Another one bit the dust.
The Giants have cut their losses again with an offensive lineman, this time right guard Patrick Omameh, who was waived Saturday before the team headed west for Monday’s game against the 49ers.
Omameh, who general manager Dave Gettleman signed to a three-year, $15 million contract before the season began, had started the first six games at right guard before being benched. John Greco had taken over for him in the interim, but once the Giants claimed Jamon Brown off waivers from the Rams last week, Omameh became expendable.
“It’s always hard when you release a veteran, especially a guy like Pat, probably one of my favorite people that I’ve met doing this,” coach Pat Shurmur said. “Sometimes it’s about the player, sometimes it’s about the situation, the numbers and all that. We wish Pat well.”
The Giants promoted kick returner Quadree Henderson from the practice squad to take Omameh’s roster spot.
The 28-year-old Omameh failed to make an impact on a Giants line that has struggled through eight games. The unit has allowed 31 sacks of Eli Manning and has been unable to open up enough holes for dynamic rookie running back Saquon Barkley.
The Giants cut former first-round draft pick Ereck Flowers in Week 6 after his transition to right tackle did not work out. Now, two of their five starting linemen from Week 1 — an already overhauled unit that was expected to be improved from last year — are no longer with the organization.
“I don’t think it’s admitting mistakes,” Shurmur said. “I think it’s working with players and then always trying to put what we consider to be the best players on the field. Any time you work with someone, that’s not time wasted. … If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out and you move on.”Omameh was the second lineman Gettleman spent significant money on during the offseason after inking left tackle Nate Solder to four-year, $62 million contract, another move that has yet to pay dividends. In his sixth year as a pro, Omameh was originally signed to play left guard before moving over to the right when the Giants drafted Will Hernandez.
“Pat came in and to his credit, he’s been a good soldier,” Shurmur said. “He battled for us. You just make changes. That’s just the way it goes. We’re constantly looking to try to get the right combination of guys. We don’t have a problem playing young players. We’ll constantly change the roster and then the players that are here, we’re going to continue to develop them and that’s why we play.”
Monday night, Brown is expected to be the ninth offensive lineman to start and 10th to play this season for the Giants. Solder and Hernandez have been the only mainstays.
By cutting Omameh, the Giants are expected to save about $3 million next season, but will still have to eat about $3.2 million in dead cap space. The move may also help them in the draft. In releasing Omameh before Week 10, the Giants, per overthecap.com, likely will secure a fourth-round compensatory pick in 2019 for Justin Pugh, who signed with the Cardinals in the offseason.
For a rookie like Hernandez, Omameh’s sudden departure was another reminder of his new life in the NFL.
“I’m not really used to the whole business side of this sport, so it kind of hit me hard, especially even harder because I got close to Patrick the short time I’ve known him,” Hernandez said. “It just kind of sucks but at the end of the day you have to understand it. … It definitely is a reminder to the whole room.”