EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – New York Giants wide receiver Kenny Golladay not quite the same as coach Brian Daboll’s decision to let him play for just two ticks on Sunday 19-16 wins via Carolina Panthers.
“Of course I don’t really agree with that. Or like it,” Golladay, who spoke to the media for the first time since the game, said Wednesday. “But I can only control what I can control, which is going to work every day.”
Golladay, Giants’ critically acclaimed free agency acquisition in 2021, didn’t see this happen. He said people in the organization have told him he is a professional and does things the right way.
It makes all this rather confusing for Golladay.
“I should have played despite,” he said. “That is a fact.”
Golladay, 28, was reportedly the Giants’ number 1 payee when he was signed by the previous regime last season. He signed a four-year, $72 million deal and is being paid $18 million this season.
But Golladay had a rough first year with the team where he was hampered by injury and failed to score a single goal. He had a procedure in place to keep him out this spring.
The signs were really on the wall this summer when – despite being constantly on the pitch – Golladay looked damaged by a string of injuries. He’s surprisingly one of the few veterans to play in the pre-season finals, and he caught two 22-yard passes in 42 seconds (the most of any Giants wide receiver) in battle. won last season’s opening Tennessee Titans.
Daboll said he told Golladay in the middle of last week that he would come along David Sills DRAW outsmart him against the Panthers. Sills entered the competition with two catches in a 17-yard career. He is making $825,000 this season.
Golladay has 222 3,611 yard touches and 21 touchdowns in his career. He leads all recipients in 2019 with 11 points received. But there’s no reason to think he’s lost a step. Golladay had two touchdowns and received less than 900 yards in more than two seasons since.
The veteran receiver was asked about requesting a change of scenery after being benched for most of Sunday’s game.
“We’ll see how it goes. Yes, we’ll see how it goes,” Golladay said. “I’m here to play. I’m pretty sure they’re paying me to play as well. I guess they want to see more or get whatever is on their side. I just keep doing what I have to do. in time to come every day.”
It seems unlikely that Golladay could be moved at this point, in part because of his lack of production and contracts. He still owes $11.6 million in base salary for the rest of this season and another $4.5 million next year.
It’s not a problem to keep him here for now. Daboll and several Giants players told ESPN he handled it like a pro.
“That’s what it is. It’s a business,” Golladay said. “I’m not here to be friends with the coaches. They’re just colleagues with me.”
Daboll has been consistent in saying that the wide reception position is an open competition, and he means business. Richie James led the Giants with 10 catches and 110 yards received.
James is a post-season acquisition that many believe has been on the bubble list. Sills has found his way into the team.
Daboll has used the same line about competition from the very beginning. He took a similar stance as Golladay was one of the few veterans to play in the third and final game of pre-season. It was also his reasoning behind last year’s first pick, Kadarius Toneyplayed only seven times in the opener and Golladay barely got on the field against the Panthers.
“It’s a constant competition at the receiver. Since when did I say that? I’m not an idiot, I said it from the middle of the camp, right?” Daboll said on Sunday. “It doesn’t change. It will be a constant competition.”
He added on Monday: “Again, whether it’s the highest paid player, lowest paid player, highest draft picker, unbuilt free agent – we’re going to go out there and let people compete. One week doesn’t necessarily mean this is what’s going to happen next week. I think everyone understands what we’re trying to do as one. organization about continuing to grow better, compete for positions, work as hard as you can.”
Daboll doesn’t play favorites based on salary or draft status, and that caught his team’s attention.
“It’s rare, but the Coach always tells us he doesn’t care where you’ve been drafted in round one, round two, undrafted. He talks about what he says.” , widely receptive person Sterling Shepard speak.
Shepard has played the most snaps (102) of any Giants wide receiver so far this season. He is about to get rid of a torn Achilles last season. Sills is second with 91.
If Golladay is to have a role this season, it will have to be earned rather than awarded based on his past achievements. This new mode is unrelated to Golladay, who was the Lions’ third pick in 2017.
Golladay is upbeat about how Wednesday’s training session goes. He said he believes his role this week might be a little different.
Giants (2-0) may need him more on Monday night against Dallas Cowboys. Toney did not attend Wednesday’s training session as a hamstring injury continued to plague him.
