Amidst speculation the New York Giants may consider trading Hakeem Nicks, the team reportedly denied having any intention of dealing the Super Bowl winning receiver. For his part, Nicks, who's in the final year of his contract, indicated he hasn't heard anything from the team to suggest he's being shopped.
The Giants' miserable start to the season generated talk of the team trading Nicks, their most valuable asset, in an effort to stockpile draft picks for next year. At least one source, however, denied Nicks being on the trade block.
"(I am) told there is no truth to rumors the Giants are shopping Hakeem Nicks or open to trading him," NFL Network's Kimberly Jones tweeted on Monday.
Nicks also said he hasn't heard any trade discussions within the organization, adding that he hoped the team would tell him if he were being shopped around.
"I'm sure they've got enough respect for me to come to me and talk to me about a situation like that," Nicks said on Monday, via ESPN. "As of now, I'm a Giant. At the end of the day, business is business. But I haven't been getting any whiff of anything like that. I'm a Giant right now, and I'm going to enjoy it, and we've got to start winning games."
Teams, such as the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots, are needy for a veteran receiver. Nicks is in the final year of his contract, and with holes everywhere in the roster, there's no guarantee New York would be able to re-sign Nicks after the season. Trading Nicks now would give the Giants something in return if the team is going to lose him next year anyway.
With the NFL trade deadline looming around the corner, and if the offer were big enough, the Giants could change their tune before Oct. 29.
As for Nicks, the trade rumors aren't bothering him.
"I'm a Giant, and that's the only thing I can focus on right now," said Nicks. "I'm a Giant, and I love playing for the Giants. I'm a Giant right now, and I'm going to stand strong on that."
