Report: Giants GM Told Nick McCloud 'Don't Pay October's Rent' After Pay Cut Request

Trust was apparently low between New York Giants players and executives during the 2024 season, particularly in the wake of one reported incident involving Nick McCloud before a Week 4 game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Per ESPN's Jordan Raanan, the Giants asked McCloud to take a pay cut before the game with general manager Joe Schoen at one point suggesting he'd release the cornerback outright.

Multiple Giants players told Raanan they recalled Schoen telling McCloud's representatives: "Don't pay October's rent, all right? As soon as I can replace him, I'm going to replace him. I'm not f--king around."

McCloud, a restricted free agent last offseason, signed a one-year tender worth $2.9 million. He wound up starting and playing 37 defensive snaps in the Cowboys game on Sept. 26.

Even though the Giants didn't immediately go through with the release, McCloud was eventually waived on Nov. 5. Raanan noted the "situation affected the vibe in the Giants' locker room" because McCloud was well-liked by the team and was close with Brian Burns and Darius Slayton.

The Giants' decision to wait before releasing McCloud may have been to see if they could get something for him before the trade deadline. He was waived a few hours before the deadline passed.

Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post noted at the time the Giants wanted to lower McCloud's salary to the league minimum.

McCloud wound up being signed to the practice squad of the San Francisco 49ers. He appeared in the final eight games of the season for the Niners, playing 31 total snaps in Week 18 against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Giants originally added McCloud off waivers from the Buffalo Bills in August 2022. He appeared in 38 games over three seasons with the club prior to being released.