#Giants’ punishment of Golden Tate could include benching

The Golden receiver continues to bunk with a golden retriever.

Giants wideout Golden Tate remained in coach Joe Judge’s metaphorical doghouse Friday as he wore a red scout-team No. 17 pinnie (to simulate Washington receiver Terry McLaurin) and took zero team reps during the open portion of practice. It casts a shadow over his role Sunday — and Judge didn’t rule out benching Tate for part of the game or not playing him at all.

“We’ll evaluate everything and make decisions on the back end of today of what we’re going to do going through the weekend,” said Judge, whose family has an actual golden retriever named Abby at home. “I’m going to discuss a lot of possibilities.”

Judge’s blueprint for discipline could be the one-quarter benching left tackle Andrew Thomas received earlier this season for being late to a team meeting. Or Tate could be one of the healthy scratches from the lineup — the equivalent of a one-game suspension.

It has been a strange week for Tate, who screamed, “Throw me the damn ball!” at the Giants’ sideline after his first catch Monday against the Buccaneers and doubled down with, “Throw me the ball!” into the television cameras after his touchdown catch.

Tate was the topic of trade speculation, but stuck around through the deadline — even though his wife ripped the coaches, for her husband’s reduced role the past two games, and quarterback Daniel Jones, for not throwing to him when open. Judge ordered Tate to stay home from practice Wednesday and has limited participation since.

“All of our players play with the scout team at one point or another,” Judge said coyly. “We have limited numbers and we roll guys as much as possible.”

None of the other veteran regulars, however, wore the red pinnie. Asked about facing a player with Tate’s 11-year NFL pedigree on the scout team, cornerback James Bradberry acknowledged “it was different,” through an uncomfortable smile. He indicated Tate took the job seriously and “gave me a good example of what I’m going to see Sunday.”

The Giants would not gain any financial relief by cutting Tate, who is owed $3.8 million in salary the rest of the season and comes with $4.7 million dead cap space in 2021 regardless of if he is let go now or during the offseason. Allowing Tate to join a contender without any money out of his pocket could be interpreted as doing him a favor.

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CB Ryan Lewis (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve and will miss the next three games. Lewis took over as a starter in Week 5, but his absence last week re-opened the door for the benched Isaac Yiadom.

RB Devonta Freeman (ankle) will miss a second straight game. LB Blake Martinez, LB Devante Downs, DB Logan Ryan and WR Sterling Shepard are cleared to go after appearing on the injury report earlier in the week.