Former Giants’ receiver Hakeem Nicks was released by the New Orleans Saints Monday, as first reported by Saints beat writer, Josh Katzenstein.
Sean Payton said the Saints cut WR Hakeem Nicks.
— Josh Katzenstein (@jkatzenstein) August 8, 2016
Nicks posted back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons in 2010 and 2011 and, in tandem with Victor Cruz, gave the Giants one of the NFL’s most feared receiving duos.  During that 2011 playoff run, which culminated in a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots for the franchise’s fourth championship, Nicks caught 28 passes for 444 yards and four touchdowns.
Before the 2012 season, Nicks broke his foot during OTA’s
. Â He returned for the final preseason contest, and had a monster game in week two of the regular season, posting 10 catches for 199 yards and a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Aqib Talib, but he was never quite the same player. Â He would miss the following three weeks after aggravating foot and leg injuries during the contest and did not post another 100-yard game for the rest of the season.
Nicks failed to reach the 1,000 yard mark in 2012, as well as in 2013 and did not record a touchdown the entire season.  He signed with the Indianapolis Colts the following offseason, but couldn’t consistently break into the receiving rotation.  He finished the 2014 season with 38 catches for 405 yards and 4 TD’s on a then career-low 10.7 yards per reception
The Colts let him walk after one season, and he eventually landed with the Tennessee Titans, who cut him before the start of the 2015 campaign. Â The Giants brought Nicks back in week 11 after injuries besieged their receiving corps. Â He finished the season with just seven catches for 54 yards, and it was clear he had lost the athletic gifts which had him of the verge of a stardom just three years earlier.
Nicks finished his Giants career top ten in receptions (318), yards (4,676), and 12th in touchdowns (27).
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