ESPN has now put up an article now suggesting that "something" is going on with Nicks, but the players and coaches aren't talking.
Is Nicks putting up an attitude that he and Eli haven't connected for a touchdown? Is he feeling the pressure of not having a productive year and how it will affect his free agency offers? Is he pissed that he is not getting enough looks? Is he still injured someway?
I used to love this guy, my kids all have Nicks jerseys, and he was a monster before breaking his foot. Right now, I don't even know what to think about this guy.
Hopefully everything's alright and it's nothing.. Nicks has been one of my favorite players for some time now. What's going on this year isn't him at all.
After the play, teammates Brandon Jacobs and Andre Brown consoled Nicks on the sidelines.
Nah, I just came out, said Nicks, when asked if he left the game because his knee was bothering him. It was just one of those situations where I let `Murph go ahead and take that.
Asked if he was upset, Nicks said, Nah, nah, nah. That was something that was just football. Nothing serious to even talk about.
Were teammates, Jacobs said. I expect him to give me a pep talk if I need to have a pep talk. Thats what we (he and Brown) did. Were here to inspire one another. And thats it.
I love him like a brother. I want to see him do the best he possibly can. Regardless of what the issue was, Im here to give him confidence and inspire him.
Eli Manning on @WFAN660 says of four-game winning streak: "It's been a fun run and hopefully we can keep it going.''
Eli Manning said of Hakeem Nicks "He's gonna have a game coming up here where he's gonna have three touchdowns.''
To me, it looks like he's lacking explosion. I don't know exactly what is going on with him, but the separation does not appear to be there.
When that's the case, the first thing I think is his body isn't right.
To top that off, maybe the lack of production is contributing to his frustration. Randle looks more fluid than Nicks, and no surprise he's the one scoring TD's.
Plus, if Eli gets the ball out ahead of him on that seam route yesterday, he scores, explosiveness or not.
I just hope whatever's going on, he'll get back on track somehow. We really need him if we're going to make this run.
Totally agree, we need his talent.
I hope it is not anything worse in his life, but it really seems as if this is all about Nicks and not scoring TDs. I think he sees Cruz and Randle getting scores and, at times, better passes from Eli than he is seeing and he is sulking about it.
This is like a catch-22 because if this truly about Nicks pouting than he just needs a kick in the ass (and maybe a few tds) and we are good to go, but I do also hope its not anything more serious.
Nicks has a right to be upset, he lost alot $$ this past season and he doesn't have a TD yet.
Thats like being in sales and going a whole month without having 1 single closing.
Thank you.
I have to believe that he's either hurt or something off the field is going on. It just doesn't add up if he's completely healthy and barely producing like this. He's never been that way.
I don't buy it. He may not have the "wheels" anymore because of previous injuries but I don't think he is currently injured.
Look, I have no freaking clue what's wrong with him this year.. but neither does anyone else here. What I do know was that this was a dynamite WR before he got hurt last season. He was a HUGE part of this team winning the Super Bowl in 2012 and he was one of the better WR's in football for a good stretch. I find it hard to believe that he suddenly can't play anymore.
Point is we needed him to step up wit an off Eli, a bad OLine, and a revolving door of RBs.
Cruz has stepped up, Randle has stepped up.
Nicks has faded.
in the past when nicks is singled up, eli's eyes would shine and would loft a pass in his area. that time, eli didn't give nicks the chance. nicks was frustrated. he wants the ball, he wants the big plays. hes not a diva, hes not going to go crazy. but he feels those emotions deep down. he views himself as a great player and wants to prove it. he hears the whispers, feels the pressure. so in that moment, he kinda snapped.
the soft spoken, positive minded guy that he is, he probably got over it. he said he was 'frustrated with himself' in the post game quotes, for not taking advantage of that opportunity (as oppose to the alternative, which is being frustrated with eli not giving him a chance on that one). it is what it is. im not too worried since nicks isn't a diva. but hes damn sure frustrated
He's had a rough year and a half or so. Things could change and nicks is still on pace for 70 and 1000.
Nice theory. But it has nothing to do with Nicks' performance.
Look, I have no freaking clue what's wrong with him this year.. but neither does anyone else here. What I do know was that this was a dynamite WR before he got hurt last season. He was a HUGE part of this team winning the Super Bowl in 2012 and he was one of the better WR's in football for a good stretch. I find it hard to believe that he suddenly can't play anymore.
