Giants Brass On Hand For Herbert
- Top brass from both the Giants and Dolphins are at the Oregon-Utah game today to scout quarterback Justin Herbert, according to Albert Breer of SI.com (Twitter link). Eli Manning and Ryan Tannehill both have uncertain futures with their respective teams, so it makes sense why they’d be taking a look. Herbert is widely considered the best quarterback prospect who’s draft eligible, but is reportedly considered unlikely to enter the draft after this year.
Giants Cut OL Patrick Omameh
The Giants have cut bait with one of their offseason signings. Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports that New York has released offensive lineman Patrick Omameh. The team has promoted receiver/returner Quadree Henderson from the practice squad to take the open roster spot.
After having spent the previous two seasons with the Jaguars, Omameh inked a three-year, $15MM contract with the Giants during the offseason. The 28-year-old proceeded to start six of his seven games this season, but he’s disappointed during his stints in the lineup. Pro Football Focus ranks the Michigan product 61st out of 75 eligible guards. Today’s move will leave the Giants with $3.5 million in dead money on next year’s cap.
Omameh’s roster spot was clearly in jeopardy, especially after he was benched in favor of veteran John Greco. The team also recently brought in former Rams guard Jamon Brown, and he’s expected to slide into the starting lineup for Monday’s game against the 49ers. The Giants will presumably roll with Brian Mihalik and Evan Brown as their two reserve linemen.
Henderson, an undrafted rookie out of Pittsburgh, spent the entire preseason with the Steelers. He had a brief stint with the Giants earlier this season, returning five kicks (for 112 yards) and six punts (for 47 yards) in two games.
Giants S Landon Collins Hasn’t Discussed Extension
The Giants have yet to engage in extension negotiations with pending free agent safety Landon Collins, as he explained to Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com. Collins admitted to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY that he’s not sure the Giants even want to re-sign him after he was dangled in trade talks last week.
“It surprised the hell out of me,” Collins said of being mentioned in trade rumors. “It was a big eye-opener. If they’re rebuilding, they can rebuild without me. And I’m so young still, but they could still try to find younger and put the money elsewhere, into whatever they need to put it into to rebuild their team.”
New York dealt both defensive tackle Damon Harrison and cornerback Eli Apple prior to last week’s trade deadline, but ultimately held onto Collins despite reported interest from multiple clubs. The Giants were looking for a second-round pick in exchange for the 24-year-old defensive back, and while the Chiefs, Packers, and 49ers all inquired on Collins’ availability, none were apparently willing to meet Big Blue’s asking price.
Although they haven’t talked about a new contract for Collins, the Giants still seemingly have every intention on keeping him in their 2019 plans. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported earlier this week that New York will deploy the franchise tag on Collins next spring if it fails to ink him to a long-term agreement. Collins, who will almost surely aim to top Eric Berry‘s $13MM annual average (the highest among safeties) in 2019, could be retained via the franchise tag at a one-year cost of ~$12MM, but he won’t be pleased if New York does opt to use that tender, as he told Vacchiano.
“Honestly I don’t want it,” Collins said of the tag. “I know what type of player I am. I’m going to bring forth hard-work, talent, play-making abilities to the game each and every week. Why would I want to play under a one-year deal? If something happens I’m not guaranteed. And even though I’m guaranteed that for a year, I’m still not guaranteed.”
If the Giants reverse course and don’t use the franchise tag on Collins (and don’t come together on an extension), he’d be entering a free agent market that includes a stellar crop of available safeties. The safety market, of course, was incredibly stagnant this past offseason, and Collins would be hitting free agent alongside options such as Earl Thomas, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Lamarcus Joyner, Adrian Amos, and the group of safeties that were forced to ink one-year deals in 2018 (Tre Boston, Eric Reid, Kenny Vaccaro, George Iloka, and Tyrann Mathieu).
Collins, a second-round pick in the 2015 draft, has been a full-time starter for the Giants since entering the league. A two-time Pro Bowler, Collins has 62 tackles, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble this season while grading as the NFL’s 13th-best safety, per Pro Football Focus.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/8/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Xavier Coleman, WR Cam Phillips
- Released: WR Hunter Sharp
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: RB Roc Thomas
- Released: G Landon Turner
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Cole Croston
- Released: RB David Jones
New York Giants
- Released: RB Jhurell Pressley
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Tarvarus McFadden
Tony Gonzalez Sought Giants Trade
- An interesting what-if from a past trade deadline emerged recently. The Chiefs nearly traded Tony Gonzalez in 2008, months before he was actually dealt. Both the Eagles and Packers agreed to send a third-round pick to the Chiefs, and Jay Glazer of The Athletic (subscription required) notes it was going to be up to the then-32-year-old tight end to decide which team he preferred. (Gonzalez, per Glazer, initially wanted a trade to the Giants, but GM Jerry Reese refused to give up a third for the future Hall of Famer.) Then-Chiefs president Carl Peterson, though, changed the terms of the deal. Peterson, fired in December of 2008, asked for a second-rounder minutes before the ’08 deadline, Glazer adds, scuttling a potential Gonzalez trip to either an Eagles team that ended up in the NFC title game or Mike McCarthy‘s Packers — then in their first year of the Aaron Rodgers era. A livid Gonzalez then told Glazer he wanted to retire. However, he returned to a Chiefs team that finished 2-14 before new decision-maker Scott Pioli traded him to the Falcons the following year.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/7/18
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Montay Crockett
- Released: OL Kyle Friend
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Arrion Springs
- Released: OL Jake Eldrenkamp
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Andy Jones
- Released: TE Hakeem Valles
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DE Anthony Lanier, LB Kyle Wilson
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Josh Ferguson
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Quadree Henderson
New York Jets
- Signed: RB De’Angelo Henderson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Emmanuel Ellerbee
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/6/18
Today’s minor moves:
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from physically unable to perform list: LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
- Waived: LB Trevon Young
New York Giants
- Waived: WR Quadree Henderson
New England Patriots
- Waived: OL Cole Croston, DE Geneo Grissom
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT T.Y. McGill
- Waived: WR DeAndre Carter
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Kalan Reed
- Waived: LB Emmanuel Ellerbee
Giants Won’t Commit To Starting Eli Manning
Eli Manning will get the start this week against the 49ers, but the Giants aren’t making any guarantees beyond Monday night. When asked during a Tuesday morning press conference, head coach Pat Shurmur declined to commit to Manning as the starter for the rest of the year. 
[RELATED: Giants To Activate R.J. McIntosh]
Giants fans revolted last season when the club briefly gave Manning the hook in favor of backup Geno Smith. Their reserve options aren’t much better this time around, but it seems that public sentiment has shifted in the midst of another lost season. If Manning is yanked, fourth-round rookie Kyle Lauletta or journeyman Alex Tanney could get an opportunity to audition.
Of course, Lauletta threw a wrench into any potential succession plans late last month when he was arrested for disobeying the directions of police officers and nearly struck cops with his car. The Giants say they will not suspend Lauletta for the incident, though the rookie will face “internal consequences.”
Manning, a two-time Super Bowl champion, has done little to inspire confidence this season. His 68.3% completion rate is impressive upon first glance, but he has struggled with the deep ball and has thrown six interceptions against just eight touchdowns.
Giants To Activate RJ McIntosh
The Giants are activating defensive end R.J. McIntosh from the non-football injury list, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Giants will have to drop someone from the roster to welcome McIntosh back, but he’ll provide front seven help for a team that can certainly use some. 
When McIntosh was placed on the NFI list in early September, the Giants had playoff aspirations. But, in November, the Giants aren’t playing for much. The G-Men are 1-7 after losing to the rival Redskins in Week 8 and even running the table would not guarantee them a place in the postseason.
McIntosh, a Miami product, was a fifth-round pick of the Giants in the spring, but was unable to partake in practice for much of the offseason. The exact nature of his medical issue is unclear, but it is believed that it is related to an thyroid problem. Whatever the issue was, it appears to be under control.
As a junior at Miami, McIntosh tallied 52 total tackles, including 12.5 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks. He’s unlikely to see significant playing time right away, but he’ll have an opportunity to play his way onto the 2019 team in the second half of this season.
Giants Likely To Franchise S Landon Collins
The Giants are likely to use the franchise tag on safety Landon Collins if the two sides don’t work out an extension, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
Collins was available prior to last Tuesday’s trade deadline, but the asking price was high, as the Giants were reportedly seeking a second-round pick in exchange for the All-Pro defensive back. Despite that price tag, New York did receive interest in Collins, and Schefter reports the Packers, Chiefs, and 49ers all made inquiries.
Kansas City would have made sense as a destination for Collins, as the Chiefs nearly dealt for fellow safety Earl Thomas before he went down with a season-ending injury. Green Bay, of course, traded its own safety in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, but is still squarely in contention and in need of secondary help. The 49ers aren’t going to make the postseason, but they could have acquired Collins with the intention of using their exclusive negotiating window to hammer out a long-term deal.
As Schefter notes, all three of those clubs would presumably have interest in Collins if he hits the open market, but it doesn’t sound as though the Giants will allow that to happen. Given his age (Collins will be 25 years old when free agency opens) and pedigree, Collins will surely target a $10-12MM annual salary on his next contract. The 2019 franchise tag for safeties will be worth roughly that same amount, but wouldn’t come with the long-term risk of an extension.
Collins, a second-round pick in the 2015 draft, has been a full-time starter for the Giants since entering the league. A two-time Pro Bowler, Collins has 62 tackles, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble this season while grading as the NFL’s 13th-best safety, per Pro Football Focus.