New York Giants cannot pursue Richard Sherman

The New York Giants are trying to win a Super Bowl next February, but pursuing cornerback Richard Sherman isn’t realistic.

In a fantasy football world where money is irrelevant and winning is what matters most, the New York Giants pursuing cornerback Richard Sherman once he enters the open market makes all kinds of sense. The one-time Super Bowl champion informed pretty much any media outlet willing to speak with him or accept his texts on Friday that the Seattle Seahawks are letting him go. While Sherman didn’t rule a return to Seattle out, all indications are his run with the franchise is finished for now.

Sherman is a proven winner, a proven locker-room leader respected around the NFL and somebody who would bring a no-nonsense attitude to a defense in need of some toughness following a disastrous 2017. Even though Sherman ruptured his Achilles last November, multiple teams will, at the very least, investigate the possibility of signing him later this month. Therein lies the issue with the Giants even considering bringing Sherman in for a chat.

After the Giants traded for Los Angeles Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree in a transaction far more controversial among New York fans than necessary, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY/SNY.tv estimated the Giants will be working with roughly $19.3 million of salary cap space assuming the club restructures Ogletree’s contract as expected. Granted, the Giants can and will free space up via cuts and other methods along the way, but we’re talking a few million here and a few million there, and not franchise-changing money.

According to Marc Sessler of NFL.com, cutting Sherman frees $11 million in salary-cap space for a Seattle team rebuilding its defense. Whether or not Sherman, who turns 30 years old later this month, will receive similar compensation coming off a major injury is unknown, especially considering some would say he took steps backwards last fall before the setback. For what it’s worth, Sherman answered his critics via Twitter:

History suggests veteran defensive backs with solid resumes who don’t jump off box scores during their final seasons with teams still get paid in this market. One example is Darrelle Revis, who earned $12 million from the New England Patriots, per ESPN,com’s Mike Reiss, in March 2014 after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers let him go.

As Dan Cosentino of NJ.com explained, the New York Jets then guaranteed that same Revis no less than $39 million on a five-year deal that carried a max value of $70 million for a homecoming in March 2015. Revis and the Jets parted ways, for good, two seasons into that contract.

Say, for example, Sherman can and will be talked into taking a discount. What’s more likely; that he grants such a discount to a New England Patriots side that will probably once again compete for a Super Bowl, or to a franchise that finished second-worst in the overall standings and has a brand new front office and new coaching staff? The choice seems obvious.

The money issues don’t account for Sherman’s outspoken personality, something not likely to gel with Giants ownership. Co-owner John Mara has lashed out at superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. about his antics over the past couple of years, and he emailed media outlets last September to inform the public he was “unhappy” about Beckham’s touchdown celebration that included an imaginary fire hydrant.

Per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, Mara also asked Giants players last September to stand for renditions of the national anthem amid protests occurring around the NFL at time. Those who don’t know Sherman personally cannot say how he’d feel about that request, but he likely wouldn’t remain silent if he had a problem with Mara’s words.

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Some may point to New York cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple earning suspensions at different points of the 2017 season as additional reasoning for why the Giants cannot pursue Sherman. That isn’t fair. Those punishments occurred under a regime guided by Ben McAdoo, and Sherman isn’t known to rock the boat as those three men (allegedly) did after McAdoo (allegedly) lost the locker room.

In the end, the Giants not signing Sherman is a football decision first and foremost. The club has other glaring holes on both sides of the roster that must be filled via free agency and the draft, and the money isn’t right for this type of unnecessary splash. Unlike with the trade for Ogletree, the risk isn’t worth the reward.