Flashback Friday: Giants sign ex-Lions WR Kenny Golladay to mega deal
Last March, the New York Giants signed Detroit Lions star wide receiver Kenny Golladay to a four-year, $72 million deal. The contract was panned by executives and pundits across the league as egregious.
Golladay was coming off a season shortened by injury and was not deserving a top-of-the-market deal according to most. He has been perhaps one of the biggest free agent busts in recent years.
Giants fans are struggling to figure out just what has happened to Golladay since his Pro Bowl season of 2019 when he reeled in 65 receptions for 1,190 receiving yards and a league-leading 11 receiving touchdowns.
That season, Golladay wowed Giant fans with an eye-popping performance in the Lions’ 31-26 Week 7 win at Ford Field. In the game, Golladay caught six of eight targets for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
Where did that player go?
In 2020, Golladay played just five games for the Lions, missing the first two weeks with hamstring strain and the last nine weeks with a hip injury. After the season, he entered free agency and at least a half-dozen team sought his services. The Giants snared him with their monster offer.
In training camp this summer, general manager Joe Schoen ‘revealed’ that Golladay had undergone an “unspecified medical procedure” in the offseason. He did not specify the body part involved. Just speculating here, but that hip injury may be the source of Golladay’s health issues. His recent knee and hamstring could be related as well.
On Golladay: "He has been running routes this summer with the stiffness of a mannequin and was curiously on the field playing with the backups in New York's final preseason tune-up this past Sunday. Much like his first season with the Giants, it was strange and eye-opening." https://t.co/pwWE3YtwvA
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) September 1, 2022
Golladay finished 2021 totaling 37 receptions for 521 yards and no touchdowns and only has two catches for 22 yards this season. He has not caught a pass since Week 1. In fact, he has continued to look stiff and out of synch and has failed to reel in several easy targets.
Golladay is hurting again this week with a sore hamstring and who knows if he will play. All we know is that the Lions will not be looking across the field at Golladay on the Giants’ sideline with any remorse.
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