Markus Golden’s $9 million deal didn’t erase his Giants hate

Markus Golden still has a sour taste in his mouth five months after parting ways with the New York Giants.

The 30-year-old linebacker, who recently agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $9 million with the Arizona Cardinals – where the Giants dealt him in October – said his time in New York nearly led him to hang up his cleats.

“A lot of people don’t know, I was going through a lot down there in New York. … I felt like last year in New York, I got out there, I competed, I did everything to prove that I was the guy and they didn’t give me the opportunity so that took my love away from the game a little bit,” Golden said Wednesday via Zoom, according to 98.7 FM Arizona Sports. “Not gonna lie, that rubbed me the wrong way a little bit, because that’s what the game’s always been about.

“If you work hard do what you’re supposed to do on the field you’re gonna be out there. I felt a little disrespected by New York, so when the Cardinals came and traded for me it was a blessing. Because it’s like, who else is gonna come save me and get me out of a situation like this? The Cardinals.”

Golden, a former second-round pick, originally signed a one-year, $3.75 million deal with the Giants in March 2019 and led the team in sacks with 10 that season. The following August after little free-agency interest around the league, he signed a one-year tender to return to the Giants. Golden was traded to the Cardinals for a sixth-round pick during the 2020 season after playing infrequently for the Giants.

Last month, Golden called out the Giants over his lack of playing time before he was dealt to Arizona, which originally drafted him in 2015. Golden played less than half of the team’s defensive snaps.

“Now just imagine if NY would of just let me play earlier in the season! SMH!” he tweeted in response to Pro Football Focus’s edge rushers to top over 50+ pressures.

Much is changing in Arizona this offseason, including the addition of former Texans defensive end JJ Watt.