Latest news with #Ex-New
USA Today
14-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-New York Giants TE Darren Waller decided to retire during Bills game in 2023
Ex-New York Giants TE Darren Waller decided to retire during Bills game in 2023 The New York Giants hoped they were getting a top tight end when they pried Darren Waller away from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a third-round pick in March of 2023. Instead, they got a player who had lost his desire to play football at a professional level. Waller was going through a difficult period in his life. His recent marriage to WNBA star Kelsey Plum was not going well and a chronic hamstring issue had landed the former Pro Bowler on injured reserve (IR) after 12 weeks. Now comes the revelation that the 31-year-old Waller was having second thoughts about his football career well before any of those issues manifested themselves. "I knew I was retiring when we played in Buffalo," Waller said on The Side You Don't See podcast. "It was a game where it was really controversial because one of the guys held me at the end, and they didn't call it. "It was in the first quarter of the game. We were running this counter lead running play, and I'm kind of like leading through the hole like I'm a fullback, and the play is working. But I sit down on the sideline after like a drive where we ran like three times and I'm like, what the f--k am I doing with my life? I'm out here playing fullback. I don't even want to do this s--t anymore." Waller officially retired the next spring. His marriage was over after just one year, and he had to concentrate on his overall health and well-being. From NBC News: Waller detailed a 'very scary' medical situation last November while dealing with an injury suffered in a game a few days earlier. He said he was going home in New Jersey after shooting a music video when he began feeling ill and later started 'shaking like pretty violently' and couldn't breathe. He said he called 911 and ended up hospitalized for 3 1/2 days. 'I go back into my daily life and I'm pretty clear I almost just lost my life and don't know if I really feel like if I would have died that I would have felt great about how my life was going if I died at the time,' Waller said. 'I'm doing something that I found a lot of joy in and have had amazing moments with, but the passion has slowly been fading.' He said the experience 'kind of forced me into a position to re-evaluate, you know, and I've made the decision that I'll be retiring from the NFL.' Waller, by retiring, left a bundle of money on the table (he was scheduled to make $10.5 million in both 2023 and 2024). The Giants were just grateful that he was improving and allowed him extra time to decide on his future. "The first thing with Darren is my concern for him is more of a person than anything. I'm glad he's doing well," head coach Brian Daboll said last June at Giants minicamp. "Spoke to him yesterday. Communicated with him throughout the off-season. That's his decision, we were going to respect the decision and give him as much time as he needed. Wish him well. Here for him if he needs anything. That's what happens in the NFL sometimes." Waller is now concentrating on his health -- mental, emotional, and physical. The Giants replaced him with Theo Johnson of Penn State in last year's NFL draft. Johnson is very similar in both body type and style to Waller.
USA Today
10-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-New York Giants WR Golden Tate recalls 2020 fight with Rams' Jalen Ramsey
Ex-New York Giants WR Golden Tate recalls 2020 fight with Rams' Jalen Ramsey Former New York Giants wide receiver Golden Tate was surrounded by controversy throughout his tenure in East Rutherford. It started when he joined the team and was suspended for four games for violating the league's rules on performance-enhancing drugs. Tate appealed the decision, saying it was for fertility, but the NFL denied the appeal. Things ended when the Giants released him after the 2020 season, in which Tate often complained about his lack of touches. The other nail in his coffin with the Giants happened after a game against the Los Angeles Rams when he and Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey got into an altercation. Ramsey has two children with Tate's younger sister, Breanna, and Tate took issue with how his sister was being treated. He recently appeared on the "Bussing with the Boys" podcast and opened up about the altercation. "Things happened within that relationship where I don't think my sister was done or treated the way she should have been treated," Tate said. "When that happens, who do you have to come see? You've got to come see Big Bro. I think I might have made it public like he going to have to see me at some point, but it wasn't to the point where I was about to fight him on the field or anything. I guess he took that personal." Indeed, Ramsey also took it personally as the two sought each other out after the Giants' 17-9 loss and had it out on the field until they were separated. While the two aren't best friends now, it seems they have at least learned to put their quibbles to the side for the sake of the children involved. "We haven't talked, but I think we both kind of have agreed to not be knuckleheads for the betterment of his daughters and my nieces, and that's kind of where we stand," he said. "I do think he's grown as a man. I know I've grown as a man. I made mistakes as a youngin' as well, so I do think he has gotten better. I do provide grace in that area, but that's still baby sis, right?" After his release from the Giants, Tate signed with the Tennessee Titans' practice squad before retiring from the NFL.
