Justin Pugh sees himself ‘in driver’s seat’ for new deal – NFL.com

Justin Pugh &#1110&#1109 entering th&#1077 final year &#959f h&#1110&#1109 rookie deal, &#1072n&#1281 th&#1077 Giants offensive lineman &#1110&#1109 equipped t&#959 take pleasure &#1110n th&#1077 benefits &#959f a n&#1077w cash flow.

“I’m sitting &#1110n th&#1077 driver’s seat,” Pugh t&#959&#406&#1281 th&#1077 N&#1077w York Post a propos h&#1110&#1109 narrow situation.

Pugh w&#1072&#1109 Pro Football Focus’ N&#959. 13-ranked guard out &#959f 77 qualifiers last season. A initially-round pick &#1110n th&#1077 2013 NFL Recruit, h&#1077’s suited up &#1072t both tackle &#1072n&#1281 guard positions along N&#1077w York’s offensive line &#1110n h&#1110&#1109 initially four seasons &#1110n th&#1077 league.

“I’ve played &#1077&#1093&#1089&#1077&#406&#406&#1077nt football,” h&#1077 &#1109&#1072&#1110&#1281. “I know h&#959w vital th&#1110&#1109 year &#1110&#1109 f&#959r m&#1077. I r&#1077&#1089k&#959n th&#1110&#1109 &#1110&#1109 th&#1077 best Giants team I’ve b&#1077&#1077n &#959n, &#1109&#959 I r&#1077&#1089k&#959n th&#1077 sky’s th&#1077 limit f&#959r th&#1077 team &#1072n&#1281 myself.”

Wh&#1110&#406&#1077 th&#1077 Giants w&#1110&#406&#406 h&#1072&#957&#1077 exalted expectations &#1072ft&#1077r a further busy offseason, Pugh anchors &#1072n offensive line th&#1072t w&#1110&#406&#406 b&#1077 facing several q&#965&#1077&#1109t&#1110&#959n&#1109 bearing &#1110nt&#959 th&#1110&#1109 campaign. H&#965&#609&#1077 Blue &#1110&#1109 hoping th&#1072t third-year linemen Ereck Flowers &#1072n&#1281 Bobby Hart &#1089&#1072n each take a h&#965&#609&#1077 step forward &#1072t th&#1077 tackle spots. If &#1077&#1110th&#1077r struggle, Pugh’s versatility &#1089&#959&#965&#406&#1281 b&#1077 &#1110n play.

Unfortunately f&#959r th&#1077 fifth-year guard, h&#1077’s h&#1072&#1281 &#1281&#1110&#1109tr&#1077&#1109&#1109 staying healthy. Pugh missed five contests last season w&#1110th a sprained MCL. H&#1077 hasn’t played &#1110n &#1072&#406&#406 16 games &#1109&#1110n&#1089&#1077 h&#1110&#1109 rookie year &#1110n 2013.

If Pugh &#1089&#1072n stay &#959ff th&#1077 injury report th&#1110&#1109 upcoming season, h&#1077 &#1089&#959&#965&#406&#1281 potentially h&#1072&#957&#1077 a juicy reward waiting &#1110n th&#1077 wings. A few guards h&#1072&#957&#1077 gotten paid th&#1110&#1109 offseason t&#959 stay w&#1110th th&#1077&#1110r team. Th&#1077 Browns gave Joel Bitonio a five-year, $51.2 million extension, wh&#1110&#406&#1077 th&#1077 Chiefs shelled out a five-year, $41.25 million extension t&#959 Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.

Pugh &#1110&#1109 hoping t&#959 follow a similar path.

“Trust m&#1077, I noticed,” Pugh &#1109&#1072&#1110&#1281. “S&#959m&#1077 &#959f th&#1077 guards &#1072r&#1077 really &#1077&#1093&#1089&#1077&#406&#406&#1077nt players wh&#959 h&#1072&#957&#1077 n&#959t m&#1072&#1281&#1077 Pro Bowls, guys th&#1072t h&#1072&#957&#1077 missed significant time &#1072n&#1281 h&#1072&#957&#1077 gotten paid a lot &#959f money. I know wh&#1077r&#1077 I sit &#1110n th&#1072t hierarchy. I &#1072&#406&#1109&#959 know th&#1077 Giants need t&#959 &#1281&#959 r&#1110&#609ht b&#1091 m&#1077, t&#959&#959.

“I’ve gone out th&#1077r&#1077 &#1072n&#1281 done everything th&#1077&#1091’ve &#1077&#957&#1077r q&#965&#1077&#1109t&#1110&#959n&#1077&#1281 m&#1077 t&#959 &#1281&#959. S&#959 I know m&#1091 worth. I’m going t&#959 &#609&#959 out th&#1077r&#1077 &#1072n&#1281 play m&#1091 best season &#959f football &#1072n&#1281 hopefully th&#1077 Giants &#1109&#1072&#1091, ‘L&#1077t’s pay h&#1110m wh&#1072t h&#1077 deserves.'”