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Jordan Raanan, ESPN Staff Writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Coach Brian Daboll says he spoke with embattled offensive lineman Evan Neal about his “poor comments” directed at critical New York Giants fans and noted that the right tackle was regretful.
Neal also apologized to the team earlier in the day at a team meeting and knows that regaining the trust and support of the fan base is not going to happen overnight. He does hope to rebuild trust over time.
“I’m remorseful,” Neal said in the locker room after Thursday’s practice. “I definitely could have used a better choice of words. Coming from humble beginnings myself, I never wanted to belittle anyone, regardless of their financial status or occupation. So I really wanted to apologize for what I said.”
The struggling Neal had told fans to “boo louder” and wondered why he would concern himself with the opinion of those who “flip hot dogs and hamburgers,” among other things, in an interview with NJ Advance Media published Wednesday. He later issued an apology on social media.
“I think that Evan made a statement. We spoke,” Daboll said before Thursday’s practice where Neal was on the field. “I know he was very remorseful, regretful for the comment that he made. And we’re moving on.”
The Giants (1-3) play against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. Perhaps fortunate for Neal, each of their next two games are on the road.
Despite the Giants’ early struggles and now the firestorm that came from Neal’s comments, Daboll rejected the notion that he was losing the locker room. He called this incident a “slipup” and kept reiterating the Giants are moving on.
“Nah, like I said, he was frustrated. He made a poor choice, poor decision, I’d say poor comments,” Daboll said. “He acknowledged that. And moving on.”
Asked if Neal would face discipline for his comments, Daboll didn’t say no but also didn’t provide any details.
“I’m just going to say my conversations with Evan will be private,” he said.
Neal is expected to start at right tackle Sunday. The Giants — likely down three offensive linemen – will be short-handed on the offensive line.
Neal, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of Alabama, was part of a Giants offensive line that allowed 11 sacks in a 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. At halftime, he reacted to the boos from the home fans by gesturing sarcastically for them to bring more of the verbal discontent.
“They were booing us, so I said, ‘Boo louder!'” Neal told NJ Advance Media, before insisting that the opinions of his critics were not among his concerns. “Why would a lion concern himself with the opinion of a sheep? … The person that’s commenting on my performance, what does he do? Flip hot dogs and hamburgers somewhere?”
Neal also said in the interview that the boos that showered the Giants showed that some of the fans are “fair weather” and “bandwagoners.”
“I wasn’t trying to pick a fight with anyone, honestly,” Neal said. “That was just a moment of frustration. I kind of said something, although it was not my intent to offend anyone or anyone’s occupation, although that’s how it came across. And I own up for that. I could’ve just definitely used a better choice of words for sure. Hey, I love the fans that support us, are behind us, want to fight for us and cheer for us, so I just apologize to those that I offended.” His teammates seemed to appreciate the openness and honesty they say was displayed when he addressed them at the team meeting.
“I don’t think it was necessary but I was proud of him for doing it. I respected [him] doing it,” wide receiver Darius Slayton said. “A lot of people make mistakes and keep it pushing like nothing happened. The fact that he addressed it and owned up to it shows maturity out of him.”
Neal, 23, was also willingly to address it publicly. He did his interview with the media basically fresh off the field just moments after the locker room opened.
Neal did not deflect any of the blame. He noted, “I said it. Those are my words.”
Some of the Giants leaders said they had or will speak with the young tackle.
“The advice I would give to him or any other teammate is never pick a battle with the fans. You’re never going to win that one,” running back Saquon Barkley said. “They’ve been here before us and they’re going to be here after us. That is just the truth.”
Source: www.espn.com