Kenny Golladay couldn’t help but laugh at the irony that even the rare praise he is receiving this week isn’t what he or the Giants expected.
The Giants signed Golladay to a $72 million free-agent contract in 2021 to score touchdowns. He was expected to be a go-to receiver.
But after his first career playoff game, Golladay was recognized only for a forceful block that sprung Saquon Barkley for a 10-yard gain on the decisive touchdown drive in a 31-24 victory against the Vikings. It was one of four snaps out of 72 that Golladay played.
“I guess you can say that’s the type of competitor I am: I’m not trying to put bad stuff on film,” said Golladay, who has been buried on the depth chart since Thanksgiving. “It’s tough. I won’t lie. I have to go out there with the right mindset, and however many plays I get come Saturday, I’ll just try to leave my mark on the game some way, somehow.”
Golladay’s time with the Giants almost certainly will end after the next loss — be it Saturday against the Eagles or later — or after three more wins. He can be cut for $6.7 million in salary-cap savings against a $14.7 million dead cap.
Kenny Golladay delivers a block against the Vikings. Fox/NFL“I’m really not even too focused on that right now,” Golladay said about his future.
Golladay scored his first touchdown in the 33 regular-season games since he signed with the Giants while playing alongside the backups against the Eagles in the regular-season finale. He deferred to the coaches when asked if he deserves another shot to win a jump ball in the end zone against cornerbacks James Bradberry or Darius Slay, two former teammates. But it’s clear that he isn’t looking for an easy exit from the season.
“First off, as far as checking out, I take a lot of pride in what I do,” Golladay said. “I wouldn’t be able to look myself in the mirror to be checked out. I have a lot of football left. The last name on my back, I take a lot of pride in that. That’s what it boils down [to] — and these guys in the locker room.”
It seemed as if Golladay unleashed his season-long frustrations on Vikings cornerback Duke Shelley. On a second-and-10 swing pass to Barkley, Golladay shoved Shelley to the ground to create room on the edge. When Shelley tried to stand, Golladay knocked him down again. Shelley’s mouth guard flew out and bounced away.
“It got our side hyped up,” Golladay said. “Nothing I do really surprises me.”
NFL Network analyst Kyle Brandt hosts a weekly “Good Morning Football” segment nominating the NFL’s best “Angry Runs.” Winners get a scepter and a sweatshirt in the mail. Brandt chose Golladay’s block and Barkley’s 2-yard touchdown run to cap the drive as co-winners.
“It’s all attitude at the end of the day,” Golladay said. “When you normally are used to making a whole bunch of plays, and normally praising up the catches you make, me being in the position I am, any good thing I do will be highlighted a little bit.”
Golladay had two 1,000-yard seasons and led the NFL in touchdowns (11 in 2019) with the Lions. His first season with the Giants (37 catches for 521 yards) was seen as rock bottom until he contributed just six catches for 81 yards this season. Teammates know how difficult the new reality is for Golladay, so they sung his praises after the game for the block.
Giants wide receiver Kenny Golladay goes up for a catch during practice on Wednesday. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post“I told him, ‘You couldn’t have gotten the safety, too? C’mon,’ ” Barkley said in jest. “Obviously the season hasn’t gone how he really wanted it — [media] say whatever you say — but he’s a talented player. I just have a lot of respect for the grit and grind when things aren’t going your way.”
