LEAVE ON HIGH NOTE
The chances of Eugene Monroe coming to the Giants to play on their offensive line just went up in smoke.
The former first-round draft pick of the Jaguars announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday in an essay published by the Players’ Tribune. The Giants expressed interest in Monroe in mid-June after he was released by the Ravens.
Monroe, 29, is best-known nowadays for his staunch support for the use of medical marijuana, becoming the first active NFL player to publicly champion that cause.
The Giants flirted with the idea of making a trade with the Ravens to acquire Monroe, but balked at the idea of picking up the remaining three years and $20 million left on his contract. When Monroe became a free agent, the Giants immediately called Monroe’s agent to gauge his interest. Earlier in free agency, the Giants looked into signing veteran offensive linemen Russell Okung and William Penn to move in at right tackle after failing to take any offensive linemen in the NFL draft.
It appears they will head into training camp — players report Thursday — with the same starting offensive line they used in 2015: Ereck Flowers at left tackle, Justin Pugh at left guard, Weston Richburg at center, John Jerry at right guard and Marshall Newhouse at right tackle.
Monroe, who played in six games last season and is coming off shoulder surgery, explained in his article he is healthy enough to play, but is thinking about his future.
“I’m only 29 and I still have the physical ability to play at a very high level, so I know that my decision to retire may be puzzling to some,’’ Monroe wrote. “But I am thinking of my family first right now — and my health and my future.
“The last 18 years have been full of traumatic injuries to both my head and my body. I’m not complaining, just stating a fact. Has the damage to my brain already been done? Do I have CTE? I hope I don’t, but over 90 percent of the brains of former NFL players that have been examined showed signs of the disease. I am terrified.”