As most of the NFL broke for the summer yesterday, there were many warnings to players about making good decisions during the six-week break before training camps start.
But for the Giants veterans, it was easy to talk to their young players about what to do and not do, by pointing to one of their own.
According to Zach Braziller of the New York Post, last year’s Fourth of July fireworks explosion which robbed defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul of part of his right hand was very much part of their message.
“Remind them that they’ve worked their entire life to get to this position and find themselves in one of these buildings, and how it could be taken away so quick,” veteran running back Rashad Jennings said. “You know, take advantage of it. It goes a long way when you hear it from players more so than coaches, so we have some veteran leadership that [took] the time to make sure we’re preaching it in the locker room ourselves.”
Similar messages were being given by every team as we enter the six weeks of breath-holding for teams and exhaling by players. But only the Giants have such a clear illustration of what can go wrong so quickly.
