This is the way it went down as head coach Brian Daboll on Tuesday announced the team captains to the players left standing on the roster:
“He announced the captains for the offense, the defense, special teams and then … Julian,’’ safety Julian Love said. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.’’
There are 10 team captains for the Giants this season — all voted in by the players — and Love is the one who does not fit a specific category, considering his versatile role. He is a safety, a core special teams player and just last week he had to fill in as an emergency holder when Graham Gano went out with a concussion and punter Jamie Gillan had to switch from holder to place-kicker.
Love, 24, is entering his fourth season with the Giants and for the first time is poised for a featured role on defense, alongside Xavier McKinney as the two starting safeties.
He grew emotional when asked about what being voted in as a team captain means to him.
“I’m not gonna lie, it means an awful lot to me,’’ Love said. “I’ve never been a captain my entire life and to do it for the Giants, of all places, at the highest level, it’s hard not to get emotional about it.’’
The captains on offense are Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley and Andrew Thomas. On defense, the captains are McKinney, Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence. The special teams captains are Gano, Casey Kreiter and Cam Brown. And then there is Love.
Thomas, 23, is the youngest team captain.
“At the end of last season in some of my exit meetings the biggest thing for me was to take the leadership role,’’ Thomas said. “A lot of times I would focus on myself just getting better, going through the struggles and stuff like that. The next thing for me is to be more vocal and to lead by example to help the team any way I can.’’
Rookie safety Dane Belton switched jersey numbers — he is now No. 24 — and looked fluid in drills off to the side. He is expected back soon from a broken collarbone. … Rookie TE Daniel Bellinger, in the concussion protocol, watched practice from the side.
To get down to the 53-man limit, the Giants terminated the contract of five veterans: QB Davis Webb, WR C.J. Board, G Jamil Douglas, OT Will Holden and DE Jalyn Holmes.
Fifteen players were waived: WR Alex Bachman, S Nate Meadors, RB Jashaun Corbin, WR Jaylon Moore, TE Austin Allen, OL Garrett McGhin, OL Roy Mbaeteka, DL David Moa, DL Ryder Anderson, LB Quincy Roche, CB Khalil Dorsey, CB Darren Evans, CB Zyon Gilbert, CB Harrison Hand, S Trenton Thompson.
Bachman led all NFL players in the preseason with 19 receptions.
These cuts left the Giants with only three safeties, meaning additional moves will be made. Only one undrafted free agent made the initial 53-man roster: OLB Tomon Fox.
There are seven receivers on the roster, including David Sills. There are only two tight ends — Daniel Bellinger and Tanner Hudson — as Chris Myarick is listed as a fullback. Inside linebacker Austin Calitro made the squad after a strong close to the summer.
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