New York Giants linebacker Markus Golden had never before heard of the unrestricted free agent tender, but he feels like an expert on it now.
Although he admits there was a level of surprise when learning of the tender, Golden takes no issue with general manager Dave Gettleman for using it on him.
“Business is business. I’ve always had a business mindset,” Golden told reporters during a Monday Zoom call while also acknowledging that the offseason was a little frustrating. “You just never know; you got to take it and roll with it.”
Ultimately, Golden is pleased to be back with the Giants even if that return did not come with the lucrative long-term deal he had both hoped for and anticipated.
“I feel good about being back. It’s a good place,” Golden said. “At the end of the day, I love playing ball. I play the game for my family. I play the game to win.”
Now playing on a one-year deal for the second consecutive season, Golden has been presented with another opportunity to go out and prove himself, potentially earning that substantial contract in 2021. Of course, he’s not looking at it that way.
Golden said he gives no thought to reaching another level, but instead simply focuses on winning each snap. If that’s not enough for some, he really doesn’t care.
“If you don’t know what I can do by now, you are not even worth proving it to,” Golden said, adding that he will play both outside linebacker and defensive end in 2020.
And that’s Markus Golden in a nutshell.
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