Hakeem Nicks is headed back to New York.
The Giants re-signed their former first-round pick on Tuesday, sources told Around The NFL and NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport. Nicks, 27, was on the Giants' short list all season if their wide receiver situation grew any thinner alongside former Patriots and Broncos star Wes Welker.
Welker signed with the Rams ahead of Sunday's games, Victor Cruz announced his season-ending calf surgery on Monday and on Tuesday, Nicks was on his way to East Rutherford.
There's no doubt Nicks sees this as his final chance. After putting himself in line to earn a Cruz-level extension, he ended up floundering during a crucial time, which eventually led to free agency and a one-year prove it deal with the Indianapolis Colts.
There, Nicks failed to prove it, and bounced into Titans training camp. He was cut before the season opener.
So it goes for a wideout who put up 155 catches, 2,244 yards and 18 touchdowns during a two-year span between 2010 and 2011, only to eventually fall out of favor with personnel executives across the NFL for one reason or another.
Nicks' hope is that he hasn't fallen out of favor with Eli Manning, who serves as Nicks' best chance to return to an every day role in the league.
Though the offense has changed, Nicks still has the luxury of working with many of his old coaches, including highly regarded wideouts coach Sean Ryan.