Are The New York Giants The Dallas Cowboys Biggest Fans?

We all know how it is to root for a team. We follow their every transaction, we watch every game and we usually think the players on our favorite team are better than they actually are. A fan can elevate a pedestrian receiver in his mind to being solid number one or two guy. A productive lineman should be a pro-bowler to us and a back-up tight end is a diamond in the rough.

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With that description, it is very possible that the New York Giants are actually the biggest fans of the Dallas Cowboys in the entire world. I know they talk like they hate Dallas, but they really don’t. In fact, they have a recent history of thinking much higher of Cowboys than any other team in the NFL.

In 2008 the Dallas Cowboys had a defensive end by the name of Chris Canty. He recorded 37 tackles and three sacks that season. His career best sack total before 2008? 2007 when he had three and a half. Canty didn’t have huge numbers to boast, and some thought it was due to him playing end in a 3-4 defense.

Whatever the reason was for his low numbers, the Giants didn’t care. They rolled out the red carpet and gave the former 4th round pick a 6-year, $42 million deal.

Canty lasted half the contract, being released before the 2013 season. He totaled five sacks in his three years with the Giants.

In 2011 tight end Martellus Bennett tallied 17 receptions for 144 yards and no scores. In fact Bennett had not scored a touchdown since 2008, his rookie season, when he had four.

The Giants however, brought Bennett in, despite the fact maturity and consistency were a problem for him in Big D. He was given a one-year deal for $2.5 million. After posting 55 catches and five touchdowns, Bennett was not retained the following season.

Martellus was a problem in New York, like he was in Dallas. He came to camp over 290 pounds, but wouldn’t admit it was an issue.

Bennett has also been quick to point the finger when he doesn’t like the treatment he gets.

"“I’ve come to the conclusion that we are just temporary investments to the owners,” Bennett said about the Giants during 2013 free agency via NFL.com “they have other priorities that come before little ole me. I’m just a small piece of what they’re trying to do there.”"

In 2013, the Giants signed recently released Cowboys linebacker, Dan Connor. Connor wasn’t a Cowboy for long, playing only one season with the team. He played less for New York, only one game in 2013. They still gave a shot to the linebacker who Dallas was not sold on as a long-term player.

Then, last season, the Giants picked up wide receiver Kevin Ogletree. This one was a little different as Ogletree was with Tampa Bay and Detroit before landing in New York. He was also a replacement for receiver Victor Cruz, who was lost to injury. Ogletree caught five passes for 50 yards for the G-Men last season.

The signings in 2012 through 2014 weren’t bad. They were cap friendly and for players at positions of need for New York.

This offseason though, the Giants are back at it in regards to the overpaying of former Cowboys. Receiver/return man Dwayne Harris has 33 career receptions for 418 yards and three touchdowns since being picked in the 6th round of the 2011 NFL draft by Dallas.

Harris has zero kick returns for touchdowns, but did have a punt return for a touchdown in both 2012 and 2103. He averages slightly over 26 yards on kick returns and just above 11 on punt returns.

Those return numbers are good, but the Giants just gave him $17.5 million on a five-year contract. That is an awful lot of money for a guy who contributed seven receptions in 2014.

Then again, whenever you’re a huge fan, you always think the player is better than he has ever shown. That’s the only logical reason I can think of when wondering why the Giants not only go after so many Cowboys players, but they also seem to enjoy paying too much for them.

All I can say is, thank you for being a fan Giants.

Next: Three Free Agents The Cowboys Could Get

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