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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants large receiver Kenny Golladay did not precisely like coach Brian Daboll’s choice to play him for simply two snaps in Sunday’s 19-16 win over the Carolina Panthers.
“In fact I do not actually agree with it. Or prefer it,” Golladay, who was speaking to the media for the primary time for the reason that recreation, mentioned Wednesday. “However I can solely management what I can management, which is to come back to work day by day.”
Golladay, the Giants’ prized free agent acquisition in 2021, didn’t see this coming. He mentioned everybody within the group has been telling him that he is been a professional and doing issues the correct manner.
It makes this all fairly complicated to Golladay.
“I needs to be enjoying regardless,” he mentioned. “That is a reality.”
Golladay, 28, was purported to be the Giants’ No. 1 receiver when he was signed by the earlier regime final offseason. He inked a four-year, $72 million deal and is getting paid $18 million this season.
However Golladay had a tough first 12 months with the crew during which he was hampered by damage and did not rating a landing. He had a process that stored him out this spring.
The indicators had been really on the wall this summer time when — regardless of constantly being on the sector — Golladay seemed compromised by the string of accidents. He surprisingly was one of many few veterans to play within the preseason finale, and he caught two passes for 22 yards in 42 snaps (most amongst Giants large receivers) within the season-opening win over the Tennessee Titans.
Daboll mentioned he advised Golladay halfway by way of final week that he was going with David Sills V over him in opposition to the Panthers. Sills went into the competition with two profession catches for 17 yards. He’s making $825,000 this season.
Golladay has 222 receptions for 3,611 yards and 21 profession touchdowns. He led all receivers in 2019 with 11 receiving scores. However it’s not past purpose to assume he is misplaced a step. Golladay has two landing receptions and fewer than 900 yards receiving within the two-plus seasons since.
The veteran receiver was requested about requesting a change of surroundings after being benched for many of Sunday’s recreation.
“We will see the way it goes. Yeah, we’ll see the way it goes,” Golladay mentioned. “I got here right here to play. I am fairly certain they’re additionally paying me to play. I assume they need to see extra or get no matter located on their finish. I simply preserve doing what I received to do so far as coming in every day.”
It appears unlikely that Golladay may be moved at this level, partly due to the dearth of manufacturing and his contract. He’s nonetheless owed $11.6 million in base wage for the rest of this season and one other $4.5 million subsequent 12 months.
It isn’t an issue to maintain him round for now. Daboll and several other Giants gamers advised ESPN he has dealt with it like a professional.
“It’s what it’s. It is a enterprise,” Golladay mentioned. “I am not right here to be mates with coaches. They’re simply co-workers to me.”
Daboll has been constant about saying the large receiver place is an open competitors, and he means enterprise. Richie James leads the Giants with 10 catches and 110 yards receiving.
James was an offseason acquisition who many believed was on the roster bubble. Sills earned his manner onto the crew.
Daboll has used the identical line about competitors from the beginning. He took the same stance again when Golladay was one of many few veterans to play within the third and remaining preseason recreation. It was additionally his reasoning behind final 12 months’s first-round choose, Kadarius Toney, enjoying solely seven snaps within the opener and Golladay barely getting on the sector in opposition to the Panthers.
“It is a continuous competitors at receiver. I’ve mentioned it since when? I am not being a jerk, I’ve mentioned it for the reason that center of camp, proper?” Daboll mentioned on Sunday. “It hasn’t modified. It is going to be a continuing competitors.”
He added on Monday: “Once more, whether or not it is the highest-paid participant, the lowest-paid participant, the very best draft choose, an undrafted free agent — we’ll go on the market and let the fellows compete it out. One week does not essentially imply that is what is going on to occur the following week. I feel everyone understands what we try to do as a corporation when it comes to persevering with to get higher, competing for spots, working as arduous as you’ll be able to work.”
Daboll is not enjoying favorites based mostly on wage or draft standing, and it has caught the eye of his crew.
“It is uncommon, however Coach has at all times advised us he does not care the place you bought drafted first spherical, second spherical, undrafted. He is about what he talks about,” veteran large receiver Sterling Shepard mentioned.
Shepard has performed probably the most snaps (102) of any Giants large receiver thus far this season. He is coming off a torn Achilles suffered final season. Sills is second with 91.
If Golladay has a task this season, it should must be earned, not given based mostly on his previous accomplishments. This new regime is not tied to Golladay, who was the Lions’ third-round choose in 2017.
Golladay was optimistic about how Wednesday’s apply went. He mentioned he believes his function this week might be going to be just a little totally different.
The Giants (2-0) may wish him extra on Monday night time in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys. Toney didn’t take part in Wednesday’s apply due to a hamstring damage that continues to linger.