Giants Q&A: What happened to Randy Bullock?
Giants kicker Randy Bullock watches his 56-yard field goal during the first half of an NFL game against the Saints on Sunday in New Orleans. Credit: AP/Matthew Hinton
What happened to kicker Randy Bullock?
Jamie Gillan, the Giants’ punter, took over the placekicking duties after Randy Bullock suffered a hamstring injury early in the first quarter.
Bullock was good from 56 yards on the Giants’ first possession and gave his team a 3-0 lead five minutes in.
But after the ensuing kickoff, he limped off the field.
When the Giants lined up for a field goal on the last play of the second quarter, it was Gillan who was called upon.
He connected from 40 yards and the Giants trailed 7-6 at the half.
Because of the way the second half transpired, the kicker — whoever he was — never was called upon again.
How did Gillan feel about getting the chance to kick?
The opportunity was “great,” he said.
“Obviously, I want a better [team] result, but to put one through the pipes is pretty cool,” he said. “Four years ago, I hit a long one with the Browns. Missed it, didn’t come close, it was terrible. I’ll never forget that one. Looking back, if I’d taken my time, I would have had more of a chance.”
The double duty did throw Gillan off a bit, he said.
“At halftime, I just ran into the locker room real quick and grabbed a drink, and I was right back out there, [knowing] I would have to be kicking field goals,” Gillan said. “That’s a whole different mindset for me. I’m focused on doing my job [as a punter], and doing it to the best of my ability. And now I had another job.”
Alas, in a game that lacked drama, Gillan was never put to the test.
Though he said he “never” practices field goals now, he said he did during his time at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
“I did it for four years in college,” he said. “I’m not really going to forget that motion. I’ve done conversions in rugby my whole life, too.”
What are the Giants’ chances to reach the postseason?
Slimmer than slim, but not completely dead yet.
The Giants’ postseason dreams took a major hit in their 24-6 loss to the Saints.
At 5-9, they are two games out of the last wild-card spot with three games left — and there are six teams ahead of them.
The Vikings, Saints and Rams, who will play at MetLife Stadium on New Year’s Eve, are 7-7.
The Seahawks are 6-7 and play on Monday night. The Falcons and the Packers, who represent one of the Giants’ best wins this season, are 6-8.
So Giants fans can still dream. But this isn’t fantasy football.
Kimberly Jones covers the Giants for Newsday, a beat she first worked in the early 2000s before joining the YES Network to cover the Yankees. She worked for the NFL Network for more than a decade and has been heard semi-regularly on WFAN.
