Giants Rookie Abdul Carter Speaks Out After Benching: "I Let My Team Down"
Rookie pass rusher Abdul Carter, the third‑overall pick in the 2025 draft, was benched to start Monday night’s loss to the New England Patriots — the second time in three games that head coach Mike Kafka has punished him for missing team responsibilities.
Carter sat out the first quarter while the Giants fell behind 17–0 before he stepped onto the field. Despite the poor start, he managed to record his first full sack of the season and added several tackles; a small silver lining on an otherwise rough night.
When asked about being benched, Carter didn’t hide his disappointment — but he also didn’t make any excuses.
“It hurt, but I’ve got to own it,” Carter said, looking frustrated but focused.
Carter’s honest reflection on the situation resonated with his teammates, who value accountability above all else. His willingness to face the consequences head-on shows maturity beyond his rookie year. The emotional honesty of his words came across loud and clear: he’s accepting responsibility for the benching and vows to improve.
This benching wasn’t just a consequence for Carter’s missed responsibilities; it was a message from the coaching staff about discipline and expectations. For a rookie with high expectations — being the third pick in the draft — any slip-ups are magnified.
“I know I’ve got to be better, plain and simple,” Carter added, his tone more reflective. “This is the NFL, and I can’t let anything slide. If I want to help this team win, I’ve got to show up every day, be on time, and execute when I’m called upon.”
Still, Carter remains determined to prove his worth. With his ability to impact the game — shown by his sack and tackles after coming into the game — he’s eager to show his coaches that he can make the necessary adjustments.
“I’m not going to let this define me. I’ve been through a lot of tough moments, and I know how to bounce back. I’m ready to earn the trust again, one play at a time.”
Carter’s mindset is clear: while the benching was a setback, it’s also a catalyst for improvement. The real question is whether he can seize the opportunity to prove himself in the weeks ahead.
Jack Sawyer Calls Out Steelers Fans Over 'Fire Tomlin' Chant
The Pittsburgh Steelers are reeling once again following another embarrassing loss. The season is quickly slipping out of the Steelers' hands, and the fanbase has responded with vitriol toward the roster and head coach Mike Tomlin. Things reached a fever pitch during their Week 13 loss, as the fanbase hurled "Fire Tomlin!" chants down on the team.
Following the loss, the Steelers players quickly came to their coach's defense. Leaders like Aaron Rodgers and T.J. Watt spoke about accountability in the locker room and defended Tomlin's coaching abilities and command of the team.
Even rookie linebacker Jack Sawyer took issue with the fans' jeering and blaming of Tomlin. Speaking postgame, he said the players are the ones to blame for not performing, and the coach shouldn't be scapegoated. He even went so far as to describe the calls for Tomlin as "BS."
“Yeah, you’re frustrated because that’s BS when people are saying that, but we’re not playing up to our standard," Sawyer said. "We need to take ownership as players and go out there and play a lot better."
Who is to Blame?
While the Steelers' locker room might not think Tomlin is the problem, that opinion isn't shared outside of that room. The fact of the matter is that this team was built entirely in Tomlin's image and making. The defensive moves to acquire Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay were supposed to fix their secondary. It didn't.
They brought in Tomlin's hand-picked starting quarterback in a washed up version of Aaron Rodgers. They swapped out a problematic figure in George Pickens for DK Metcalf at wide receiver. It's led to their offense being just as pedestrian as it has been since Ben Roethlisberger retired.
Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner
Yes, the players have failed and need to be better. Watt has gone from elite to just good. Alex Highsmith can't stay on the field. Metcalf's dropped passes issue has resurfaced with a vengeance in 2025. Ramsey has taken a step back. The running backs, Jaylen Warren and Kenny Gainwell, are doing their best with nothing to work with. There's plenty of blame worth lobbing on the players in the room.
But, ultimately, the buck stops with the head coach. If the entire roster is underperforming, who else is left to blame? Jack Sawyer might think it's "BS" to suggest firing Tomlin, but with nowhere left to turn, it's quickly becoming the Steelers' only option.
