Does New York Giants Head Coach Ben McAdoo Mean The End For Rueben Randle?
After an inconsistent 2015 season, Rueben Randle will become a free agent in March. While many New York Giants fans may want to see him leave the organization, the issue may not be so cut and dried. The Giants lack depth at wide receiver and their two biggest names, Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham Jr., are prone to injury.
Prior to the meaningless Week 17 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, when asked whether Randle wanted to return to the Giants in 2016, he replied, “Of course… I love playing on this team and love playing with the guys on this team,” Randle told The New York Post. “I’ve built a special bond with a lot of people in this organization, so it would be tough leaving them. I would love to stick around, but we’ll see how it goes.”
At that time, there was some question about the future of said organization. Now that Ben McAdoo has been installed as head coach, it’s time to start reevaluating the talent on the roster. In an interview with The Post this week, McAdoo revealed what he will not stand for on his Giants. “The way I grew up in this business, there are two reasons to jump a player — and that’s, number one, lack of effort, and two, repeated mistakes.”
Sounds like a certain free agent wide receiver. Randle was criticized throughout the season for being inconsistent. Randle was the target on two interceptions in the end zone at the end of the season. Once against the Redskins, where the ball was thrown behind him and he drifted rather than come towards the ball. The other was against the Jets, where he ran a slant, but cut off the route when he thought he was covered, leading to another Eli Manning interception.
Playing opposite OBJ should give a receiver ample one-on-one opportunities, but Randle often goes entire halves unnoticed. Despite the fact that he’s been with Eli Manning since he was drafted in 2012, he has failed to develop a report with his QB.
Randle did however finish with 57 receptions and eight touchdowns, second on the Giants in both categories. And due to injuries, the Giants were at times left with their kick returner and players from practice squad as their primary receivers. The Giants do have plenty of money to spend in the offseason, but much of that will go to the defense. McAdoo may not stand for players who lack effort and make mistakes, but might he and Reese keep Randle anyway?