The New York Giants and representatives for safety Julian Love had discussions about a contract extension during the bye week, but nothing materialized.
General manager Joe Schoen had hoped to get any deals done before the team returned on Tuesday, but will now have to wait for the offseason. And Love has hope that when the time comes, an agreement can be reached.
“I’ll say this — I love playing here. I really enjoy the people here. It’s been a blast these past few years and I respect the hell out of Schoen and everybody upstairs,” Love told reporters. “So yeah, if something can get done, I’d love to get it done but the bye week was that time to figure things out and be involved in it. Right now, I’m letting them handle it, my agent handle it, and focusing on now this bigger role for me and do my thing. It is what it is right now.”
Love is one of the Giants’ core young players and it’s a near guarantee they bring him back. He plays a key role for Wink Martindale defensively, and that will only increase in the absence of Xavier McKinney.
But, should Love be allowed to his free agency, he’s going to listen to other teams before making a decision.
“Yeah, that term, ‘Once A Giant, Always A Giant,’ is something that has been appealing. I’ve been around some greats. Zak DeOssie and Eli Manning just to name a couple,” Love said. “It is appealing. I love it here. My family, my wife — we enjoy it here. That’d be something that’s appealing to me, but at the same time you’ve got to do what’s best for you. That’s the line I have to walk.”
Schoen and the Giants will have the upper-hand in negotiations this offseason and seem committed to keeping Love in the building.
