Although Landon Collins grew up dreaming of playing for the Washington Redskins, where his idol, Sean Taylor, dominated prior to his untimely death, it didn’t make leaving the New York Giants any easier on him.
Collins had repeatedly stated he’d like to end his career where it began, but that just wasn’t in the cards. Instead, general manager Dave Gettleman and the Giants let him walk into free agency unimpeded.
With several months to sit on the outcome, Collins admits he was “heartbroken” that the Giants didn’t so much as engage in contract discussions.
“I’m starting a new chapter and I’m on a good team,” Collins told NJ Advance Media. “When I left the Giants, I was kind of heartbroken. I loved the Giants. When I started there, I wanted to finish there.
“I wanted to be one of those guys to finish his career on one team. They didn’t give me the opportunity to do that. It’s a business. I can’t do anything about that.”
Collins also says he saw the writing on the wall during the 2018 season when trade rumors surfaced and it looked as if the Giants were going to send him packing. Ultimately, Gettleman decided against that because of the negative impact it would have had on the locker-room.
“They never made an offer,” Collins said. “I knew when they were about to trade me how it was going to go. Very, very eye-opening.”
Ultimately, Collins says, he’s got added “motivation” for the next six years and that he looks forward to playing against his former team twice per season.
