On Wednesday, the New York Giants released wide receiver-turned-tight end Kelvin Benjamin after Benjamin had words with head coach Joe Judge and general manager Dave Gettleman.
“Benjamin said he passed the team’s conditioning test on Tuesday and nobody told him he wasn’t allowed to practice on Wednesday,” wrote Zack Rosenblatt of NJ Advanced Media. “When he jogged onto the field, Judge pulled him aside, Gettleman came over and an animated conversation between the three of them took place. Benjamin eventually ripped off his helmet and walked off the Giants practice field for the last time, Gettleman trailing him. Benjamin was officially released a few hours later.”
Apparently, Benjamin was expected to come to training camp at 251 pounds, down from his minicamp weight of 265. He showed up this week at 268 pounds. After he was released, Benjamin accused Judge of trying to ‘sabotage’ him and said some other unflattering things about the Giants’ second-year head coach including that the Giants will never win with Judge at the helm.
At his Thursday morning presser, Judge addressed the situation professionally by wishing Benjamin luck and success and chalked the move up to football as usual. Several Giant players quickly came to their coaches’ defense in their media sessions after practice.
Tight end Evan Engram said, “the standard he’s created, the culture for this team…You strap up your helmet and go to war for a coach like that.”
Center Nick Gates, after a short pause, dodged the question regarding Benjamin’s comments when pressed for a response, leaving reporters to believe he found the comments not worth addressing.
Pro Bowl cornerback James Bradberry also stepped up to defend Judge. As did defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence.
#Giants CB James Bradberry with some heat 🔥 for Kelvin Benjamin in defense of Joe Judge: pic.twitter.com/84V37rdPPj
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) July 29, 2021
Dexter Lawrence said he doesn’t know anyone who doesn’t like Joe Judge. I can think of one guy…
Players have had Judge’s back today after he was blasted by Kelvin Benjamin. Players concede Judge is tough/intense but they’ve clearly bought in.
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) July 29, 2021
The Benjamin saga is now over but the moral of this drama is that the locker room is clearly buying into Judge and his way of doing things.
