Following a tweetstorm that included a very derogatory term used to insult a fan followed by a soft apology, the New York Giants have waived veteran cornerback Janoris Jenkins.
“This was an organizational decision,” head coach Pat Shurmur said. “From ownership to management to our football operations, we felt it was in the best interests of the franchise and the player. Obviously, what happened this week, and the refusal to acknowledge the inappropriate and offensive language, was the determining factor.”
Jenkins actually celebrated the news of his release with — what else — a tweet.
Jenkins created a firestorm on Wednesday when he took to Twitter in order to defend his performance this season, eventually getting into a nasty exchange with a fan.
Although Jenkins tweeted an apology, he was hammered by the New York media on Thursday and refused to back down or further apologize, calling the entire situation “cultural.”
“Where I’m from, we use all kind of words for slang. If it offends anybody, I’m sorry,” Jenkins said. “It’s a culture that I grew up in where I’m from, you know what I’m saying. We use all kinds of words for all kinds of slang. If you don’t know, it’s a ‘hood thing. Whatever. I’m not calling nobody no name or pick at nobody. It’s just something we use in the hood back at home.”
Pressed further, Jenkins dug in.
“I never said it was right. I said that was a slang I use back at home,” Jenkins said. “I never said it was right. It’s just something I use at home.
“I regret it. But at the end of the day, it’s my slang. So if you take it how you’re going to take it, it’s on you. I don’t mean to offend nobody. My dad always told me, ‘Speak freely and own up to what you say.’ So I always speak freely as a man, and I speak how I want to speak.”
Although Jenkins’ comment was completely inappropriate, it did not seem to ruffle the fans of most Giants fans.
The Giants officially termed the transaction as “waived/injured” due to Jenkins’ ankle injury. Ironically, if he clears waivers, he reverts to injured reserve.
