5 New York Giants Likely in Their Last Season With Team
The New York Giants’ season is all but over. Each game has been its own kind of catastrophe. The season is now approaching its halfway point, and the Giants are still searching for their first win. It would take nothing short of a miracle to save the Giants and turn their season around.
It seems like a perfect time to start talking about next year. It’s hard to believe based on their performance this year, but the Giants have multiple players on their roster who played extremely integral roles during their Super Bowl journey in 2011. As bad as it has been, New York doesn’t have to rebuild as much as it has to restructure.
The upcoming offseason should be a breeding ground for change among both the coaching staff and the roster. The Giants have a plethora of problems that have to be addressed and certain measures must be taken. Coaches, like coordinators Kevin Gilbride and Perry Fewell, will have to be examined and possibly replaced.
Two problems that immediately stand out are the offensive and defensive lines. The offensive line hasn’t given quarterback Eli Manning or the running game time to breathe this season, and the defensive line is last in the NFL in sacks. New York’s past success has hinged on the ability to rush the passer. These are fundamental aspects of a football team and are at the core of the Giants' problems this year.
Here are five New York Giants starters who are very likely playing their last season in a Big Blue uniform.
5. David Baas
David Baas was signed by the Giants in 2011. He won the Super Bowl in his first season with the team, but it hasn’t been pretty after that. Baas has battled injuries this season and hasn’t played very well when he’s been out there. He will be entering his tenth season next year and is set to make more than $9 million over the next two years. Based on this season’s failures, the Giants have to be planning on restructuring the offensive line.
4. Corey Webster
Corey Webster had arguably the best year of his career in 2011, but he followed that up with probably the worst year of his career in 2012. His days as a No. 1 cornerback in the NFL seem limited, and he’s had trouble staying healthy this season. Meanwhile, Prince Amukamara continues to make strides and is quickly becoming New York’s best cover corner. Webster is not going to cost the Giants much money, but he also looks like an easy player to dump.
3. Chris Snee
Chris Snee has been a Giant since he was drafted by the team in 2004. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion. He’s also Tom Coughlin’s son-in-law. However, Snee’s 2013 season is over and he recently underwent surgery on both of his hips. Next season will be Snee’s 11th year in the league. If the Giants do try and bring him back, Snee will, once again, have to restructure his contract.
2. Justin Tuck
Since 2010, Justin Tuck’s statistics have plummeted. In 2010, Tuck played in all 16 games and recorded 11.5 sacks. In the 33 games since, he has just 9.5 sacks. Injuries have taken their toll and Tuck is simply not the player he used to be. Tuck will be a free agent at the end of the year, and the Giants will most likely let him walk. Like Snee, Tuck has been with the Giants his entire career and helped bring two Super Bowls to New York. However, with the failures of the defensive line, New York should look to go in a new direction.
1. Hakeem Nicks
Rueben Randle is quietly becoming Eli Manning’s favorite target with three touchdowns in the last two games. On the other side, Hakeem Nicks has zero touchdowns on the season and the speed and explosiveness he’s displayed in the past is nowhere to be found. The Giants have so many problems to address in the offseason and they won’t be able to afford sinking major money into another wide receiver. If Nicks is going to look for No. 1 receiver kind of money, he will have to look elsewhere.
