Everyone is on notice with the New York Giants, so it comes as no surprise that late Thursday rumors began to swirl of a trade. NFL "Insiders" ran wild with the rumors that the Detroit Lions were trading running back Mikel Leshoure in favor of wide receiver Hakeem Nicks. On the outside, this rumor actually seems like it could be true for a number of reasons, but every New York fan can breathe easy, because it was all false.
NBC's Pro Football Talk reports that any rumor of a trade surrounding these two players is simply not true. It is not crazy, but it is not happening. Everything started to develop after starting Detroit receiver Nate Burleson broke his arm in a car accident and was deemed out for the near future. The Lions began searching for his replacement as the Detroit Free Press confirmed the team has been in contact with several others about putting together a potential deal. However, the Cleveland Browns were the only team mentioned, not the Giants.
Nicks and New York have been on rocky terms. The wide receiver sat out some workouts in the offseason, reportedly in search of a new contract. Playing out the final year of his current deal, Nicks' expiring contract makes him trade bait no matter how talented he is. There was also that little rumored riff between Eli Manning and the wide receiver after Nicks made comments about his lack of targets.
In wake of the shutout by the Carolina Panthers, Nicks said, "I can't throw the ball to myself." Manning indicated all was fine between the two. "We just kind of looked at each other and said, 'Hey, we don't have to talk about this right?' " Manning said, via the New York Daily News. "Hakeem's one of my great friends. I never thought he was saying anything at me or making any jabs. That's Hakeem, and he's good and we'll get back on track this week."
The deal also felt true since Leshoure had reportedly requested a trade after the Lions added Reggie Bush in the offseason, decreasing his role with the team. However, everyone is staying put as once again the rumor mill proves to be not true.
