Fox Sports 1 TV personality Colin Cowherd has ignited the Russell Wilson to the New York Giants rumor. The team mustn’t react.
The New York Giants have become the rumor capital of the NFL over the last week and a half.
First, there was Jay Glazer making a bold prediction that the Giants would trade 26-year-old superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the offseason. Then on Wednesday, there were two rumors involving the prestigious organization.
The first rumor was reported by ESPN Josina Anderson when she tweeted that Landon Collins had cleaned out his locker and said goodbye to teammates, coaches and trainers. Anderson’s tweet gave the impression that Collins, who is a free agent, doesn’t believe he’ll be back with the Giants.
I’m told that Giants S Landon Collins cleaned out his locker today at the team facility and said his goodbyes to teammates, coaches and trainers. It doesn’t seem like Collins expects to be a Giant for much longer, per sources.
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) February 20, 2019
Collins later refuted this story by tweeting the stuff he left in his locker was stuff that he did not need.
The stuff in that locker that I have left I do not need?
— LANDON COLLINS (@TheHumble_21) February 20, 2019
Also on Wednesday, on his daily show, “The Herd,” Fox Sports 1 TV personality Colin Cowherd said he was told on Tuesday that Russell Wilson’s wife Ciara, who is a singer and entertainer, would prefer to live in New York, and that Wilson could wind up with the Giants in 2020.
Cowherd then listed reasons why Wilson coming to the Giants makes sense.
- Wilson is in the final year of his contract.
- Ciara prefers to work in New York.
- Giants need to find a replacement for Eli Manning.
- Wilson’s marketability is being wasted in Seattle.
- Giants have an offensive-minded head coach in Pat Shurmur.
While somehow snagging Wilson. who’s just 30 years old next offseason. would solve the Giants problem of finding Manning’s successor, it’s still farfetched that Wilson will be in a Giants uniform in 2020, and the Giants can’t operate this offseason under the presumption that they’ll have Wilson next season.
Could Russell Wilson replace Eli Manning in New York?@ColinCowherd is hearing things… ?? pic.twitter.com/r8rZY0Qbqr
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) February 20, 2019
For one, the Seahawks know how hard it is to find a franchise quarterback and they’ll do whatever it takes to keep the only signal-caller in franchise history to obtain a Super Bowl. The Seahawks will either work out a long term contract with Wilson or slap him with the franchise tag.
In addition, as talented as Wilson is, he seems headed towards the Hall of Fame. The Giants have to consider if they want to pay Wilson a hefty salary that will likely be more than $25 million annually.
The Giants already possess a hefty contract on the offensive side of the ball for the next few seasons on the offensive side of the ball with the contract of Odell Beckham Jr. and Nate Solder. They’ll also need to have money available should Saquon Barkley want a new contract before the end of his rookie deal.
As good as Wilson is, it might be in the best interest of the franchise if they have a young quarterback on a rookie contract in 2020 that will allow them to address other needs, particularly on defense, rather than a high priced quarterback such as Wilson.
Russell Wilson to the New York Giants is mere speculation at this point and may never come to fruition, and that’s why general manager Dave Gettleman and the rest of the front office have to approach this offseason as if Wilson will never come to North Jersey.