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley named to Madden 26 cover
Ex-New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley named to Madden 26 cover Former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley took the league by storm in 2025. He set a new record for his 2,000-plus yards rushing over the regular season and postseason, and it's the way he got those yards that has everyone's head on a swivel. Barkley'sathleticism, agility, and ability to break tackles and keep going are hard to turn away from. That incredible 2024 season not only helped the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl, but it has led EA Sports to name Barkley to the cover of Madden NFL 26. The photo depicts Barkley doing his infamous reserve hurdle over a player trying to tackle him -- the most viral play from the 2024 regular season. Now, we have to talk about the Madden Curse. Historically, there have been several instances where the player depicted on the cover of that year's Madden NFL game is severely injured or has a major decline in performance. Michael Vick, Daunte Culpepper, and even Barry Sanders have been affected by this "curse." The curse has been broken over the years but many are still wary. Will Barkley be impacted in 2025?
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-New York Giants captain Jonathan Casillas can see Malik Nabers in leadership role
Ex-New York Giants captain Jonathan Casillas can see Malik Nabers in leadership role New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers may only be 21 years old, but he's showing signs of putting his stamp on the team both on the field and in the locker room. As a rookie, Nabers led the team in receptions and injected life into a team that had been D.O.A. the season before. Off the field, Nabers was vocal regarding his usage, wanting the football more even though he was second in the NFL in targets in 2024. Former Giants linebacker and captain, Jonathan Casillas, recently told Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News that he believes Nabers is on his way to becoming a leader on this transitioning roster. 'He's young, and he might have said some things out of pocket last year as a young, diva-like receiver,' Casillas said on the Talkin' Ball with Pat Leonard podcast. 'But Malik Nabers, I think people value the things he says. I think [Brian] Daboll values the things he says. 'I want to highlight him because not just do I think he was a tremendous talent last year, I do think he was trying to step into that leadership role,' Casillas added. 'I think he sensed there was kind of a vacancy there, with the carousel at the quarterback position and QB play that hasn't really been there for a few years. I think he wanted to step up and be that guy.' Last year, Nabers was frustrated with both the team's losing ways and perhaps his game-costing drop in an early-season loss in Washington. He spoke out in the media, which is normally frowned upon when it comes to young players, especially rookies. 'They want me to speak up,' Nabers said of Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll. 'They feel like my energy helps the offense, in a way, to be explosive. So of course I'm going to speak up if something doesn't go my way. That's just how I am. I won't just sit back and let it go down just because I'm a young player. Clout don't mean nothing.' Nabers will surely be the Giants' go-to receiver again this year, no matter who the team plays at quarterback. Veteran Russell Wilson called Nabers a "freak of an athlete" and sees a solid future between them. "This guy, when he touches the ball, he may score every single time. He's been exciting," Wilson said in April. "Got to talk to him along the way. He's fired up and we've had a lot of good conversations so far." First-round pick Jaxson Dart is likely to get some snaps this year and beyond at quarterback. He is also looking forward to playing with Nabers, as are Giant fans.
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Ex-New York Times editor reportedly gives emotional apology to Sarah Palin in libel retrial
Ex-New York Times editor reportedly gives emotional apology to Sarah Palin in libel retrial The former New York Times editor said he was under pressure when he added the language linking Palin's political action committee to a 2011 shooting in Arizona, Reuters reported. Show Caption Hide Caption Georgia poll workers speak out about Rudy Giuliani's defamation A jury determined Rudy Giuliani must pay $148 million in damages to Ruby Freeman and Wandrea "Shaye" Moss. Scripps News A former New York Times opinion editor got emotional in court at a retrial in Sarah Palin's libel lawsuit against the paper, multiple outlets reported. Palin, the former Republican vice presidential nominee, sued the NY Times over a 2017 editorial that she alleges damaged her reputation. A jury rejected Palin's claim in 2022, and a judge moved to dismiss the lawsuit. But Reuters reported the case headed to a retrial on April 15 after an appeal. James Bennet, the editor who wrote parts of the piece at the center of the lawsuit, testified on April 17 and got emotional while apologizing to Palin, according to the Associated Press. 'I blew it, you know,' Bennet said, per the New York Times. 'I made a mistake.' More: Supreme Court turns away casino mogul Steve Wynn's challenge to defamation law NYT editorial linked Palin to 2011 Arizona shooting that injured Gabby Giffords Palin's lawsuit alleges the NY Times defamed her when an editorial piece falsely stated her political rhetoric contributed to a 2011 shooting in Arizona that killed six and injured former Rep. Gabby Giffords. Bennet said he was under deadline pressure when he added language claiming there was a link between the shooting and a map from Palin's political action committee, Reuters reported. The NY Times issued a correction that said it 'incorrectly stated that a link existed between political rhetoric and the 2011 shooting." When the case was first tried in 2022, the judge said Palin's legal team did not demonstrate that the NY Times published the error out of "actual malice," a requirement in libel lawsuits involving public figures. But Reuters reported the appeals court ruled the previous verdict was tainted, sending it to a retrial. The judge in the case said Bennet's apology was "heartfelt," but Palin shrugged it off, according to the AP. Contributing: Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY; Reuters Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @
