Some veterans like Reggie Bush and DeAngelo Hall have said they are enjoying the lockout, which really shouldn’t surprise anyone.
Other veterans -- the ones who want to hit free agency -- don’t feel the same way. Giants defensive tackle Barry Cofield gets upset when he hears comments like the ones Bush made the other night.
“It really pisses me off,” Cofield told Mike Garafolo of the Newark Star-Ledger. “My career and some other guys, it’s the definition of irreparable harm. I’m not going to get last year back. That’s a year off my career, a year of pounding on my body. And this offseason I’m not going to get back. Doing the draft before free agency, that hurts a lot of guys. It definitely hurt me.”
Just like the lockout helps established teams, it essentially helps established players and hurts free agents and young players. Cofield doesn’t know what his status will be when the lockout ends, but he feels like he’s done with the Giants after they took another defensive tackle.
“It almost gave me a sense of closure. It just made me think my time’s probably up,” Cofield said.
For now, Cofield just has to wait. And he has a message for his fellow players out there.
“For some of the guys to say they’re enjoying the time off, it’s selfish and shortsighted.”