Giants not too heavily invested in Cowboys-Redskins result
The Giants won’t be glued to their television sets or smartphones Thanksgiving Day tracking the Cowboys-Redskins score. They seemed ambivalent Wednesday about the game, even if a Dallas win would help Big Blue.
“If that’s who we need to win, I guess [I’ll root for them],” safety Landon Collins said.
Eli Manning was planning to watch it, but didn’t think it made enough difference to pick a team to pull for. The Giants trail both the Cowboys and Redskins in the standings. Though Washington is in first place, it just lost starting quarterback Alex Smith for the season with a broken leg.
“You never know how it’s all going to end up or play out,” Manning said.
When asked his feelings on the matter, Eagles coach Doug Pederson said he wouldn’t have a hard time pulling for the rival Cowboys.
“Well, at this time of year, you have to do what you have to do,” he said.
Giants coach Pat Shurmur said he will watch the game, but won’t be rooting for either team. He will have a special interest in new Redskins starting quarterback Colt McCoy, though. The two were together in 2011 and 2012 with the Browns.
“I was a young head coach and he was a rookie quarterback,” Shurmur said. “We spent a lot of time together. I think we grew up together in a lot of ways.”
Saquon Barkley has the fans on his side. The rookie running back, named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday, is fifth overall in Pro Bowl voting from fans. Fan voting, which runs through Dec. 13, is a third of the selection process, along with player and coach voting. Trailing only Saints QB Drew Brees, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, Rams RB Todd Gurley and Steelers RB James Conner, Barkley has rushed for 728 yards, caught 64 passes for 540 yards and scored 10 touchdowns.
Barkley isn’t the only Giant feeling love from fans. Odell Beckham Jr. is second among wide receivers, behind only Antonio Brown of the Steelers, and Landon Collins is third among safeties, after Jamal Adams of the Jets and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix of the Redskins.
DE Kerry Wynn remains in the concussion protocol and didn’t practice. Otherwise, the Giants are the picture of health. The Eagles, meanwhile, are hurting in the secondary. CBs Rasul Douglas (knee/ankle), Jalen Mills (foot), Avonte Maddox (knee/ankle) and Sidney Jones (hamstring) all didn’t practice on Wednesday. Of the four, Maddox is the best bet to be available, with Jones likely out and the other two question marks.
