Through 10 games, Hakeem Nicks does not have a touchdown. The New York Giants wide receiver has yet to have the kind of season where he proves to be a top free agent pickup come the offseason, something he needs to be with an expiring contract to his name. After a sideline outburst highlight Week 11 for Nicks, teammates are now sticking up for him despite the low numbers.
In total, Nicks has 42 catches for 620 yards. Victor Cruz remains the top receiver as Rueben Randle continues to prove that he is the best long-term option for the Giants over the potentially expensive Nicks. Frustration is running high for the receiver and it came to a head last Sunday after he lost his cool on the sideline only to be consoled by Andre Brown and Brandon Jacobs. So what is wrong with Nicks? Nothing according teammate Justin Tuck.
"Hakeem is fine. Hakeem is fine," Tuck said, via NJ.com." The one thing people don't understand about a situation like that is how competitive he is. It wasn't anything selfish, I think that's what it comes off as when you see it from the outside. But he's just competitive and he wants to help the football team out. He knows his talent and we know his talent. Just a little frustration there and I think he responded well, went back out there and helped us win football games."
The Giants need Nicks to start returning to that top threat player he once was. Head coach Tom Coughlin recognizes that Nicks is frustrated by where he is at this point in the year. Preparing to play out the final six games of his current contract, Randle has developed into a more favored receiver. He has six touchdowns on the season despite his 51 targets, significantly less than both Nicks and Cruz.
"We all share in that. Just continue to try and support and encourage him to be the best that he can be and it'll happen. There's been opportunities, so we just have to continue to try and get better and it'll happen," Coughlin said.
Is Nicks playing himself out of a top-dollar contract? Most NFL Insiders do not believe that is the case. Analyst Joel Curry tells NJ.com that when DeSean Jackson was in his contract year, he put up low numbers. Mike Wallace did the same thing before signing a $60 million contract with $30 million in guaranteed money. Nicks will still likely land something in the $10 million range per season, it just might not be with the Giants.
