Landon Collins offered some insight into Ereck Flowers’ mindset and included some pointed advice for his wayward teammate.
The Giants safety said on WFAN Friday that he has reached out to Flowers, but has not heard back. However, Collins’ cousin is close to the offensive tackle and relayed to him that Flowers is not pleased with the team’s decision to sign Nate Solder.
“It’s not that he doesn’t want to be here, he’s just really unhappy that they picked up Solder,” Collins said.
Giants head coach Pat Shurmur called Flowers after the Solder addition to inform him that he would be shifting from left to right tackle. That apparently was not enough to appease the 2015 first-round draft pick, who has been a no-show at Giants voluntary activities.
“He has a lot to learn and he has to work harder,” said Collins, who was on the station with Brandon Jacobs promoting his June 9 celebrity softball game.
“He came in last year, thought he did what he needed to do. He lost weight, was in the proper shape, thought he was playing good the first couple of games and that kinda went downhill when the season went downhill. He continued to get criticism from Day 1 when he came in. After being a first-round draft pick, you don’t want to be called a bust, you know?”
The Giants have not yet given up on Flowers and hope he shows at the team’s mandatory mini-camp next month. The Giants declined Flowers’ fifth-year option for 2019, days after he signed with NFL super agent Drew Rosenhaus.
“He needs to be here as a teammate,” Collins said. “We need to get the O-line together so we can get on the same page. We’ve got this quarterback, this running back, these talented receivers and we have to run with this.”