According to Raanan.
New York Giants tight end Darren Waller is likely to make a decision by next week's mandatory minicamp about his playing future and people in and around the team expect that he's going to retire, multiple sources told ESPN. Those close to him believe he's leaning in that direction.
Link - (
New Window )
It is, but we're better off without him. Waller is another if/but guy, and we've had enough of those after the last 10 seasons. Even when he was healthy last year he was a "helpful" player. Not a dynamic one.
Turns out he was a brilliant and successful engineer, but his wife cheated and they divorced. Apparently, he preferred to collect cans rather than having any income that would be awarded to his ex as alimony.
So I can't help but wonder if retiring from the NFL is in some way, a middle-finger to the ex-wife.
Other than drama queens like Favre or Rodgers, 99% of the time an “announcement” is retirement rather than continuing to play.
Turns out he was a brilliant and successful engineer, but his wife cheated and they divorced. Apparently, he preferred to collect cans rather than having any income that would be awarded to his ex as alimony.
So I can't help but wonder if retiring from the NFL is in some way, a middle-finger to the ex-wife.
he sure showed her
No idea about his marriage but it's possible he's thinking closing the distance gap would save it. He might also be considering the reception to his rap release.
I'd call it understandably weird.
In any case, happy to see him retire if he does. He's not dependable and it's an easy cap solution.
Time to play the young TE’s.
Time to play the young TE’s.
Exactly.
The ONLY way he could stay at this point is if he takes a massive pay cut, agrees to a backup role, and commits himself fully to football. None of that's happening of course. He's injury-prone, has mental health issues, and has mentally checked out of the Giants. He might still want to play football elsewhere though. That shouldn't be the Giants' problem though. They've covered their bases at the TE position this offseason and can stomach him going bye-bye.
I can believe that.
The Giants signing Manhertz and Stoll plus drafting Theo tells us they planned on it, as well.
Since the Giants haven't cut Waller yet, they will probably put him on the reserve/retired list, to retain his rights and prevent him from playing anywhere he pleases.
If Waller at any time then says: I changed my mind; I want to un-retire, Giants are faced with the same issues they have been facing all along. Do they pay him according to the terms of his contract? Do they try to get him to agree to reduce his compensation (since it isn't guaranteed)? Or do they release him?
They must have. If he were to come back, there's no way it would've been at his current cap number.
Since the Giants haven't cut Waller yet, they will probably put him on the reserve/retired list, to retain his rights and prevent him from playing anywhere he pleases.
If Waller at any time then says: I changed my mind; I want to un-retire, Giants are faced with the same issues they have been facing all along. Do they pay him according to the terms of his contract? Do they try to get him to agree to reduce his compensation (since it isn't guaranteed)? Or do they release him?
They release him. They need to cap space more than they need him. Bellinger and Johnson will ultimately answer this question though.
I would have been willing to give it a shot.
Turns out he was a brilliant and successful engineer, but his wife cheated and they divorced. Apparently, he preferred to collect cans rather than having any income that would be awarded to his ex as alimony.
So I can't help but wonder if retiring from the NFL is in some way, a middle-finger to the ex-wife.
I'm sure he could have found more creative ways to hide income.
Mark it down.
Mark it down.
Who was the last Giant who asked out because they didn't want to play for the team?
Quote:
of him wanting to return to the NFL next year, followed by his not wanting to play for the Giants, followed by our trying to deal him for a pick - any pick, followed by our outright releasing him b/c no one is willing to give anything for him, followed by him signing with either the Cards for a one year deal worth less than what he would have made as a Giant this year OR the Chiefs and making the SB game winning TD catch.
Mark it down.
Who was the last Giant who asked out because they didn't want to play for the team?
Ok - how about - the Giants and Waller mutually agree that moving on would be in both parties' best interest.
it wasn't meant to be a knock on the NYG.
Mark it down.
Marked down on my "things with no chance of happening" list.
The big injustice he's put the Giants through is skipping the voluntary portion of the offseason.
Waller is older in football years, has earned 43M in his career, is a recovering addict (with an OD in his past), and reportedly has a nerve issue in his hamstring.
Judging by the organization's actions, they're moving on. They drafted a player who fits his exact profile and added two blocking TEs.
The best thing to do when Waller comes in and passes a physical is to cut him. If he chooses to play football elsewhere, God bless him.
Quote:
of him wanting to return to the NFL next year, followed by his not wanting to play for the Giants, followed by our trying to deal him for a pick - any pick, followed by our outright releasing him b/c no one is willing to give anything for him, followed by him signing with either the Cards for a one year deal worth less than what he would have made as a Giant this year OR the Chiefs and making the SB game winning TD catch.
Mark it down.
Marked down on my "things with no chance of happening" list.
meh - you probably right.
But you really think there's a zero percent chance of the scenario above never happening?
Waller's response - ( New Window )
LOL. His post-NFL career should be producing shitty music as comedy.
Impressive - not everyone can write a lyric that includes “Byron Leftwich”
How we know he loves the game still? Fans are pretty clueless IMO about how much some players really love the game.
But it's almost as if he's looking for somebody (anybody) to punish for it. On top-of-that, it has to be hard for every pro player to face the reality when your body just can't do what you love - A double whammy.
The whole thing is complicated, emotionally & business-wise; the Giants they just need to move on.
He seemingly will tell the team before the mandatory activities begin, and the team has clearly made the contingencies.
Exactly. And I think this is the best indicator that's the ultimate outcome.
He seemingly will tell the team before the mandatory activities begin, and the team has clearly made the contingencies.
Not sure people are angry as much as they are pointing out how bad his music is. If he was good at creating music he would t be taking as much heat for not “deciding” on his future in the NFL.
The music is embarrassing, no other way to describe it.
p.s.--He may very well file his retirement papers, but I doubt that's the last we've heard of him. What is the punishment in fines for a player who files for retirement in June and changes his mind at the end of August? Is it the same as if he simply held out of training camp?
Waller isn't durable, is expensive, and the Giants have replaced everything they were hoping he would be. They have a bona fide number one pass catcher, drafted a receiving TE, and signed two blocking TEs.
If he retires, and then pulls a stint and changes his mind, he'll simply be cut.
We acquired a 30 year old oft injured, mentally unstable has been with a gigantic fork sticking out of his back, and stunted the growth of the only promising TE on the roster at the time. It was a dumb fucking move from jump.