Current Washington Redskins safety Landon Collins believes the New York Giants let him go for a “culture change.”
It was shocking to see the New York Giants opt out of using the franchise tag on All-Pro safety Landon Collins this offseason. However, it was understandable from a financial standpoint. Franchise tagging Collins would’ve cost Big Blue around $11 million, and they had a mere $27 million in cap space at the time.
Now a member of the division rival-Washington Redskins, Collins spoke to ESPN’s Sam Alipour. Collins mentioned that he believes the team let him walk due to the fact that they wanted a change in culture.
“I know with myself, [Damon Harrison], Odell [Beckham Jr.], [Olivier Vernon], all we wanted to do was win, and we spoke up because we had to get them to listen to us,” Collins said. “We had to get them to get us winning pieces to help us at least be contenders.
“I think we were too vocal, and that platform was bigger than the Giants, you know, and our words stood out more. And … if it’s not good media, they don’t want that kind of media.”
The Giants traded Harrison to the Detroit Lions for a fifth-round selection in late October. They later traded both Vernon and Beckham to the Cleveland Browns in separate trades. The Giants received right guard Kevin Zeitler for Vernon. Additionally, the Giants received first and third round picks along with safety Jabrill Peppers in the Beckham trade.
Collins also mentioned to Alipour that he really didn’t have a relationship with Giants general manager Dave Gettleman. Collins simply didn’t say much to him, with the same form of communication coming from Gettleman.
“I wish he’d say something. Try to,” Collins said. “I mean, he had come around, shake your hand, say ‘Good job, big fella,’ or something like that. But honestly, talking to him, or saying anything, having a full conversation or anything with him, nothing.
“I mean, he basically … I don’t know him, he don’t know me, that’s kind of how it just kind of was.”
Collins signed a six-year, $84 million deal with the Redskins in March. He will be working in a defensive backfield that includes All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman.
