The New York Giants have been the most surprising team in the NFL thus far this season. They are off to a 2-0 start, defeating the Tennessee Titans on the road in Week 1 before defeating the Carolina Panthers in their home opener at MetLife Stadium in Week 2. However, not everything is roses when it comes to the team.
Wide receiver Kenny Golladay is not thrilled with the role that he has been given thus far this season. He was signed in 2021 by the former regime led by Dave Gettleman to a four-year, $72 million contract. He struggled in his first season with the Giants, as their entire offense was anemic. This season, things are going even worse.
Signed to be the team’s No. 1 wide receiver, Golladay has tumbled down the depth chart. He caught two receptions against the Titans in the first game before being relegated to a deep bench role in Week 2.
Golladay played only two snaps against the Panthers, seeing zero targets on either play. He has been surpassed by Sterling Shepard, Richie James, David Sills IV and Kadarius Toney on the depth chart it would seem. It is something that he isn’t happy about and is left confused by.
“I don’t agree with it. I came here to play.”
“I didn’t like the decision whatsoever,” Golladay said.
“I should be playing regardless,” Golladay said.
Golladay disagrees with the reason he was given as to why his role was so limited with the Giants, which is where his response of playing regardless stemmed from. He also shared that he is not in the doghouse of head coach Brian Daboll and wants to be on the field.
“I’m preparing like I’m going to be playing, but who knows,” he said. “The G.M., head coach, all these coaches keep saying, ‘You do everything right; you handle yourself the right way.’ It’s a little confusing.”
Things have gotten off to an excellent start in the Joe Shoen and Daboll era and they need to nip this in the bud with Golladay, stat. They cannot let this become a distraction and need to find a resolution.
Golladay was noncommittal when asked if he would seek a trade or change of scenery during the season.
“We’re not going to get into all that right now. We’re going into Week 3,” he said. “We’re going to see how it goes. There’s a lot of football left.”
It is hard to envision this partnership continuing beyond the 2022 season unless things turn around to the point Golladay is making an All-Pro or Pro Bowl team. If he is cut with a post-June 1st designation in 2023, New York would save $14 million against the cap. Given how things have gone during his tenure with Big Blue, that would be a no-brainer decision for the team to make.
