Frustrations are boiling over for everyone with any attachment to the New York Giants. Whether it is players on the team, the coaching staff or their fans, everyone is disappointed by how things have gone thus far in 2023.
Things got especially ugly when the Giants hosted the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football to close out Week 4. It was an embarrassing performance across the board from New York, who struggled mightily on offense and had a few unfortunate miscues defensively.
The offensive line was the subject of a lot of scrutiny after Daniel Jones was sacked 11 times. That is what happens when you are using second and third-stringers at some spots, as the unit’s inability to perform has crippled the offense.
Not surprisingly, the poor performance on the field led fans in MetLife Stadium to rain down boos. It was something that starting right tackle Evan Neal did not take kindly to, as he lashed out with some harsh words for the fans this week.
Neal called the Giants’ fans fair-weather and bandwagoners, questioning their fandom for booing the team. He also insulted a lot of people when he called them hot dog and hamburger flippers.
That led to a lot of backlash, which Neal has heard all of. On Thursday, he issued an apology to the fans and anyone he offended with his words as his emotions and mounting frustration got the best of him.
“I am wrong for lashing out at the fans who are just as passionate and frustrated as I am,” Neal wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I let my frustrations in my play + desire to win get the best of me. I had no right to make light of anyone’s job and I deeply regret the things I said.
“We are working day in and day out to grow as a team and this was an unnecessary distraction. I apologize.”
The apology was certainly a step in the right direction, but you can be sure that the fans will be vocal once again if Neal and the offense continue struggling to this extent. Neal, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has been especially disappointing as the 25 quarterback pressures he has allowed in four games is the second most in the NFL.
Until he and his teammates start turning things around on the field, those boos are going to get louder and louder. This is a banged-up unit coming off a playoff appearance last season that is staring down a potentially already washed-away season only a month into it.
