody ever threw to his side of the field. The first year that Perry Williams started playing right cornerback (he was a marginal cover guy but was a good hitter and was athletic enough to make up for his mediocre coverage abilities), Haynes intercepted six or seven passes and made it to the Pro Bowl.
After Haynes left, the Giants won the Super Bowl in 1986 with Elvis Patterson at left cornerback. He left a couple of years later, and was replaced by Mark Collins, who was almost identical to Haynes. He was a solid, athletic cornerback who could cut down a run to the outside as well as he could cover a wide receiver. Again, he didn't intercept many passes because teams didn't throw at him. If you look at the game-by-game stats of all the top NFC receivers in the late 1980s and early 1990s, you'll find that most of them had their worst games against the Giants. I remember a Giants-49ers game at that time in which Jerry Rice had two catches for something like 17 total yards.
Of who I've watched....Rod Woodson probably is the best overall defensive back . . .
Woodson was definitely a great one. He was a punt and kick returner for a while, too, wasn't he? My all-time favorite was Albert Lewis of the Chiefs. He was the first "big" Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback (6'2" and 210 pounds), and he quietly put together what should have been recognized as a first-ballot Hall of Fame career. He was also a phenomenal special teams player -- he blocked something like 8 or 9 punts during his career.
I remember both Williams and Collins. Collins was very excellent. The G--men were putting some serious Ds on the field during those years and their battles with the 9ers all time classics.
Woodson....He was a punt and kick returner for a while, too, wasn't he?
Sure was, he "returned" well into his ninth year or so and was fearless. He could get beat on the corner here and there, but he more than made up for it with big picks, sacks, and tough tackling. Watched him drive an O-lineman three steps backward and into a QB for a sack once.
Woodson was also an All American high hurdler at Perdue and during his rookie contract holdout went to Europe to run in track meets as a negotiating ploy. Coach Noll was aked about his absence and replied "hey, if the guy wants to run around Europe in his underwear what can I do about it". ;o)
Hey, speaking of DBs...remember Ken Easley?... too bad his career was injury shortened...I loved watching that guy.