Arc - Believe it. He is getting a ton of single coverage, and not exactly from Dion Sanders, and he suddenly can't play well anymore.
He knows the Giants won't offer him #1 money, and neither will anyone else. Everyone will see what we see, a WR whose performance is declining because of injury. Nicks worked so hard to set himself up for a big FA payday, but it's all been derailed by injuries. And he knows it. I think he's having a hard time realizing that even though he's only in his mid twenties, his prime playing years may already be over.
It's sad. He's a warrior and a class act. Whatever happens, I wish him nothing but the best.
If nicks was playing like he did in 2011 would it really matter with Eli getting brutalized through the first 5-6 weeks?
Nicks doesn't look as fast or clean in and out of his breaks and the offense's dysfunction has impacted his stats more than his pending contract. Nicks has had some nice catches lately. He will probably make more plays now that the O is looking better.
We don't know who is hiding an injury, or who can't stand his teammates or the coaches or even the New Jersey weather. We don't know who thinks his coaches or teammates are down on him for some reason the player knows is bullshit but the coaches or teammates think is real.
We don't know who is trying to stop drinking, or has a wife who won't stop drinking, or has a sick kid, or is clinically depressed. We don't know who got bad financial advice and just realized he's broke. We don't know whose brother is in legal trouble, or whose sister just got pregnant at 13. We don't know whose parent or grandparent has terminal cancer.
We don't know who is miserable or distracted for any of the thousand reasons that human beings can be miserable or distracted, reasons that may or may not have anything to do with football or the Giants or even the player himself.
Occasionally a reporter uncovers one of these stories and writes about it, and sometimes players go public with this stuff, but as a rule:
We. Do. Not. Know. ANYTHING.
IF you are correct than Nicks needs a someone to tell him there are 6 games left in the regular season, the offense is far more stable than earlier in the year and the Giants are going to be in a few shoot-out games before it is all said and done that you can really help with/benefit from. Man up!
I hope he snaps out of it. I really do, whatever is wrong. I don't think his contract demands getting more affordable is going to make it any easier for the Giants to sign him, in fact it may make it harder. Unless Nicks is a guy who can really set ego aside, he is not going to sign with us for less money than Cruz got and I don't see how the Giants could even pay that with his current production.
He's had a rough year and a half or so. Things could change and nicks is still on pace for 70 and 1000.
Like I said, he has been terrible. He had 2 really big games to skew his YPG. Our OL has been horrible, but Nicks has clearly been the worst skill player on our team this year. He has really let Eli down this year. As a big tiem receiver, some times you need to make plays. He hasnt made them for us when we needed him.
He didn't want to workout with Eli all offseason. That set him back. He took it easy for fear of getting hurt in the preseason and camp. He didn't start on the same page with Eli. Then he jammed his finger. He had a big game in the opener (all three WRs did). But the offense - as we know - has been off.
The injuries he had last year should not be factors now. So I don't agree that he's beat up.
I think making on field 'business decisions' is costing him millions. He is coasting on his reputation now and it is hard to watch.
not fighting for the ball like he used to and not breaking tackles like he used to after the catch.Not a threat that needs to be doubled anymore.
He was much more wide open than Cruz when Eli hit the long one to Cruz. I also think he's a little envious of Cruz's popularity, which is more a function of Cruz's personality than his ability. For most of Cruz's career, Cruz's success has been partly the result of the threat posed by Nicks.
Eli's timing is also off and the offense has been out of sync as well. I believe that has a huge affect.. the ball comes out maybe when you arent expecting it.. you turn the wrong way.. etc etc..
I think a lot of people remember the plays in Altanta and Green Bay during the playoffs as the typical Nicks but that to me is more the abberation
Nicks Video.. watch how many catches are NOT with great separation - ( New Window )
Hakeem may be searching for the "on" switch and is getting frustrated that it's not that easy to restart once you've slowed down.
He was never a separation WR. He made almost all the catches thrown to him in the past. He is still open on a lot of his plays.
He causes PI penalties every game.
I do think him out there has helped Cruz avg 1.5 more YPC this year vs last. There are currently 10 WR with 40 or more catches avg more than his YPC
Which causes early/late & off-line throws, which causes major disruptions in the rhythm of the game ...
