Giants’ Evan Neal criticizes ‘fair weather’ fans

New York Giants right tackle Evan Neal He didn’t mince his words when asked about his critics this week after the offensive line’s latest sluggish performance.

“Why would a lion care about the opinion of a sheep?” neal told Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media On Wednesday. “The person who comments on my performance, what does he do? Return hot dogs and hamburgers somewhere?

After an up-and-down rookie campaign, Neal spent the offseason adjusting his stance. But amid a 1-3 start to the season for New York, Neal has received a lot of criticism for his play. The Giants’ seventh overall pick in 2022 has allowed 16 pressures, 18 hurries and five hits in four games, according to TruMedia, and is on pace to surpass his totals in each category from last season. After a tough Week 1 showing against CowboysNeal hasn’t posted numbers as devastating as his first outing, according to TruMedia, but the lineman played Monday as part of the line that allowed 11 sacks against the Seattle Seahawks. Attack player Daniel Jones He was sacked a career-high 10 times. The Giants were booed off the field at halftime, and Neal reportedly yelled at fans as he walked away.

“They were booing us, so I said, ‘Boo louder!’” Neal told NJ Advance Media. “Because that shows even more that people are in good weather. Many fans agree. I mean, I get it: They want to see us perform well. And I respect all that. But no one wants us to perform well more than we do. And how can you say you’re really a fan when we’re fighting hard, and the game wasn’t going well, but the best thing you can do is boo your home team? So how much of a fan are you really?

neal apologized on social media Wednesday night for his comments.

“I am wrong to lash out at fans who are as passionate and frustrated as I am. I let my frustrations in my game + the desire to win get the better of me. I had no right to disparage anyone’s work 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.”

Neal has been playing on a beleaguered offensive line that has been rotating starters in and out due to injuries. Starting left tackle Andres Tomas has not played since Week 1 due to a hamstring injury, starting Ben Bredeson time lost due to a concussion. Then on Sunday, rookie center John Michael Schmitz left with a shoulder injury. That forced Bredeson to take charge of the center, with Shane Lemieux coming in as left guard. But then Lemieux left the game with a groin injury. Thomas, Schmitz and Lemieux did not practice Wednesday.

The Giants have not looked in sync offensively beyond the offensive line. Outside of two quarters of Week 2, the Giants have failed to do anything. They have scored just 15 points in the other three games, and Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks brought more problems. Jones threw two interceptions, including a pick-six that was returned 97 yards on Sunday. Frustrations over the loss were visible on the broadcast, with ESPN showing coach Brian Daboll throwing a tablet in frustration. Another shot showed Jones walking away from a speaking Daboll without appearing to look at the coach.

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(Photo: John Jones / USA Today)