Found this video produced about John Tuggle and his selection as the last player in the 1983 draft, his subsequent rise with the NY Giants and his fight with cancer. Parcells talking about John and the influence JT had on him. Not often do you see Parcells choke-up.

Any Old Blue who follows Cal football must watch this video!

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9179015/the-forgotten-player-bill-parcells-first-draft-giants-star-latest-30-30-documentary-series

I think this is what is known as a "Booth"

I know at the time of his death there was a concern of an environmental cause of his cancer because of the fact that some of his teammates had cancer as well. I have not researched any follow up to that other than the 1989 and 1991 studies linked under the NY Times story about John:

"Tuggle was the third active Giant to be diagnosed with cancer in recent years. Doug Kotar, a running back from 1974 until 1982, died of an inoperable brain tumor in 1983. Dan Lloyd, a linebacker, was found to have lymphocytic lymphoma. He retired in 1980 and is now Al Cementina's assistant at Independence High in San Jose." [N.Y. Times 1986]

http://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/14/sports/tuggle-s-fight-against-time.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/15/nyregion/athletes-cancers-a-coincidence-study-of-meadowlands-site-finds.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1769360

I remember the situation well. Some thought that the problem might be with some of the chemicals used in the formation of the artificial turf at Giants Stadium, or maybe the stadium had been built on top ground that had some sort of contamination. I don't know if the situation was ever resolved. But I do know that John was a tough son of a gun. He ran hard, played with respect for the game, and I don't recall him ever bringing attention to himself while on the field. He certainly wasn't flashy, nor was he flamboyant. He was the kind of player you WANT to cheer for, and want on your team if you're a player. He made the play, got up, lined up and did it again and again and again. Just a hard nosed, tough, blue collar player. I'm glad to see some attention given to this guy. He died way too young, but I sure do remember him, and I remember respecting him as I watched him. A great Bear!

Jeezo! I didn't know he died!
Thanks a f-cking lot!

And I didn't know the 38 on the Giants helmet was for him.

I can still quite clearly hear, "Tuggle the ball carrier" over the stadium speakers time and again.

Man, that was sad...

Thanks for posting Millbear, quite a poignant story.

There was an alternate theory involving toxics leaking from Jimmy Hoffa's body buried in the end zone.