As bad as it has been with the Giants — and it cannot get much worse — can you imagine the mood and the mindset of this team if its front office made a drastic — some would say panic — move that shouted “We give up’’ to the legion of already depressed fans?
That is what trading receiver Hakeem Nicks would represent in and around the Giants.
“Depending on the person, it could be a dagger,’’ veteran running back Brandon Jacobs said.
A dagger?
“It’ll definitely hurt, with us being in this vulnerable state that we’re in now,’’ Jacobs said, before adding, “I don’t think that’s a situation that we’re going to be dealing with here.’’
No one really thinks that is a situation the Giants will be dealing with.
Nicks does not allow much of what goes on outside the locker room to affect him, but admitted on Monday, “I mean, I ain’t going to lie and say I haven’t heard it,’’ when asked about the trade rumors circulating about him.
But, Nicks quickly added, “I’m not listening to it. I’m not buying into it. I know I’m more focused with what we’re doing as a team right now and trying to get this thing turned around.’’
Nicks, 25, is in the final year of his 2009 rookie contract, making $2.675 million this season. He is second on the team in receptions with 25 (Victor Cruz has 35) and has 442 receiving yards — a team-high 17.7-yard average — but has no touchdowns for the 0-6 Giants. It is not the sort of season Nicks envisioned in the last year of his contract, as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Recently, reports have surfaced that teams, sensing the Giants might be sellers with the trading deadline approaching Oct. 29, are expressing interest in trading for Nicks. The Falcons (who lost Julio Jones for the season) and 49ers have had “internal discussions’’ about Nicks, according to CBSSports.com. The Patriots and Ravens are two other teams that might have interest in acquiring a top-tier receiver.
Of course, none of this takes into account the likelihood of general manager Jerry Reese trading away Nicks — his 2009 first-round pick — which is remote. Reese was able to re-sign Cruz at a price (six years, nearly $46 million) he believes would allow the Giants to be in the market to retain Nicks. Also, if Reese traded Nicks for a third- or fourth-round draft pick, it would send a message to the paying customers the Giants have already given up on 2013.
“Why would we want to trade anyone?’’ safety Antrel Rolle said. “The season’s not over for us.’’
Making any trade even more improbable is the team acquiring Nicks would be renting him for half a season, with no guarantee of retaining him long-term.
“I haven’t heard from the Giants. They have not authorized me to seek a trade,’’ Nicks’ agent, Peter Schaffer, told The Post. “Nor have I been instructed by my client to seek a trade. Hakeem is a Giant. He’s a 100 percent Giant.’’
Also, there is this: Before acquiring linebacker Jon Beason 11 days ago, the last time the Giants made an in-season trade was 1986, when they picked up running back Ottis Anderson from the then St. Louis Cardinals.
Would the Giants consider trading Nicks? They consider everything and, at 0-6, this is uncharted waters for Reese. But that is a far cry from soliciting a trade for one of their marquee players.
“At the end of the day, business is business but I haven’t been getting any whiffs of anything my way so as far as outside talk. Can’t control that,’’ Nicks said. “I’m a Giant right now. I’m going to enjoy it. We just got to start winning some games.
“I’m sure they got enough respect for me upstairs to talk to me, sit me down like a man and talk to me and we will come up with something, but as of right now I’m still a Giant. Nobody said nothing to me about it. I look forward to being here.’’