The last time Golden Tate was on the field with the Giants, he was shouting “Throw me the damn ball!’’ That outburst prompted Tate to be kept off the field for the victory over Washington but could put the onus on Daniel Jones or offensive play-caller Jason Garrett to satisfy Tate by getting the ball in his hands early on Sunday against the Eagles.
Or not.
“No, we don’t feel the pressure to get anybody involved early,’’ Tyke Tolbert, the wide receivers coach, said Tuesday.
Head coach Joe Judge decided to leave Tate behind and did not take him to Washington. Judge welcomed Tate back this week. His replacement, undrafted rookie Austin Mack, caught four passes for 72 yards, including a 50-yard catch, the longest for the Giants this season.
“I think Golden will probably fit right back where he was before,’’ Tolbert said. “Like coach Judge said, I anticipate Golden coming back and being part of the game plan, being active and we’ll see where that leads.’’
Tate’s outburst during the loss to the Buccaneers was followed by his wife, Elise, going to Instagram to complain her husband was open and needed to get the ball thrown his way.
“Show me one receiver that don’t want the ball, then you show me the first one,’’ Tolbert said. “Because that’ll be the first one I’ve seen. But with Golden, the fact that you keep preaching to him about the team, the team, the team.
“I have a phrase I always use with those guys — if you think you’re getting open and you don’t get the ball, just keep getting open, we’ll find you. So, maybe what it used to be when Golden was at other places, he probably got more looks, but our first and foremost deal here, it’s about the team and whatever role that is. Is it run blocking, is it carrying out for another receiver, is it you making plays on the ball, is it special teams? Whatever’s best for the team, that’s what we’re gonna do. That’s what coach Judge has brought to the New York Giants’ organization.’’
Corey Ballentine, the second-year cornerback who started the first two games this season, was waived on Tuesday as the Giants activated guard Will Hernandez off the reserve/COVID-19 list and also activated receiver Dante Pettis.
Ballentine, a 2019 sixth-round draft pick, played in 22 games (four starts). He could be signed to the practice squad if he clears waivers. Ballentine lost his role as a kickoff returner and did not play a single snap on defense in Sunday’s victory over Washington.
Hernandez missed the last two games after testing positive for the coronavirus.
Pettis was awarded to the Giants off waivers last Wednesday from the 49ers. He was given a roster exemption while he was in the COVID-19 protocols.
