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Justin Pugh battled a back injury all season, playing in only eight games for the New York Giants and landing on injured reserve. As players packed to go home for the offseason on Monday, Pugh said he had “no reservations” about his back long-term.
“I went to see the No. 1 back specialist in the world out in California and he told me everything will be alright,” Pugh said. “I have no reservations about it. I’ll be good to go in a month. So, yeah, all will be well.”
Pugh, of course, is heading to free agency after five seasons with the Giants.Even with new GM Dave Gettleman’s affinity for the big guys he calls “hog mollies,” and his stated goal of fixing the offensive line Pugh doesn’t know if he will be back next season.
“I want to win. I want to win now. I’ve been in five years. I only made the playoffs one time. Being in a good situation, being close to home was great for me. Being so close to my family. Always having them around. So, all those things go into it,” Pugh said. “I’m looking forward to getting to it and it’s an exciting time. This is the first time I’ll ever get to choose where I play and the situation that I’m in. Obviously, I’ve grown up in New York. I want to be in New York. But, we’ll see what happens.”
Spags explains release of Bobby Hart
It is unusual, to say the least, to waive a starter a day before the season ends. That, though, is what the Giants did with Bobby Hart. Interim coach Steve Spagnuolo tried on Monday to say health was the reason.
“We needed a spot to get two offensive linemen up. I could go into all the possible scenarios, but that was the one that was set in front of us and that’s the one we made,” Spagnuolo said. “He wasn’t able to play. He was hurt. He had an ankle. He was not going to play in the game and that was kind of the reason. He was not going to be able to play in the game. We had to find a spot.”
Hard to buy, though, that an ankle injury necessitated getting rid of Hart completely.
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