Which causes the defender to get better angles ...
etc, etc, etc ....
The Tampa Bay 2012 game, the best game of his regular season career, shows all of his skills in one. He beat man to man press coverage in multiple ways.
He leaps over Talib, snatching a bomb with those huge hands. He beat Talib with a tremendous release off the line of scrimmage, demonstrating absolutely incredible lateral quickness. He caught a couple of inside breaking routes against Talib with excellent separation out of his stem as well. Quickly adjusts to the ball and catches a one hander on an out route. On the final game winning 50 yard play, Nicks beats Talib with superb hand work and technique at the line of scrimmage, with the release creating enough work at the sideline to give Eli a clear window for the deep bomb
The idea that Nicks never separated isn't true. That's what he was dubbed coming out of college but he has absolutely improved coming out of his breaks since 2011. Its too much work going over each play in the video link, but the proof is all there. He just wins in so many ways, that's what makes him a potential number 1 if he can put a healthy season together. In a aesthetical kind of way, he separates excellently. Post knee injury against tampa bay, its never hasn't been the same though.
I still feel like he'll finish the season strong as long as the line continues to prove and Eli plays with more consistency.
i don't think so
nicks is clearly lacking some of the explosion he had in 2011/early 2012. Missing offseason time had him lose rhythm with Eli, and with himself. Early on he had opportunities to make some plays that he missed. that hurt the team.
Lately he has made every play he has been given a chance on. When he and randle are targetted 16 times for 15 catches in 2 games... its hard to say something is their fault for not producing... an issue with the giants is if you are not the #1 option or the dump off... you are just not an option, becasue the Oline cant protect long enough for progressions. they have coached eli to hit the check down quicker it appears.
also nicks, while getting better separation at times, was also a "throw me open" guy and eli one of the best at doing that... however with a lower risk offense, we are not seeing that, hence less opportunities.
Also, people who sh%t on nicks do it in a manner that makes you think we are doing fine without him... actually we CANT score... so it would be better to get him more involved now that his hands are back and he looks more spry.
the guy draws the #1 corner each game... so the whole "play randle and cruz #1 and #2", is easier said then done, especially with this line.
Nicks is also the first person to go congratulate randle each time he scores... its not like this guy is moping with his teammates. I assume there is frustration due to his lack of performance, healthy, and "what could have been".
and the TD commentary, yes it would be great if he hauled a few in, there were also some balls that could have been TDs that werent placed well, but those dont count either.
If he has that many issues, maybe he should just retire from football.
Nicks job is to make plays. Yeah he has caught the balls thrown to him the last two games. Great. Lot of those balls are 3-4 yard passes. His big play in the last few weeks was on a broken coverage by the defnse. He gets 1-1 inside the 20, he falls down. We throw a pattern to him, he runs the pattern half ass. He stops on slants. He wants out of the game on 3rd down insdie the 20. He has dropped at least 4-5 TDs this year.
He has sucked this year. If all the "eli apologists" have to admit Eli has poorly (which he has), why cant the Nicks apologists stop with the "he is hurt" or "something is not right" excuses. He has been a bad football player this year.
The packers made several one handed grabs to help the rookie QB out, our vets have not stepped up much either. Everyone is to blame.
Regardless of what happens this season someone will pay Nicks more than what we are offering. Good post on Snyder etc.
Eric, that's what I thought the other day, when I read that Jacobs had to talk to him on the sideline.
The guy is gonna get paid. He has made some very nice catches. he had a great reception on Sunday. Mike Wallace wasn't didn't put up tremendous numbers in Pitt and look at the money he got. I would like to think that as a competitor, he is less upset about future contracts and more upset with everything going wrong for him this season. He gets open, Eli misses him. Eli makes a great throw, there is a drop or an interference call. The opportunities have also been limited due to stagnant offense and having to throw shorter passes more often. He is just frustrated with the way things are going. I understand that.
He doesn't suck. He is having a lesser year than in the past, but 42 receptions for 620 yards through 10 games is certainly not terrible. He could still end up with a 1000 yard season if he can have a monster game or two in the next 6.
But I don't understand taking yourself out of the game. It is indefensible. You want to get in the end zone? Well, we're in the redzone and still have 2nd and 3rd down. Go make another play.
