The long goodbye either is just beginning or it is complete.
Eli Manning ran off the field at MetLife Stadium two weeks ago as fans stood and chanted his name, after he led the Giants to a come-from-behind win. He fought back tears and hugged his family.
“I tried not to get too emotional just because we still have a couple football games left,” Manning said at the time. “I know I’ll still be back in the stadium. I don’t know if I’ll play that day, but I know I’ll get to run out one more time at least.”
That day arrives Sunday against the Eagles.
But Manning is not the only Giant likely in uniform for the final time Sunday against the Eagles.
“We know that this is our last game and we’re trying to do what we can to go out and win it,” coach Pat Shurmur said. “What happens beyond that? After that, we’ll just see what happens.”
Here are 10 other prominent players who, for one reason or another, could be saying goodbye:
ILB Alec Ogletree (Age: 28): Gettleman traded two draft picks for Ogletree, a two-year starter and co-captain. He is a liability in pass coverage (despite his five interceptions in 2018) and hasn’t produced to justify his average annual salary ($10.6 million). The Giants could save $8.25 million against the cap and take on $3.5 million in dead money by upgrading.
OLB Kareem Martin (27): Martin signed a three-year, $15 million contract when he was coming off a career year with the Cardinals and had familiarity with James Bettcher’s defense. He contributed 53 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 20 games, missing most of this season with a knee injury. The Giants could save $4.8 million against the cap and take on $1.1 million in dead money.
DT Leonard Williams (25): The Giants lost negotiation leverage by trading two draft picks for Williams and publicly declaring they plan to re-sign him as a free agent. No progress yet, however. Williams’ production (zero sacks, one forced fumble) in seven games since the trade is not an uptick from his days with the Jets and do not warrant the kind of pay day he wants. Risk of looking foolish whether they bring him back or not.
WR Golden Tate (31): This one is unlikely unless the Giants change general managers. But Tate’s PEDs suspension triggered a clause in his contract where none of the three remaining years on his contract are guaranteed. He was one of the Giants’ most productive players when in the lineup but will cost $10.5 million against the cap in 2020, and receivers Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton are here.
FS Antoine Bethea (35): This position has been a revolving door since the Giants let Antrel Rolle leave in 2015. The Giants think they have a building block with Jabrill Peppers, but he’ll have a new safety partner. Bethea, who has been victimized on numerous deep balls, signed a two-year contract but can be cut for just $125,000 after the season. He does not want to retire. “I have good ball left in me,” Bethea said.
TE Rhett Ellison (31): Ellison probably played his last game for the Giants in Week 10, when he suffered a season-ending concussion. He had 67 catches for 674 yards and four scores in three years. Kaden Smith’s emergence behind starter Evan Engram make Ellison expendable at $5 million in cap savings and $2.1 million in dead money.
OLB Markus Golden (28): Gettleman’s best free-agent signing has 10 sacks, the first Giant to reach that mark since Jason Pierre-Paul in 2014. Three years after he had 12.5, Golden is over an ACL injury and back to form just in time to get find a strong free-agent market after making the most of his one-year contract. He wants to stay, but the Giants need to add multiple veteran pass-rushers.
RT Mike Remmers (30): Remmers always was supposed to be a one-year stopgap. He became the leader of the offensive line and played better than expected (he is out for Sunday with a concussion) considering the low bar off back surgery. But the Giants need to upgrade this line in free agency AND the draft, and right tackle is the place to start.
C Jon Halapio (28): Halapio’s strange journey goes from 2014 Patriots draft pick, to out of the NFL, to first-time starter for the Giants in 2017, to season-ending leg injury in 2018 to full-time starter in 2019. He is a restricted free agent finally about to earn his first seven-figure salary. Will the Giants keep him or backup Spencer Pulley, under contract until 2021? Or look elsewhere?
S Michael Thomas (30): Thomas is a two-year co-captain who made the Pro Bowl on special teams in 2018 and is valuable as a third safety. With all the youth in the Giants secondary, Thomas’ value here goes beyond any numbers. But he will enter free agency for the second time, after waiting five seasons with the Dolphins. There will be a market.
Source: Read Full Article