The Giants are sending plenty of mixed messages regarding the videotaped dumping of cornerback Prince Amukamara into a cold tub by defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.
On one hand, the video is “distasteful,” according to punter Steve Weatherford.
On the other hand, defensive end Justin Tuck says getting dunked in the cold tub is a good thing.
But if it’s a good thing, why is Pierre-Paul saying he’ll never do it again?
Amukamara has now addressed the situation, twice. Once on Sunday with Mike Garafolo of the Newark Star-Ledger, and again on Monday with reporters in the locker room.
Prince is in a tough spot. He can’t be perceived as complaining about the situation, especially since as Garafolo mentioned on Sunday the veterans keep dumping Amukamara in the cold tub in an effort to toughen him up. Still, from time to time Amukamara’s concern peeks through, as it did on Sunday when he expressed confusion as to why he’s still getting treated like a rookie and on Monday when he said that the situation got “out of hand.”
The broader point I’ll make before we close the book on this one (barring further developments) is this: If guys who are deemed “soft” repeatedly get thrown in the cold tub, what happens to a player who is regarded as gay?
It’s become fashionable for NFL players to claim that they’d welcome a gay teammate into the locker room. One of the first things that occurred to me after watching the video was that a player deemed to be gay could end up being relentlessly hazed and bullied and harassed -- which makes it even more difficult for a player to come out of the closet before his career ends.