IMO he and his people over thought this last contract year stuff and now he's in a bit of a funk.
Or not.
He is a young guy, a couple of years younger than Cruz.He is also a quiet guy.He's never made any trouble, but you know he wants to get paid. He was sending that message when Cruz was signed.I think Very simply he did the math, or his agent did, and figured there wasn't gonna be enough left for him to get the wallace money he wanted.I think that made him unhappy, and he missed practices in the spring because of it.
I think, regardless of the bullshit i see here every fucking year, where the idiot brigade comes in and says it's no biggie that recievers, Vets, hold out of OTAs and spring training and what nbot, as they can pick it up where they left off. I hope we don't see the same hoirsehit next year.
I think missing camp and practices hurt him.I think, specifically, it hurt the trust, and timing, between him and eli.It's clear they aren't in sync. either one or the other is too far ahead or too far behind, on the throws/routes.
I think he is not at full health. I think that he is prideful, and unhappy he hasn't had success this year. It wouldn't suprise me if he didn't appreciate the speculation that he has given up, is softballing it, or playing it safe.
New york is very demanding, on it's athletes, and young guys like him that are already having issues with health and timing and stress over contracts, then the speculation on top of it, it can sap your will.Football is a wargame, and is all about the will to fight.We as fans effect that.you can say all this doesn't matter, but if I'm a younf 25 year old dude getting fucking shredded in the press with people calling me quitter and I can't defend myself it can drag you down.I would rather see us support the guy a bit, hope management makes a fair offer, and maybe it works out and he stays.
He's a good kid, and the end of the day if he leaves we will be the lesser team for it. It's not one thing, it's a little bit of all these things, and also I think people forget how young he is.we should cut the guy some slack.Show some of the class we are always talking about.
Despite all the offense's problems, Cruz still looks like Cruz. Randle still looks like Randle (he's actually improved from his freshman year).
Nicks doesn't look like Nicks. He's dropped passes, and just doesn't seem to have the same physical presense he once had. At times he looks lazy.
I wonder if he has something bad going on personally, and it is hitting him emotionally/mentally.
Didn't work out with Eli in the offseason. Missed mini camp when expected to be t here. Looked subpar in the preseason.
Perhaps Cruz getting a contract, and him being left out really has effected him mentally.
I wonder if he has something bad going on personally, and it is hitting him emotionally/mentally.
Randy, its why I think he allowed his injuries and his situation get into his head. I don't blame him to an extent. You know you are one blown knee out of the NFL and with his history I'm sure it factored into his no show training camp.
Then you start slow and things don't go smoothly. He's still young as was mentioned. Not every player no matter how talented is mentally tough all the time.
In past seasons Nicks could almost always be counted on to make the first defender miss the tackle and make some decent yardage.
Nowadays the first defender almost always takes Nicks down immediately
Something is missing from the Nicks arsenal
I am rooting for him to overcome whatever it is
I just don't know...
Yup. Definitely not a new poster.
Sup, Bill!
Truth is, the NFL is a performance based business. There is no heart or loyalty if you aren't doing the job, you're out.
Nicks has been a great Giant, and I am rooting for him.
he has been injured in past and is worried in his contract year , he is going to get hurt
he decided to play it safe -- he would rather get thru season injury free and still get decent contract than try to play for the huge payday
also although Nicks is #1 Giants receiver
Cruz is really the #1 Giants receiver now
Cruz has big contract
star power endorsements
and is go to guy for Manning
Nicks has mentally checked out of Giants
I compared him and Demaryius Thomas from Denver I thought they were both going to be great. Sam body frames and speed. emaryius is taking off to stardom while Nicks is fading. Dating back to last year up until now Ie been very disappointed with the no seperation aspect of it. He sometimes looks uninterested during games.
With Randle and Eli getting better by the week Id prepare to let Nicks walk and have Cruz and Randle and either a) sign a solid # 2 FA WR or b) draft a Mike Evans(Texas A&M)/Sammy Watkins(Clemson)/Kelvin Benjamin(Florida St) o come in and play. Benjamin and Evans ae ig body WR's who wil be available when we pick. Watkins is more of a speedier game changer type and average size WR who could play with Cruz/Randle and excel.Eli likes big WR's , big targets , and I think Mike Evans or Benjamin would be a great pick. That is if we sign a Brandon Albertype at OL in FA and obviously bring back Beason.
