Collins’ future remains murky

INDIANAPOLIS — Dave Gettleman either is playing hardball with Landon Collins or is actually considering letting his three-time Pro Bowl strong safety walk in free agency.

The Giants GM said on Wednesday that he's “still evaluating” whether to place the franchise tag on Collins before next Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline. He said “you always want good players on your team” but added that “decisions like this cannot be made in a vacuum.”

And then Gettleman laid out a detailed financial argument for why committing around $11.5 million on a franchise tag to Collins simply may not be feasible for the Giants, even as a placeholder as the parties negotiate a long-term deal between now and July 15.

“It's how the money lays out,” Gettleman said. “So for example, right now how much cap space do we have, $27 million (per overthecap.com), whatever it is? Here's what you guys need to understand: we don't have $27 million in cap space … Because you've got to go into the season with $8-10 million in space. If you don't go into the season with $8-10 million in space, if someone gets hurt, you're playing a rookie.

“Now that conversation's different isn't it?” he added. “Now, oh, the (Giants) only have $17 (million in space if Collins is on the franchise tag). Nothing can be done in a vacuum.”

Collins, 25, and his agent recently made it public that they want negotiations to begin on a long-term contract and won't just roll over and accept the tag.