Michael Bowie Has Charges Dropped
Charges against former Giants offensive lineman Michael Bowie have been dropped, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. The Giants did not rule out an eventual reunion with Bowie, so it’s possible that they will circle back to him to help bolster the offensive line. 
The Giants cut Bowie in August when the accusations against him came to light. Bowie was involved in an argument with his girlfriend in Oklahoma that allegedly turned physical. Police said Bowie to have grabbed his girlfriend by the neck and threw her to the ground. He also was said to have broken two televisions and punched a hole in a wall in the process. The lineman was facing charges of domestic assault and battery plus two counts of malicious injury or destruction of property, but he’s now in the clear from a legal perspective.
The NFL could still come down on Bowie with a suspension, but the investigative process tends to take a while, so he should be able to play right away if signed by a team.
The Giants are set to meet with Branden Albert this week, so they’re definitely on the lookout for some O-Line help.
Giants Suspend Rodgers-Cromartie
The Giants have suspended cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, coach Ben McAdoo announced. McAdoo declined to go into specifics when addressing reporters on Wednesday.
“DRC came in yesterday, we had a conversation that was personal…He came in today and decided to leave. We will suspend him,” McAdoo said before brushing off follow-up questions.
Safety Landon Collins indicated that tensions flared between DRC and McAdoo on the sidelines on Sunday (Twitter link via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com). He even termed the incident as an “altercation.”
The suspension is probably of the indefinite variety. At minimum, DRC probably won’t be in uniform for Sunday’s game against the Broncos. We’ll have to wait and find out whether the Giants will bring him back for games against the Seahawks (Oct. 22), Rams (Nov. 5) and beyond.
Rodgers-Cromartie came to the Giants on a five-year, $35MM free agent deal prior to the 2014 season. He has been among the league’s better corners since coming aboard and earned a Pro Bowl nod for his work in 2015. After missing only two games in a three-year span, he could miss significant time as tensions bubble in New Jersey.
The Rodgers-Cromartie suspension is just the latest setback in what has been a bizarre season for the Giants. The G-Men are 0-5 and there is little hope for a turnaround with their top two receivers out for the year and their best cornerback at odds with the organization.
The Giants have struggled as a whole, but Cromartie has been solid through five games. DRC ranks as Pro Football Focus’ No. 30 corner in the NFL this season with a quality 80.3 overall score. That’s down from his usual work (85.7 average over previous four seasons, including career-high 89.9 in ’16), but still casts him as starting caliber.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/10/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: C Derrick Nelson, DT Kapron Lewis-Moore
- Released: TE Ryan Malleck, S Ronald Martin
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Ryan O’Malley, C Adam Redmond
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Matt Lengel
- Released: TE J.P. Holtz
New England Patriots
- Signed: G Cole Toner
- Released: QB Taylor Heinicke, G Jason King
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Woodrow Hamilton, LB Shayne Skov
- Released: CB Bradley Sylve
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Ethan Cooper, WR Kalif Raymond
- Released: OL Anthony Fabiano
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Jahad Thomas
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: LB Deontae Skinner
- Released: LB Boseko Lokombo
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DE Alex McCalister
- Released: WR Rashard Davis
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: DE Noble Nwachukwu
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DE Larry Webster
- Released: FB Austin Johnson
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/10/17
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LS Justin Drescher
- Placed on injured reserve: LS Aaron Brewer
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted to active roster: DT Taniela Tupou
Cleveland Browns
- Released from IR: T Matt McCants
Houston Texans
- Claimed off waivers: CB Marcus Williams
- Released: CB Johnthan Banks, T Jah Reid
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released from IR: CB Josh Johnson
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: LB Gabe Martin
New York Giants
- Promoted to active roster: WR Ed Eagan
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: CB Demetrius McCray
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: CB Asa Jackson
Giants To Meet With Branden Albert
The Giants will meet with offensive tackle Branden Albert later this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Albert worked out for the Seahawks on Monday, but he left Seattle without a deal. 
Albert was upset about his contract this summer and unsure about whether he wanted to play at all in 2017. It was said that he had “no desire” to play in late August, but he apparently had a change of heart this fall.
