Giants’ Evan Neal Apologizes for Controversial Comments toward Fans
In a social media post on Wednesday night, Giants’ right tackle Evan Neal issued an apology to the team’s fan base following his controversial comments made earlier in the week. Neal also addressed the fans’ disappointment during a team meeting on Thursday and expressed his hopes of rebuilding trust with them.
“I’m remorseful,” Neal admitted in the locker room, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. “I definitely could have used a better choice of words. Coming from humble beginnings myself, I never wanted to belittle anyone, regardless of their financial status or occupation. So I really wanted to apologize for what I said.”
The Giants’ head coach, Brian Daboll, also had a conversation with Neal regarding his “poor comments,” highlighting the importance of maintaining a positive relationship with the team’s supporters.
Neal’s comments, made during an interview with Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media, caused quite a stir among Giants’ fans. The right tackle encouraged fans to “boo louder” and questioned why he should listen to “fair-weather” supporters.
“The person that’s commenting on my performance, what does he do? Flip hot dogs and hamburgers somewhere?” Neal rhetorically asked Slater. “Most critics really don’t understand the game of football to the level that we understand it in this building. So why would a lion concern himself with the opinion of a sheep?”
On Thursday, Neal clarified that his words were a result of frustration stemming from the team’s performance. With a 1-3 record, the Giants have been struggling on multiple fronts, including a 64-3 point deficit in two home games, a 31st-ranked total offense, and the relinquishment of 11 sacks in their recent loss to the Seahawks.
“I wasn’t trying to pick a fight with anyone, honestly,” Neal confessed. “That was just a moment of frustration. I kind of said something, although it was not my intent to offend anyone or anyone’s occupation, although that’s how it came across. And I own up to that. I could have definitely used a better choice of words for sure. Hey, I love the fans that support us, are behind us, want to fight for us and cheer for us, so I just apologize to those that I offended.”
Neal’s apology seems to be a step towards repairing the strained relationship between him and the fans. As the team moves forward, it remains to be seen if actions on the field will have a more positive impact on the fan base and help restore their loyalty and trust.