Giants unexpectedly waive defensive end Damontre Moore
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) The New York Giants have given up on talented but frustrating defensive end Damontre Moore.
General manager Jerry Reese announced late Friday afternoon that the Giants had waived the 23-year-old former third-round draft pick.
''We made the move today in the interest of both parties,'' Reese said just three days before the first-place Giants (5-7) face the Dolphins (5-7) in Miami.
Moore, who was not at practice on Friday, was in his third season with the team and had played in 11 of the Giants' 12 games. He was inactive against Dallas on Oct. 25 after coach Tom Coughlin benched him for a late hit on a quarterback Sam Bradford in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles the prior week.
The NFL fined Moore $20,000 for the hit. When he returned, he picked up roughing-the-quarterback penalties against the Saints and Buccaneers in consecutive weeks in early November, although it seemed those calls were based more on his reputation than actually being late hits.
Still, Moore never seemed to gain the trust of Coughlin. The coach even said as much after the roughing-the-passer calls.
Coughlin did not issue a comment in the release the Giants sent announcing Moore's departure. He did not mention him talking to the media before practice Friday.
Moore had 17 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and five special teams tackles this season. He had a season-high five tackles (three solo) plus a special teams tackle last week vs. the Jets. His other big game was a two-sack performance with a forced fumble in a victory over San Francisco on Oct. 11.
Coming out of Texas A&M in 2013, Moore was considered an outstanding athlete who the Giants had hoped would develop into a dynamic pass-rushing end. He never seemed to take the next step and he ran afoul of the coaching staff with those silly penalties.
Reese was in Moore's corner last season. During the bye week, he told the media that he felt Moore should play more.
''I think he needs to play a few more snaps,'' Reese said on Nov. 11, 2014. ''It seems like when he gets in the game, he makes something happen.''
In the end, Moore never did enough on the field to stay with the team. It also appears he was enough of a distraction in recent weeks to get cut.
In three seasons, Moore played in 42 games and had 47 tackles, 8 1/2 sacks and 21 special teams tackles.
The Giants did not immediately announce a replacement for Moore on their roster.
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