Is there a chance Hakeem Nicks finds his way back to the Giants?
The return of the one-time explosive receiver still is a long shot, but perhaps not as much as first appeared as NFL free agency heats up. Nicks’ representation has floated the idea, through ESPN, he is willing to sign a one-year contract “to prove his past two seasons were aberrations.’’
It does not seem as if the Giants are willing to invest a great deal of money to keep Nicks, their 2009 first-round draft pick, after his subpar and injury-filled past two seasons. A one-year deal though, could suit both sides, as it would allow Nicks to re-establish his worth and give the Giants a low-risk, one-year commitment to a player once considered to be among the handful of top receivers in the league.
The ESPN report states Nicks “is receptive to returning to the Giants.’’ If not, he wants to find a team that has a proven quarterback.
Teams on Saturday could begin negotiations with agents for free agents, but deals cannot be finalized until Tuesday. The Giants, according to The Tennessean, are one of several teams, including the Jets, to express interest in Titans cornerback Alterraun Verner, perhaps the top player on the market, a player who will command a huge contract.
The Giants know this, of course, and likely won’t be able to compete with the money Verner will get, but that they inquired about him is noteworthy. The Giants also have interest in Ravens defensive lineman Arthur Jones, who could be a replacement for Linval Joseph if, as expected, the price-tag for Joseph gets too high.
As for Nicks, in order to prove he is healthy, Nicks according to ESPN sent medical reports to all teams from two specialists, Dr. Robert Anderson and Dr. James Andrews, stating his past foot and knee injuries should not affect him in 2014. Dr. Anderson performed foot surgery on Nicks in May, 2012 and Dr. Andrews assured teams that surgery to repair Nicks’ posterior cruciate ligament in February 2013 left his knee completely healed.
Nicks in 2013, operating on the final year of his contract, did nothing (58 receptions for 896 yards and no touchdowns) to help gain a lucrative long-term contract. He rarely displayed the game-breaking ability that marked his earlier years with the Giants. There is no way to determine what Nicks’ value will be on the open market, but opening the door on a one-year deal indicates his representatives are not certain teams will be willing to open their checkbooks to sign him.