The 32-year-old (33 in November) was once among the league’s better tackles, but it’s fair to wonder what he has left in the tank at this stage. The Seahawks are in dire need of tackle help, so it’s perhaps telling that he did not sign with them after his audition. Then again, given his contractual demands over the summer, it’s possible that the two sides were just too far apart on Monday.
The jinxed Giants – who are without both Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall for the remainder of the season – head to Denver on Sunday in search of their first win.
Giants’ Brandon Marshall Done For Season
Giants wide receiver Brandon Marshall announced on Instagram that he will have season-ending ankle surgery. This marks yet another devastating setback for the 0-5 Giants. 
In Week 5, the Giants lost four receivers to injury and three of them – Odell Beckham Jr., Dwayne Harris, and Marshall – for the season. Initially, the feeling was that Marshall could return after missing a handful of games, but those hopes have been dashed.
Marshall, who joined the team this offseason, recently found his groove, but he might have played his last game for Big Blue on Sunday. He is under contract through 2018 thanks to his two-year, $12MM deal, but he is afforded little security beyond this season.
At the age of 33, he was eager to prove that he could still produce at a high level. He struggled mightily in the Jets’ offensive quagmire in 2016, but he reeled in 109 catches for 1,502 yards and 14 touchdowns in the previous season.
Marshall’s season ends with 18 catches for 154 yards in five games, including 14 receptions for 112 yards combined in Weeks 3 and 4.
Practice Squad Updates: 10/9/17
Monday’s practice squad moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Andrew Wylie
- Released: Travis Averill
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Oni Omoile, RB Brandon Wilds
- Released: RB Jhurrell Pressley
New England Patriots
- Signed: DB Alex Carter
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Darius Powe
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DE Pat O’Connor
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/9/17
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Promoted to active roster: LB Isaiah Irving
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released from IR: FB Marquez Williams
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted to active roster: LB Darnell Sankey
- Placed on IR: WR Krishawn Hogan
New York Giants
- Placed on injured reserve: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (story), WR Dwayne Harris (story)
San Francisco 49ers
- Claimed off waivers: S Dexter McCoil
- Waived: DB Lorenzo Jerome
Giants WR Brandon Marshall To Miss Time
The Giants are “bracing” for wide receiver Brandon Marshall to miss multiple games after suffering an ankle sprain on Sunday, according to Kimberly Jones of NFL.com (Twitter link).
New York stunningly lost its top four receivers to injury in Week 5, and two of them — Odell Beckham Jr. and Dwayne Harris — are now done for the season. Slot man Sterling Shepard, like Marshall, has an ankle sprain and is expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks. The Giants signed wideouts Travis Rudolph and Tavarres King today, but have no interest in a possible reunion with free agent Victor Cruz.
Marshall, 33, signed a two-year, $12MM deal with the Giants this spring. He struggled in his first two games in blue, but had come on in Weeks 3 and 4, totaling 14 receptions for 112 yards in those two games. Marshall has yet to score a touchdown, however.
Giants Not Interested In Victor Cruz
The Giants are in extreme need of help at the wide receiver position, but the club is not interested in a reunion with free agent pass-catcher Victor Cruz, head coach Ben McAdoo told reporters, including Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (Twitter link). “To my knowledge he is not an option,” said McAdoo. “But never say never.”
Cruz, of course, spent 2010-16 with the Giants, and was especially spectacular from 2011-13, when averaged 80 receptions, 1,209 yards, and eight touchdowns per season. Following three injury-ridden years, Cruz was released by the Giants in the spring, and he subsequently implied that the club’s coaching staff intentionally phased him out of the offense because New York was planning to cut him.
Although he signed a one-year deal worth up to $4MM with the Bears, Cruz couldn’t make it past final roster cuts despite Chicago’s depleted wide receiver depth chart. Cruz reportedly suffered a knee injury during the Bears’ preseason finale, but he now has a clean bill of health. Still, he has yet to generate any known interest being cut by Chicago.
New York is in dire straits at wideout, where Odell Beckham Jr. and Dwayne Harris are both out for the season. Sterling Shepard will be sidelined for a few weeks with a sprained ankle, while Brandon Marshall — who also suffered an ankle sprain — is still being evaluated. The Giants signed Travis Rudolph and Tavarres King this morning, and they’ll join Roger Lewis as Big Blue’s only healthy receivers.