Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Landon Collins: I couldn’t be myself with Giants
Ever since signing a 6-year, $84 million deal with Washington, safety Landon Collins couldn't wait to face his former team to prove they had made a mistake in letting him hit free agency.
Collins' opportunity came and went and unfortunately for him and his new teammates, they were embarrassed by the Giants to the tune of 24-3, a loss that sent Washington to an 0-4 start.
Collins, who recorded nine tackles, seemed to make the most noise postgame when he got involved in a mini scuffle with the Giants bench, and, in particular, Giants safety Jabrill Peppers, who nt only replaced Collins at strong safety, but who also took Collins' old No. 21 jersey.
Peppers wouldn't go into specifics but tried to take the high road.
"It's a division game, it's definitely more personal, but that's just football," he said.
"I have the utmost respect for those guys, especially Landon, it's all love. When you are playing football, you have to tap into another dimension so you can be the player your team needs you to be. I just didn't turn it off quick enough and I don't think he did, either. Nothing serious, it's all love."
Collins was a lot less willing to go down the same path as Peppers as far as what was behind the scuffle, though he eventually did let it out that there was some jawing between the two that didn't sit well with him.
"Emotions were cool. I’m happy where I am. I’m excited. I love these guys I’m around," he said.
"I’m not stepping on any eggshells. I’m myself. These guys over here, they love me. They respect me. They see me as a captain and a role model, so it’s awesome."
Collins' words about being himself raised an eyebrow or two among reporters gathered around his locker, so he was asked if he thought he wasn't allowed to be himself while with the Giants.
"No," he said.
Why not?
"I can’t answer that."
Collins has made no secret of the fact that he's no fan of Giants general manager Dave Gettleman, whom he accused of having lied to him earlier this year.
“No dignity at all,” Collins told NJ Advance Media. “I didn’t know what was going on. He’s a liar. He lied to everybody. So that’s a man I do not trust. I would hope nobody else would, too.”
Collins was particularly upset over how his departure from the team was handled shrouded in secrecy by the general manager and told NJ Advance Media that he felt he was being unfairly lumped into a group of players considered to be problems.
“Once (Gettleman) came out and started talking about how we were problems, and they got rid of the problems, I’m trying to figure out: When have I ever been a problem?” Collins said. “Don’t group me in something that I wasn’t the cause of.
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