Frustrated Justin Tuck Feels He Was Disrespected By Giants
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Justin Tuck is not happy with how his illustrious Giants career came to an end.
The 30-year-old defensive end, who signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Raiders, felt like he wasn't wanted by the team that he helped win two Super Bowl titles.
Not only did he not receive a goodbye from any members of the Giants' brass, according to the New York Daily News, but the offer he received from the organization "was pretty much disrespectful, to be honest with you."
"They wouldn't have had to match it," Tuck told the newspaper. "You know, at the beginning of free agency, I'm going in thinking I'm not looking for a lot. I understand the Giants have a lot of holes to fill. If they were trying to sign me before free agency hit, or at least were trying to communicate with us, then I probably would've took somewhere around a two-year deal, $8 million.
"Somewhere around there. But it wasn't even like that. It was like they weren't even trying to get me back. That made my mind up for me."
According to the Daily News, the Giants offered their former defensive leader and captain roughly half of what Oakland offered him.
The newspaper reported that Giants co-owner John Mara requested that Tuck give him a chance to match whatever the Raiders offered, but when it came down to it, Mara wasn't interested in paying what Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie was.
"He said, 'They didn't budge at all from their offer,'" Tuck said in regard to his agent, according to the Daily News. "That pretty much made my mind up for me."
More than anything, the two-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection would have appreciated the Giants being more up front and honest with him.
"That's the disrespect part," Tuck told the newspaper. "I don't want people to think I'm bad-mouthing the Giants. I'm not. I understand the business and I have so much gratitude for them giving me the opportunity to have my presence felt in New York and be the man I've become.
"I'm just frustrated with how it ended. I'm upset about it. But I'll move on and hopefully one day time will heal all wounds. Right now, I just don't understand a lot that's gone on and how they strung us along."
The former third-round pick, who debuted with Big Blue in 2005, recorded 63 combined tackles in 16 games for the Giants in 2013. He had 11 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.
"Like I said, I'm not bitter," Tuck told the Daily News. "I still love that organization and have a lot of respect for the people that work there. I still consider myself lucky that I've been able to be here for nine years ... I plan on having a pretty damn awesome year next year, to be honest with you. I appreciate the Giants for giving me a lot more motivation for next season."
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