Did Landon Collins Clean Out His Locker or Not?

Conflicting reports.

Josina Anderson says that Giants safety Landon Collins cleaned out his locker ahead of looming free agency:

I’m told that Giants S Landon Collins cleaned out his locker today at the team facility and said his goodbyes to teammates, coaches and trainers. It doesn’t seem like Collins expects to be a Giant for much longer, per sources.

— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) February 20, 2019

How about that? Pretty interesting stuff.

But wait… is it true?

Paul Schwartz dodged Anderson’s left hook and countered with a straight right:

Attention those who care about the New York Giants: Landon Collins HAS NOT cleaned out his locker at the team facility.
Repeat: Landon Collins HAS NOT cleaned out his locker at the team facility.
Go about your business and have a nice day.

— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) February 20, 2019

Soooo… which one is it? Did the guy clean out his locker or not?

Collins himself ducked the straight right and came back with a flying karate kick, after the jump:

The stuff in that locker that I have left I do not need💯

— LANDON COLLINS (@TheHumble_21) February 20, 2019

TKO.

So here’s the deal:

The Giants can slap the franchise tag on their three-time Pro Bowler, who is only 25 years old. If tagged, he’d make around $12 million dollars next season. There’s obviously nothing official right now, as the tagging period began just 36 hours ago. I don’t think a single player has been tagged yet and this usually only affects 5-7 players annually. 

I see different reports floating around out there, some claiming he would play with the tag and some claiming the opposite. Mike Garafolo reports that Collins doesn’t want to be tagged:

On #Giants S Landon Collins and @JosinaAnderson’s report, I gather he took personal items from his locker. He doesn’t expect to be at the facility for a while. Why? The franchise tag he publicly said he doesn’t want. But the smart money remains on Collins with NYG this year.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 20, 2019

I can’t imagine the Giants would move on from a guy like Collins, who has PLENTY of good years left in him. If he walks, and the G-Men don’t use the tag, that certainly benefits the Eagles, since Pro Bowl safeties don’t grow on trees. Collins would be one of the biggest free agency prizes out there if he hits the market.

Either way, don’t underestimate New York’s capacity for doing something dumb.