Giants OT Flowers miffed by Solder signing

New York Giants offensive tackle Ereck Flowers is being shifted from one end of the line to the other following the signing of free-agent Nate Solder.

Flowers' unhappiness with the addition of Solder and the move from left to right tackle are the reasons he has stayed away from the team's offseason workouts, Giants safety Landon Collins confirmed Friday.

Collins told radio station WFAN that Flowers has not returned his texts, but his cousin -- a friend of the lineman -- relayed the news that Flowers is in Miami and remains miffed by the team's long-range plans for him.

"He's just unhappy that they picked up (Solder)," Collins told WFAN. "That's it."

New York signed former New England Patriots tackle Solder to a four-year contract worth $62 million deal. Giants general manager Dave Gettleman said at the time of Solder's signing that head coach Pat Shurmur told Flowers of the team's plan for him -- and that "Ereck was fine on the phone."

Flowers has started 46 games for the Giants since being selected with the ninth overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. New York reportedly was willing to deal Flowers during the NFL Draft but could not find a trade partner.

With the club declining to exercise Flowers' fifth-year option for 2019, Collins said Flowers does not want to be perceived as viewed as "a bust" but also told the radio station he expected him at the voluntary workouts.

"Definitely, I would say he needs to be here, as a teammate and as a captain because we need him here, need to get the line together so they can be on the same page," said Collins. "We got a quarterback, we got a running back, we got these talented wide receivers, we got to run with this."

The Giants are coming off an ugly 3-13 season that allowed them to be in position to take Penn State running back with the No. 2 overall pick. With a likely emphasis on the ground game, Collins knows how important it is for Flowers be with the team and start erasing the stench of a year ago.

"Ereck is my boy," said Collins. "At the same time, he has a lot to learn, and at the same time he has to work harder. He came in last year, he thought he did what he needed to do -- he lost weight, he was in proper shape, thought he played good in the first couple of games and just kind of went downhill when the season went downhill."