Flowers back in bloom for Blue
ERECK Flowers is back in the building. The Giants tackle reported to the team training facility in East Rutherford on Monday, the Daily News confirmed.
It is the first time Flowers has been there for the offseason program under new head coach Pat Shurmur.
The Giants’ 2015 firstround pick was the only player on the roster who failed to report to any voluntary workouts since they began on April 9.
While Flowers’ absence has created some friction with the organization, Shurmur said on Saturday he was looking forward to working with him.
“We’ve been in contact with Ereck. It’s our understanding that he’s in good shape,” he said. “I can’t wait for him to be here. I’ve mentioned it in the past, there were some things that he did last year that were really good, and I look forward to him getting here at some point and working with him.”
The Giants reportedly tried to trade Flowers — who is guaranteed $4.5 million this season — during the NFL Draft and a week later declined his fifth-year option.
Yet Shurmur maintained on Saturday that the Giants are “a better team with him here than without him.”
Flowers had recently hired agent Drew Rosenhaus to represent him after previously being represented by his family.
Neither Shurmur nor GM Dave Gettleman shared why Flowers decided not to report, citing that the program was voluntary, but Giants safety Landon Collins told WFAN earlier this month that it was because of the addition of left tackle Nate Solder. The Giants signed Solder in March and told Flowers he would be moved to right tackle.
“It’s not that he doesn’t want to be here,” Collins said. “My cousin is close friends with him. He’s just not happy they picked up Nate Solder.”
Shurmur was not thrilled with his Pro Bowl safety’s comments and made it clear on Saturday.
“That’s not for Landon to talk about,” Shurmur said. “I don’t think our players should be talking about another players’ situation.”
The Giants waived six players and signed six others as they began full-squad voluntary workouts on Monday. Among those waived were CB Brandon Dixon, OT Adam Bisnowaty, LB Derrick Matthews, CB C.J. Goodwin and two undrafted rookie free agents — TE Stephen Baggett and CB Byron Fields.
They signed veteran G Chris Scott, who played in Super Bowl 50 with the Panthers, and CB Chris Lewis-Harris, who has 33 games under his belt. They also signed first-year players — G Malcolm Brunche and wide receiver Alonzo Russell — and two undrafted free-agent rookies with DB Mike Jones of Temple and RB Robert Martin of Rutgers.