Moore was signed on Nov. 12, when the Giants wide receivers were decimated
by injuries. He played in one game, at Houston on Nov. 24, but did not catch
a pass. Now the Giants have greater needs at other positions, and Moore and
Coach Jim Fassel agreed that the player's departure would enable the Giants
to bring in a player who would more likely help the team in the season's
final four weeks, beginning Sunday at Washington.
To that end, Moore was placed on the reserve/retired list. But that doesn't
necessarily mean Moore won't ever play again.
"To have a roster spot given to me when I'm not playing that much doesn't
help this team," Moore said. "It doesn't help me and it doesn't help this
organization to have me just staying around. After Jim and I talked, it was
determined I would do what I intended to do in the first place, and it allows
them to use that spot to bring in someone to help out our secondary. I had
planned on talking to him anyway and when we sat down yesterday, I was honest
with him. I told him I didn't come in to stand around or just be a butt on
the seat.
I came in to hopefully contribute to the team, and that's a process
that needs to develop over time, which we don't have. So it was the best
thing for both sides."
The Giants will retain Moore's rights. Both Moore and Fassel said Moore could
re-sign in the offseason and join the team in training camp, which would put
him on more equal footing with regard to physical conditioning and learning
the playbook.
"I would absolutely have loved to have had him in training camp," Fassel
said. "And that could be a possibility next year."
"If they'll have me back early so I can learn the system and come in at the
same speed and have the same opportunity as everyone else, I think it's best
for both of us," Moore said. "And it's something I think they'll be very
happy with - if the opportunity is there. They're not obligated to do that. I
was happy for the opportunity they gave me to come in on such a short notice.
But there's not a lot we can get accomplished in that short period of time.
"This is a team that's trying to make a run, and it's right at a crucial
time. For me to continue to stand around and maybe take 10 plays, 15 plays,
it's not helping us. And I recognize that. It's a retirement in the sense
that I'm leaving, and I have to go home. But it's not a retirement like I'm
done and I won't ever play again. The opportunity is better served for a
player like me to come in at the beginning. I can do a lot more than what I'm
able to do now. You can't formulate anything or get an opinion in a
snapshot. I can't learn it in that short curve. We have four games left.
I
need to be able to make an impact right away. Right now there are other
players this team can use that can do that. And that's the direction I think
coach should go. I'm not content to sit around and collect a check. I'm here
to play."