‘Weird’ seeing Nick Gates on opposite sideline

When the New York Giants take the field against the Washington Commanders on Sunday afternoon, an old friend will be on the opposite sideline looking back at them.

Nick Gates, once a Giants captain, is now the starting center for their division rivals. And instead of beating up on opponents for Big Blue, it will be his job to stop the likes of Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams.

For many Giants, including quarterback Daniel Jones, it will be odd to see Gates in different colors.

“I’ve a lot of respect for Gates, obviously a close friend and close teammate that I played a lot with, and I think a lot of,” Jones told reporters on Wednesday. “Weird seeing him on the other side, but pulling for him — not this week, but I’ve got a lot of respect and appreciation for him.”

Jones and Gates spent four seasons together as teammates and remain close friends to this day, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a little trash talk leading up to kickoff.

“I’ve got to call Daniel and see what he’s up to,” Gates said when asked if he’d have any words for his former mates. “That’s my boy. Me and Daniel are good friends.”

Gates took a pass on trash-talking Lawrence, who often has a lot to say himself.

“Dexter… That’s a big boy. He’s a tough player. He’s a really good player,” Gates said. “It’s the first time I’ve gone against him in a game, so we’ll see how that goes. In practice, he was tough.

“He (made) me better, though. It was good going against him every day. He taught me things and got me to learn some things about hand placement. I learned how to block him. It will be fun. It’s exciting.”

Gates said there are no hard feelings between him and the Giants after their free agency separation. He understands the NFL is a business and wishes the Giants success, just not this Sunday or any other time they play the Commanders.