When the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals square off on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, it will be the first time Justin Pugh goes up against his former team and the first time he’ll return to MetLife Stadium with it decked out in blue.
Understandably, Pugh, who was the team’s first-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, expects there to be some emotions flowing. However, unlike many other former Giants, the offensive lineman insists there is no blood and that he’ll be all smiles when he steps out onto the field.
“I wasn’t expected to be a starter day one and then I was thrown into that role at right tackle. You see what happened in New York. But I still love New York, I love the fans, there’s still a part of me in New York. I grew up in that city, so it’s definitely going to fun to come back. Gonna be all smiles on my part,” Pugh told the New York Post.
“I don’t really hold any resentment. I don’t know any of the coaches on the staff, I don’t even know Dave Gettleman, he made a business decision for the team, he took that team in the direction he wanted to go to.”
Pugh, who was born an hour and a half to the southwest of New York City in Holland, PA, played his college football at Syracuse and has long-established roots in The Big Apple. Accordingly, he’ll have close to 100 family and friends in the stands this weekend.
“Special feelings?” he said. “Yeah, definitely.”
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