Id rather sign a still somewhat young FA OL who could start and succeed for at least 4-5 more years like Albert by using Nicks' money if we let him walk and draft one those WR's.
With Seattle and SD still to play along with Wash(Twice) and the Eagle with Foles and Dallas I can see us picking somewhere like 12th-15th where one of those WR will be. Or take a OL who can come in and start and sign a FA WR. Knock on wood but if Wilson's career is over because of his spine and the potential for paralyzing himself, we might hve to go RB in RD 1 or be out looking for one who can start along with Brown(injury prone). I love Stephen Hill and Carls Hyde. I think both will be NFL strting backs one day. People are sleeping on Hyde. I also hink Andre Williams from Boton College is worthy o being a 1st or early 2nd RD pick.
Anyway, lets roll over Dallas and make things interesting
He is only about ten percent behind his stats for his best year, 2011.
Comparison: 2011, 2013
Receptions - 76 vs. projected 74; Yards - 1192 vs. projected 993, Targeted - 9 per game vs. current 8 per game, Average - 15.7 vs. current 14.7.
A couple of big games would put him right there with the numbers of his best year.
And why should we go to any trouble to keep him? 2011 playoffs - 28 catches, 444 yards, 4 TD.
You're not in a hurry to get rid of your young, battle-tested playmakers, unless they want to leave.
2) it gives a scape goat for a bad start ... but again... how does this help
3) it gives people an excuse for Eli.... but again how does this help?
none of it helps but he actually hasnt been THAT bad. he has NOT been near a #1 WR. he has not been NEAR expectations... but its the least of our worries. He has performed at his pay level actually...
his targets/receptions over the last 2 weeks are almost 100%... i would say to move forward we need more nicks not less nicks... the offense isnt really lighting anything up... it just hasnt turned it over and has a running game somewhat for balance.
though my bias for nicks is simply he actually hasnt been horrible and responsible for losses. he just has underperformed at a 2.5$mio price tag... that aint killing the team... its hurting it... not killing it.
And people use the same crap they used on cruz last year (alligator arms and drops with a tiny sample size).
i am also able to discuss it rationally... hence the ... i dont take offense.
my points stick... and lets not act like nick's performance is far off historicals.
Now he is playing up to his pay level? Holy shit. This guy is suppose to be premier number 1 WR. He isnt even a good #2 now. And there are many 3rd WRs in the league outperforming him.
Why should Eli throw him the ball unless he is wide open. He has quit on routes on more than one occasion this year. He is not winning 1-1 battles. ANd he has dropped TDs. I sure as hell wouldnt force him the ball if I were Eli.
though my bias for nicks is simply he actually hasnt been horrible and responsible for losses. he just has underperformed at a 2.5$mio price tag... that aint killing the team... its hurting it... not killing it.
And people use the same crap they used on cruz last year (alligator arms and drops with a tiny sample size).
i am also able to discuss it rationally... hence the ... i dont take offense.
my points stick... and lets not act like nick's performance is far off historicals.
Your point is valid. He is not killing the team and his numbers are not that far off historicals. However, we all saw what he did in the last playoff run. He was a true #1, over the middle, fighting for balls, long passes, breaking tackles, finding the endzone....a monster. We saw it again in the Tampa game last year when he has regained his health only to get hurt again....a monster.
Maybe most of us are looking for that guy...the monster Not the guy sulking on the sideline who is 10% off a 3 year historical average and can't find the endzone.
Maybe he peaked and this is all there is. If that is the case, we can afford him.
though my bias for nicks is simply he actually hasnt been horrible and responsible for losses. he just has underperformed at a 2.5$mio price tag... that aint killing the team... its hurting it... not killing it.
And people use the same crap they used on cruz last year (alligator arms and drops with a tiny sample size).
i am also able to discuss it rationally... hence the ... i dont take offense.
my points stick... and lets not act like nick's performance is far off historicals.
Your point is valid. He is not killing the team and his numbers are not that far off historicals. However, we all saw what he did in the last playoff run. He was a true #1, over the middle, fighting for balls, long passes, breaking tackles, finding the endzone....a monster. We saw it again in the Tampa game last year when he has regained his health only to get hurt again....a monster.
