New York Giants head coach Joe Judge has come under fire for making his coaches and players run laps if they commit a mistake during practice, with former Giants linebacker Emmanuel Acho going as far as to call it “imbecilic.”
Despite the outcry, Judge has refused to back down.
“We’re trying to demand the best out of everybody and make them improve every day. We’re not letting details slip,” Judge told reporters on Tuesday. “We’re very demanding. This is a tough job. We’re in New York City. This is a tough place to play and coach.
“We have to have guys who are thick-skinned and understand we have to operate in high pressure situations. We can’t go out there on the practice field and just sing ‘Kumbaya’ together and think we’re going to advance.”
As the criticism ramps up, so does the support for Judge. And in an effort to counterbalance the outcry, some Giants fans and even members of the media — myself included — have begun to run laps in solidarity with Judge and his players.
I made a mistake yesterday. Time to run some laps. #GiantsPride pic.twitter.com/X5rP84dItG
— Dan Benton (@DanBentonGW) August 19, 2020
Our friends Justin Penik and Bobby Skinner from Talkin’ Giants and Clem from Barstool Sports have done the same.
Warning: There is one quick instance of NSFW talk in Clem’s video.
Bobby and Justin both made mistakes today and took laps to be in solidarity with Giants players and coaches. Total team players. pic.twitter.com/l3F7KKfpTi
— Talkin’ Giants (@TalkinGiants) August 18, 2020
If Joe Judge is making Giants coaches run laps with the players, I am going to do the same as a fan and a media member that covers the team. #TheJudgesStandard #BigBlueBigGoals #DontCall911ImOK pic.twitter.com/vgYDXWjZE1
— Clem (@TheClemReport) August 17, 2020
Messed up. Doing a lap for Judge @NYGiantsRush @nyspawtsguy_spi @MdoubleJB @golferbad @TalkinGiants @JustinPenik @BobbySkinner_ #JudgeLaps pic.twitter.com/Ls8yqdAxbu
— Jeff and the Gmen (@PilgrimsPoint) August 19, 2020
I made a mistake. pic.twitter.com/n7QfoEr2sc
— The Football Grump (@football_grump) August 19, 2020
The team the team the team! pic.twitter.com/NNRzRcuwHE
— lil Pierce Cassels (@PierceCassels) August 17, 2020
— Nicky Snacks (@Snacks_BDGE) August 19, 2020
Some Giants fans aren’t big on running so they’ve decided to substitute in burpees, but the sentiment remains the same. They are supportive of Judge’s style and his leadership.
It’s a new era in East Rutherford and you’re getting a sense of it through Big Blue’s most faithful.
