The Giants announced that they’re bringing back an old friend: a former No. 1 draft choice, wide receiver Hakeem Nicks.
In 2009, he was a first-round pick for the team and subsequently played for five years, making his name as the team’s leading receiver in the 2010 regular season and 2011 postseason.
Nicks is going to be a great addition to the line-up, and he already has a history with the Giants that speaks for itself. He was one of the Giants’ best players during the 2011 playoffs which lead to their victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.
He will be replacing Victor Cruz, who announced that he will be departing due to an upcoming calf surgery. Cruz has been unable to play in a game this season due to the injury.
Nicks is excited for the return, and expressed his feelings as such,
I’m happy to be here, happy to be back in the building. I feel great, I feel hungry. I’m ready to get on that field and make some plays.
Nicks already preparing, meeting with assistant coaches to learn the offensive system put in place by Ben McAdoo last year. After going through several tryouts this year, he is just excited to get started. And he’s sure he picked the right team.
This is where I really wanted to be. I would have settled and played wherever, but my heart was here. My heart has always been here, ever since I left. That’s why I kept my place here. I feel like I’m just stepping right back into position.
Nicks first game will be in FedEx Field where he already has 16 career receptions but to date, no touchdowns. Who knows what will happen this time around! No matter what, he’s ready for whatever comes his way, and says,
I’m looking forward to it, I’m fired up about it. When you do something since you were 10 years old and there comes a time when you’ve got to sit for a while, you’re not used it and that’s something you have to overcome. I think just taking it all into consideration, being back here where I was drafted in 2009, being back home, this is the way it was supposed to be.”
The Giants have also made a few other changes as of late, including waiving linebacker James Morris from the roster and terminating the practice squad contract of wide receiver Julian Talley.
Morris has only played on special teams in three games, and hasn’t manage to have any tackles.
Talley played in two games for the Giants in both 2013 and 2014, but hasn’t had any receptions. He spent the majority of those seasons on the practice squad.
The times, they are a changin’ for the Giants. It will be great to see where they take this. The potential for great things is there. It’s just a matter of harnessing it that counts.
