New York Giants coach Brian Daboll said Monday that he had a discussion with rookie receiver Malik Nabers following Sunday's frustrated comments, including the wideout calling his own club "soft" after a 30-7 blowout loss to Tampa Bay.
"He's a very competitive individual," Daboll said, . "Again, you want to get the ball in his hands, and I got to do a better job of getting the ball in his hands early. He's a smart young guy that's very competitive. And again, when you lose like that, it's a frustrating thing. But we've had good communication as we always have."
Nabers wasn't targeted in the first half as new starter Tommy DeVito passed for just 31 yards through two quarters. Big Blue force-fed the young wideout to open the third quarter. Nabers was targeted on the first three passes of the second half and finished with six catches for 64 yards on nine targets.
After the game, the rookie expressed his frustration, noting that the team was "soft."
He wasn't the only player to articulate a similar thought. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence also said the Giants were equivalent to , and veteran offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor noted he didn't think everyone was giving 100 percent.
Daboll disputed all those claims.
"The guys played hard," he said. "They played with effort. Just didn't do enough."
If the Giants continue not to do enough, owner John Mara might be forced to reverse gears on his intention to retain Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen into 2025, particularly if they faceplant Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys in front of a national audience.
