“They’re not willing to fight for each other,” the former Pro Bowler said.
Carl Banks, the former New York Giants linebacker who currently serves as the team’s radio analyst, went off on the squad after its 38-0 drubbing by the Carolina Panthers, claiming that the team’s 0-3 start is a result of players not liking each other. Banks was speaking on WFAN to Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts when he went on a rant about the struggles of his former team.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team just not show emotion as they were just getting pummeled … I don’t advocate fighting, but show some emotion. Show that you care that your quarterback was sacked six times in the first quarter.”
There was a strange feeling of surrender early in Sunday’s beatdown, I’ll give Banks that. It was like the team waved a white flag at the end of the first quarter. But I don’t know that I buy a lack of emotion as a reason the team is struggling. It’s a chicken and egg debate. Did the Giants give up because they can’t block or can the Giants not block because they’ve given up? I’d go with the former.
The idea that the team isn’t fiery enough doesn’t pass the smell test. It wasn’t a lack of fire that made the team turn over the ball six times in a season-opening loss to Dallas. And it wasn’t a lack of emotion that led to Peyton Manning picking apart the Giants defense the following week. More from Banks:
“They don’t like themselves. That’s what it really comes down to. They don’t like each other. They’re not willing to fight for each other. When you have a premier quarterback in this league, and you don’t have enough self-respect — not for him, but for yourself — to protect him, to do your job. I think it speaks volumes. I think these guys really do need to all stand in (front of) the mirror, and it’s gut-check time.”
Banks makes a good locker room speech, but does it have application in the real world? Look at it this way: If the team was throwing helmets and taking frustrated cheap shots at opponents, he’d probably be ripping the Giants for losing control. Because they’re taking their beatings without emotion, Banks says the Giants don’t care.
In reality, the real problem is that the Giants aren’t playing good football.
0 comments:
Post a Comment