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Veteran running back Alfred Morris appeared in nine games for the New York Giants a season ago, but that only came after he was initially signed to their practice squad — something many would consider a step back for the former 1,000-yard back.
But Morris didn’t see it that way. At least not at the time. The pieces fit together perfectly in that moment even if they wouldn’t have just a few weeks earlier.
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“The place I was at it was perfect timing for that. A little earlier than that I probably would have been like, no, definitely not,” Morris said on Monday, via Big Blue View. “It wasn’t ideal, but it was an opportunity.
“I didn’t think it was a hard place to be in. I’m pretty humble, I’m always looking for an opportunity to make the most of it. I just need a foot in the door.”
Morris entered this offseason as a free agent and fully intended to seek another NFL opportunity. And now, in his 10th season, he’s found one and it means a whole lot to him.
“It means a lot. I spent last year here and got to know a bunch of the guys, got to know the system, coaches, things like that,” Morris said. “It’s always good when you get a call back. I think that speaks volumes about the person — from a character standpoint, from a talent standpoint. I feel like this is a family.”
Even though he now has a spot on the Giants’ 90-man roster, there’s no guarantee he’ll eventually make the 53-man roster. And that’s fine, Morris said. He’ll cross that bridge when he gets there. For the time being, he’s simply focused on making the most of his opportunity.
“I’ve always appreciated the opportunity, just having a foot in the door. Every chance I get, every carry I get, every snap I get, every chance I get to come to a camp I’m appreciative. That’s always been my approach. It’s not promised,” the 32-year-old Morris added. “I could have never did a day in the NFL. I’ve been fortunate enough, this is going into my 10th year. That’s a blessing. I don’t take that for granted.”
Meanwhile, head coach Joe Judge said it was “refreshing” to see Morris back in the building.
“I can’t tell you how much I feel on a personal level about Alfred and what he did for our team last year, about how he carries himself, about how he is as a teammate, how he is in the team meeting,” Judge told reporters. “Look, I walked by him when I was coming in the building and he was waiting outside for his clearance from his test, and we got to have a conversation sitting outside and it’s just refreshing seeing his face. He’s always smiling and good, great energy out there. Again, like anyone else, he has an opportunity to come in here and compete for a spot on this team. We had an opportunity to bring him back and he helps our competition within that spot.”
Judge made it clear that the addition of Morris in no way reflects on fellow running back Saquon Barkley. Rather, it’s just about adding experienced depth and creating more competition at the position.
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