'Enormous' Brian Daboll evades explanation for releasing primary CB'
The 2-7 New York Giants made the uncommon decision to release a starting cornerback, letting go of Nick McCloud and promoting Art Green from the practice squad this week.
McCloud, a fourth-year player from Notre Dame, had started in five of his seven games this season, including the past two weeks. However, he only played in nine defensive snaps in Sunday's defeat to Washington after playing 50 the previous week.
\"I have a lot of respect for Nick, but that was a choice we made,\" Giants coach Brian Daboll stated when asked about the decision to cut McCloud instead of keeping him as a backup. \"We're bringing Art up and he'll take on some of those roles.
\"(Green) has been doing well. We'll give him an opportunity at gunner. Some (defensive back) work, as the fourth or fifth DB. He's been doing a great job since he's been here. So, that's what we did.\"
McCloud, 26, played in two games as an undrafted rookie for Cincinnati in 2021. He then appeared in 31 games over the past two seasons for the Giants, recording a total of 71 tackles with 1.5 sacks and one interception from 2022-23.
However, he has been graded as the 104th-best out of 110 cornerbacks evaluated by Pro Football Focus this season.
According to the New York Post, McCloud had a one-year, $2.985 million contract and was recently asked by the team, struggling with salary cap issues, to take a pay cut.
When asked about the message it might send to the team when a 2-7 team cuts ties with a starting player in a move reportedly motivated by finances, Daboll responded, \"I would just say that it was a decision we made and Art will have the opportunity to step up. There are a lot of changes on a weekly basis in the NFL and I think everyone involved understands that.\"
The Giants also re-signed punter Matt Haack and offensive lineman Bryan Hudson to the practice squad. Haack had been released on Tuesday with Jamie Gillan returning from a hamstring injury.
New York will travel to Munich on Thursday to face the 2-7 Carolina Panthers this Sunday. Daboll stated that a decision has not yet been made on whether wide receiver Darius Slayton will travel with the team as he goes through the concussion protocol.
