Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Retires
Raiders cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie announced his retirement on Tuesday. Cromartie saw zero snaps on Sunday, which may have influenced his decision. 
Earlier this year, the Giants asked DRC to move from cornerback to safety. The veteran took well to the plan, but balked when the team later asked him to take a pay cut. In late August, he hooked on with Jon Gruden‘s Raiders, but as is the case with many of the vets that went to Oakland, his role was smaller than expected.
In 2017, Rodgers-Cromartie appeared in 15 games (six starts) for the Giants, managing 31 tackles, a half-sack, and one pass defensed while grading as the NFL’s No. 58 cornerback, per Pro Football Focus. Still, the signs of aging were there. On 25 targets, DRC allowed 7.2 yards per pass, more than double his 2016 average of 3.5. DRC also made headlines as he butted heads with coach Ben McAdoo and was briefly suspended by the team.
Rodgers-Cromartie entered the league in 2008 as a first-round pick of the Cardinals and has since suited up for the Eagles, Broncos, and Giants. He leaves the game with Pro Bowls to his credit to go along with 30 career interceptions and six TDs.
Chiefs Interested In Janoris Jenkins
Janoris Jenkins is on the Chiefs’ radar, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (on Twitter). Jenkins, who turned 30 this week, has reportedly been on the trade block for the last week as the Giants continue their rebuild.
Jenkins is in the third year of a five-year, $62.5MM deal. The Giants, who are virtually out of the playoff picture in 2018, are probably looking at a slow climb back to the top that would have them in contention in 2020. Given Jenkins’ salary and the draft value that he can fetch in return, it only makes sense for the G-Men to explore deals.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, have one of the league’s most dynamic offenses, but could use some improvement on the other side of the ball. Eric Berry‘s prolonged absence has clearly dented the secondary, and Jenkins would offer some serious help in downfield pass protection. Presently, the Chiefs are using Kendall Fuller, Steven Nelson, and Orlando Scandrick as their top corners.
For what it’s worth, Jenkins currently ranks as Pro Football Focus’ No. 84 ranked cornerback in the NFL, a far cry from his usual position on the list.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/29/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit. All links to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account, unless otherwise specified.
Buffalo Bills
- QB Kyle Allen (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- T Antonio Garcia, T De’Ondre Wesley (link)
New York Giants
- LB Jonathan Anderson, CB De’Vante Bausby, DE Will Clark, QB Connor Cook, WR Marcus Easley, WR Brittan Golden, DT Woodrow Hamilton, RB Akeem Hunt, T Roubbens Joseph, LB Corey Nelson, DT Chris Okoye, WR Francis Owusu, LS Taybor Pepper, T Dan Skipper, LB Aaron Wallace, S Terrell Williams (Twitter links via Balzer and ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan)
Seattle Seahawks
- S Michael Cirino, LB James Onwualu (link)
Tennessee Titans
- FB Dimitri Flowers, FB Jalson Fowler, FB Malcolm Johnson, FB Aaron Ripkowski (Twitter link via Sirius XM Radio’s Adam Caplan)
Washington Redskins
- S Kurtis Drummond, S Kelcie McCray, S Jason Thompson, S J.J. Wilcox (link)
Giants Getting Trade Offers For Landon Collins
The Giants have already shown a willingness to be active in the trade market, shipping out Damon Harrison and Eli Apple for draft picks over the past week. New York has clearly thrown in the towel on 2018, and is focused on building draft capital for the future. It was reported earlier today that they were receiving “decent offers” for Odell Beckham, and now another good young player is apparently garnering offers. 
The Giants have received multiple trade offers for safety Landon Collins, a source told Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. While Collins is still only 24, it’s apparently a very real possibility that the Giants decide to move him, and some league executives “believe they might be willing to move him if they receive a second-day pick (Rounds 2 and 3) in the 2019 NFL Draft”, according to Vacchiano.
Collins is in the final year of his rookie deal, and should be in line for a huge payday in free-agency. It was reported this summer that the team had concerns about how well Collins would fit their new defensive scheme, so it wouldn’t be shocking if they decide they don’t want to hand him a massive deal this offseason. If they’re going to let him walk anyway, it would make sense to trade him if they could get a good pick.
Collins, the 33rd pick of the 2015 draft, was a first-team All-Pro in 2016 and has made the Pro Bowl twice. Through 54 career games, Collins has 389 tackles, eight interceptions, and 32 passes defended.
Manning Could Be Benched After Bye
- Speaking of quarterbacks being benched, Giants coach Pat Shurmur explicitly refused to rule out benching Eli Manning following the team’s bye week. Manning and the Giants offense had yet another rough week in their loss to the Redskins today, and Shurmur for the first time refused to back Manning in his post-game presser. When asked about the quarterback situation Shurmur, like Koetter, deflected and said “I don’t want to go there and I’m not going to tease that”, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. It sounds like Manning could be headed to the bench, and if he does, it would likely be rookie Kyle Lauletta ascending to the starting position in New York.
Giants Getting “Decent Offers” For Odell Beckham
There are several wide receivers who could be dealt in advance of Tuesday’s trade deadline: Pierre Garcon, Demaryius Thomas, and DeSean Jackson are a few of the bigger names that are drawing the interest of various clubs after Amari Cooper was traded to the Cowboys on Monday.
And, given the Giants’ disastrous start to the season and Odell Beckham Jr.‘s dissatisfaction with the team’s direction, plenty of clubs are calling the Giants about the possibility of acquiring the enigmatic superstar. Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv on Twitter) reports that, not only is Big Blue getting offers, those offers are apparently decent ones. The implication is that, if the Giants were serious about trading Beckham, they would find a vibrant market, despite OBJ’s massive contract.
But the contract, as Vacchiano points out, is one of the major obstacles to a potential deal. If New York were to trade Beckham, it would have to carry $16MM in dead money on its cap next year, and it would obviously need to replace its best player. Indeed, while the Giants are clearly not going anywhere this season, they gave Beckham his big-money deal with the intention of keeping him around at least through his prime years, and given that rebuilds in football do not necessarily take an extended period of time, it would obviously be shocking to see OBJ traded in the next couple of days.
Still, it is interesting that rival clubs think there is enough of a chance that New York would be willing to pull the trigger that they are actually making offers and not just doing due diligence with a phone call or two. Even when OBJ isn’t making drama, drama seems to find him.
Giants Only Got Conditional Pick For Harrison
- Damon Harrison was traded from the Giants to the Lions earlier this week, and now we have more details on the trade. It was reported that Harrison was traded for a fifth round pick, but that pick is apparently conditional, according to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (Twitter link). Balzer doesn’t state what the conditions are, but it’s fair to assume they’re related to snaps or games played.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/24/18
Today’s practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: G Sean Harlow
- Released: C J.C. Hassenauer
Denver Broncos
- Signed: QB Garrett Grayson, T Andreas Knappe
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB Joel Bouagnon
- Released: TE Jerome Cunningham
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: QB Phillip Walker
- Released: G Will House
New York Giants
- Signed: S A.J. Howard
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DB Mark Myers
Giants Sign CB Tony Lippett
The Giants signed former Dolphins cornerback Tony Lippett. The veteran took part in the Giants’ practice on Thursday and, depending on how things go, may be an option for the active roster on Sunday against the Redskins. 
Lippett, a former collegiate wideout, was a 13-game starter for the Dolphins in 2016, but lost the entire 2017 season to a torn Achilles. This year, he missed the Dolphins’ final cut.
Lippett takes the place of Eli Apple on the roster, though won’t necessarily take on the same role. B.W. Webb figures to start opposite of Janoris Jenkins while Lippett will probably be one of the first corners off of the bench. In time, Lippett could push his way into the starting lineup, particularly if Jenkins is traded before the Oct. 30 deadline.
The 1-6 Giants have a winnable next three games against the Redskins, 49ers, and Bucs. But, if they don’t win at least two of those three, their playoff hopes will be looking pretty slim.
Giants Promote Corey Coleman
The Giants promoted wide receiver Corey Coleman from the practice squad on Thursday morning. Coleman will take the roster spot left by the trade of defensive tackle Damon Harrison to the Lions. 
In the last three months, Coleman has moved between four different NFL teams. After being traded by the Browns and going through a pair of uneventful stints with the Bills and Patriots, Coleman is itching to prove himself.
The Giants recently lost Cody Latimer to injury, and the club could be without Russell Shepard and Jawill Davis this week. Although he had much time to learn the playbook, Coleman could have a chance to see the field this Sunday when the Giants face the Redskins.
Coleman, the No. 15 overall pick in the 2016 draft, has yet to outperform his modest rookie season. In that year, he had 33 receptions for 413 yards and three touchdowns. In 2017, he had just 23 catches for 305 yards with 2 TDs, and he’s still waiting to make his 2018 debut.