Giants coach Brian Daboll unfazed by Kenny Golladay's unhappiness
Giants wide receiver Kenny Golladay reacts after making a catch against Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner during a joint practice in East Rutherford, N.J., on Aug. 25. Credit: Noah K. Murray
Kenny Golladay was unhappy he only played two snaps last Sunday? Good, Brian Daboll said, but the Giants coach had no malice behind the sentiment.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been a part of any team where someone’s not happy about something,” Daboll said before practice Thursday. “I have a great respect for Kenny. I’m glad he’s [unhappy] that he didn’t play. It shows competitiveness, but he’s been a pro and we’ll see how it goes this week.”
Daboll added that he generally confers with Joe Schoen about personnel decisions, but that the general manager doesn’t go as far as to tell him to switch out one player for another. Golladay Wednesday vehemently disagreed with the decision to sit him for the vast majority of Sunday’s win over the Panthers.
“I should be playing regardless,” Golladay said. “That’s a fact. That’s a fact.”
Golladay added that, prior to a conversation with Daboll before the Carolina game, he had no indication that people inside the organization were unhappy with his output.
“That’s why it’s a little bit confusing,” Golladay said. “Everybody in this building tells me I do everything the right way, be a pro. Even people on the team were kind of like, ‘What’s going on?’”
Golladay has not requested a trade and the Giants are unlikely to find a way to offload his four-year, $72 million contract. Asked if he planned to play Golladay more in the Monday night game against the Cowboys, Daboll remained noncommittal.
“I think it’s [being made into] a bigger thing than really it is,” Daboll said. “We went with [David] Sills. KG is working hard, and we’ll see where it goes this week. . . . We have private conversations. We have good conversations. We’re in a good spot.”
Injury updates. LBs Azeez Ojulari (calf) and Kayvon Thibodeaux (knee) went full speed during one-on-one drills in the portion of practice open to the media, though both were listed as limited. Daboll said he was hopeful both could make their debuts on Monday. “You can see them making strides,” he said. “I think they’re trending in the right direction.” …DL Leonard Williams (knee), WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee), CB Justin Layne (concussion), CB Nick McCloud (hamstring), CB Aaron Robinson (appendix) all did not practice Thursday. S Dane Belton (clavicle), S Jason Pinnock (shoulder) and WR Kadarius Toney (hamstring) were all limited.
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
