Damontre Moore released by Giants after altercation with teammate
New York Giants defensive end Damontre Moore speaks to the media during training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ, on Saturday, Aug 1, 2015.by Brad Penner. Credit: Brad Penner
The Giants’ patience with Damontre Moore reached its end on Friday.
The team released the third-year defensive end after, according to sources, an altercation with a teammate in the locker room Friday morning.
Moore, 23, was a third-round draft pick in 2013.
“We made the move today in the interest of both parties,” Giants general manager Jerry Reese said.
According to sources, the reason for the release was a cumulative violation of team rules and maturity issues. While his involvement in the altercation was the “final straw,” the incident was relatively minor and a symptom of a larger issue. “[It was] more like what he didn’t do,” one of the sources said, than what he did, to be dismissed from the team.
The NFL Network reported that the fight was with fellow defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins over free headphones which were being distributed in the locker room.
Another source said Reese’s statement was meant to convey that “the guy needs to grow up” and perhaps get “a fresh start somewhere else.”
Moore was not on the field with the team for Friday’s workout.
The most public of Moore’s transgressions was in the October game against the Eagles when he picked up and body-slammed Sam Bradford after the quarterback had released a pass. He was fined $20,000 by the NFL for the infraction and did not play in the following game. Moore said he needed to improve his “football IQ” after the penalty, which cost the Giants a defensive stop and contributed heavily to the loss.
Moore was flagged for two more roughing-the-passer penalties in ensuing games and coach Tom Coughlin spoke about how he had developed a reputation for such plays and therefore needed to be more aware of his play. He was not penalized in the last three games.
This season Moore had 17 tackles (12 solo), 3.0 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and five special teams tackles. He had a season-high five tackles (three solo), plus a special teams tackle, last week against the Jets when he saw the most playing time of his season. In three seasons, he played in 42 games and contributed 47 tackles (34 solo), 8.5 sacks and 21 special teams tackles.
The Giants did not make an immediate addition to their 53-man roster to replace Moore. They next play Monday night in Miami. Robert Ayers Jr. (neck) was added to the injury report on Friday, which could further thin the rotation at defensive end. Veteran George Selvie, who has been inactive the last two games, likely will play. Brad Bars, a defensive end on the practice squad, could be promoted.
Notes & quotes: Left tackle Ereck Flowers (ankle) was limited in practice on Friday. “I have to be optimistic about the kid, he’s a tough kid,” Coughlin said of his availability for Monday. “He’s bounced back before when they said he wasn’t going to be able to go and he’s gone. So we’ll see how it goes” . . . Offensive lineman Justin Pugh was fined $17,363 by the NFL for a leg whip on the Jets’ Sheldon Richardson last week . . . Coughlin said linebacker Devon Kennard (foot) will not require surgery at this time.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
