New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks has been battling knee and foot injuries all season long, and as a result he has not been able to provide much for Eli Manning and his team’s offense. The Giants have struggled on offense as of late, and one of the reasons has been Nicks’ inability to separate from defenders as he seems to always be either out or limited in practice while trying to keep the swelling in his knee at bay.
The fourth-year receiver has played in six games this season and has only 27 catches for 390 yards and a touchdown. But Nicks doesn’t want to hear anything about his stat line.
“Stats is for girls. It’s football, man,” he said Wednesday according to The Star-Ledger. “The season is going to be up and down. It’s about how you ride the wave and if you let it affect you. I know I’m a great football player, and we’re ready to make this run after the bye week.”
A team spokesman later clarified that Nicks was referring to a team slogan his high school coach used to use, which referenced the fact players who care about their own stats are only looking to impress the ladies. Does it really matter?
As someone like Alex Smith will tell you, stats can mean very little in certain situations. That being said, Nicks’ stats are indicative of the fact that he cannot remain healthy for any extended period of time. Without him on the field, defenders can hone in on Victor Cruz and make New York’s offense a lot less dynamic. Nicks can ignore the stats if it helps him feel better, but denial won’t help him contribute to the winning cause.
H/T Pro Football Talk
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE
