Jenkins cut over comment, Eli to start
NEW YORK — Janoris Jenkins wanted to be able to speak freely, and now he can.
The Giants cut Jenkins on Friday morning, one day after his nonapology for calling a fan a “retard” on Twitter Wednesday. And they even trolled him at the start of practice by playing the song “Let It Go” from Disney’s “Frozen” at the start of practice.
Jenkins, 31, had used the Rword before as a Giant on Instagram in Aug. 2018. Nicknamed “Jackrabbit,” Jenkins remained on the team for almost two more full seasons and was championed by the Giants this offseason as a mentor and leader.
But his ignorance and insensitivity declining to genuinely apologize on Thursday led team brass to cut him.
They were already expected to get rid of him this offseason to save $11.25 million against their 2020 salary cap. Jenkins’ misstep simply gave them cause to send him down the Rabbit Hole a few weeks early and make an example of his unacceptable behavior.
“This was an organizational decision,” Pat Shurmur said in a statement. “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.”
Shurmur later elaborated: “I spoke to him. My understanding was he made an apology. After the apology he made an at
tempt to rationalize his beliefs. And then yesterday there was a decision made topdown that we were gonna move on.”
Jenkins, true to his immaturity, pretty much announced his release himself on Friday morning by tweeting: “Best news ever.. Thank you.”
Later, he tweeted: “I Just want to thank the organization for the opportunity & good luck to my brothers that remains a Giant! Again, want my fans to know my intentions are always pure and genuine. #RabbitLoveEverybody.”
While GM Dave Gettleman scapegoated Odell Beckham Jr. last spring in his Giants “culture” cleanup, the GM was trumpeting Jenkins as a mentor and de facto extra defensive backs coach for the Giants’ many youngsters.
“Rabbit is a good guy. He’s a good person. He’s a good man. He wants to win. He’s not stupid,” Gettleman said on July 26. “He knows that these young corners . have to grow up quick. He’s more than happy to help them along.”
Shurmur, complicit in shipping out Beckham and other supposedly poisonous influences on the Giants’ culture, said on Aug. 20: “I have a very high opinion of Jackrabbit.”
At April’s draft, Gettleman joked: “Janoris has a bunch of puppies he’s got to train.”
Shurmur added: “He’ll become a good teacher. I admire Janoris. He’s tough. He’s competitive. He always answers the bell, and I’ve gained a huge appreciation for him coaching him over the last year or so, and so just keep — put all these young guys in a room with him, and I think Janoris will be Janoris, and if these young guys are smart enough to listen, then they’re going to learn a lot of really good stuff.”
Jenkins, though, demonstrated poor leadership of the youngsters just Thursday.
Not only did he refuse to apologize for his language; as he walked away, he smacked young corner Grant Haley on the thigh and reminded him: “Speak freely as a man.” He was teaching the Giants’ young players exactly the wrong way to act.
MANNING TO GET START
Eli Manning will get another start at quarterback for the Giants with Daniel Jones still sidelined by a high ankle sprain.
Shurmur said Friday that the veteran Manning will start on Sunday at home against Miami. Manning returned last Monday night in an overtime loss at Philadelphia, performing well in the first half with two touchdown passes before struggling the rest of the way.
Jones replaced Manning as the starter in the third week of the season. But the sixth pick overall in this year’s draft was hurt in a loss to Green Bay on Dec. 1. He practiced on a limited basis this week.
Manning, a twotime Super Bowl MVP, was 15 of 30 for 203 yards and two touchdowns in the 2317 loss to the Eagles. He did not throw an interception.