Maybe most of us are looking for that guy...the monster Not the guy sulking on the sideline who is 10% off a 3 year historical average and can't find the endzone.
Maybe he peaked and this is all there is. If that is the case, we can afford him.
He was hurt the previous season, and probably played when he shouldn't have....does that factor in?
Cruz gets his contract....did the Giants ever approach him for a deal, and if they didn't, is that weighing on his mind?
Did he approach this season with the wrong attitude? That he was not going to take chances, and try to stay injury free, to look better as far as negotiating a contract?
I thought he and Cruz did participate with Eli in the off season.....but then at OTA's he just never showed up, and did not give a reason....he showed up for preseason practice, but did not participate, and was on the sidelines....
So is it an injury? Is it lack of a contract offer? Is he not giving 100% to avoid injury? Is it frustration?
Nobody knows but Nicks.....
A win in one of those 6 losses, would have put us in good position....Having the "old" Nicks playing this year, could have made a big difference....
When the season is over, maybe, just maybe, we will get some answers to these questions....
Nicks hasn't had a very good season. We know that. But to sit here and disparage his play as awful and compare this guy to a non entity is just ridiculous. And if you are saying that Nicks hasn't had one positive moment in any of the Giants wins is akin to saying the guy has been awful. I've seen awful WRs here...Nicks aint awful.
There's middle ground.
I don't know what it is but some of you seem to like killing certain players and you literally go out of your way to do so.
So....how many TD passes that were clearly in his hands did Nicks drop? Don't tell me 5...that's nonsense. More like 2 and even that might be a stretch.
Oh and lest we forget, The entire Offense has sucked moose cock this season. Eli included. The OL was a nightmare early on and Eli has only now started to resemble his normal self. Nicks may or may not be himself but make no bones about it, there are other factors at work here contributing to his off season. And again....70 catches 1000 yards and probably a few TDS when all is said n done...not great but not awful
Obviously many variables go into where Eli goes with the ball (coverages, pressure, time, etc) but maybe there is something to the idea that Eli feels more comfortable looking for Cruz and Randle.
Nicks hasn't had a very good season. We know that. But to sit here and disparage his play as awful and compare this guy to a non entity is just ridiculous. And if you are saying that Nicks hasn't had one positive moment in any of the Giants wins is akin to saying the guy has been awful. I've seen awful WRs here...Nicks aint awful.
There's middle ground.
45 yards per game in the last 4? Hardly impressive. Again, the only substantial catch he made last game was on a broken coverage. He has dropped TD passes in the Philly, Chicago, and Minnesota games. He has taken himself out of the game inside the 20 yard line. He has quit on routes on more than one occasion.
I am sorry. He has been awful.
So in two plays with pictures, and one long catch what have we proven...
Nicks get open during broken coverages. Fuck, forget about a top 10 WR, he is a top 5! Rivaling Megatron!
Here's those big receptions the last two games:
Green Bay:
4 yards
35 yards (broken coverage)
9 yards
1 yard
Oakland:
13 yards
5 yards
25 yards
6 yards
I mean those are some big time numbers for a #1. I wonder after the 35 yard gain if he needed a whole series off for a break.
Time is a terrible thing to waste.
Fact:
Nicks has quit on routes this year.
Fact:
Nicks asked to be taken out of the game inside the 20 yard line where we have had trouble to score.
Fact:
He has trouble getting separation in man to man coverage. (Long catch against Oakland was against zone, his long catch against GB was on a broken coverage. And the two plays highlighted were against zone.)
You can defend his play by saying he has caught 8 of the last 9 balls thrown to him. But when you realize 6 of those 8 catches have been short catcher - you will realize his play is worse than imaginable.
But the 1 game where Nicks actually contributes, I cant wait for you to post some nonsense about how great he is. He isnt even a starting caliber WR on this team. Randle is better than him right now. Well at least Randle wants in when it matters most.
Whew, that was a lot of words I just wrote. I may need a Nicks-type breather after that effort.
Hakeem Nicks youth jersey: $24 - ( New Window )
Worse than imaginable. Really. Exaggerate much?
Fact:
You're overly critical of a guy not having a great year but one who is still contributing and could still in fact finish strong. Fact.