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New York Giants head coach Joe Judge isn’t taking anything for granted. He’s told his players they shouldn’t, either.
The Fan Fest/workout at MetLife Stadium on Wednesday night would be the first time Judge and his players would face Giant fans in person. Judge was reminded by reporters that it might not be all positive vibes as the team had been getting booed more often than normal the past few seasons.
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“Look, you get what you earn and we have to earn their respect,” Judge said. “You’re going to see a group of guys go out there and lay it on the field every time they take the field together. We’re going to work hard for 60 minutes. Talk about it all the time, I want the team smart, tough, fundamentally sound. We’re going to play for 60 minutes. That’s what you can expect to see from our team. If you step on the field for us, that’s what you can expect to see.”
The 29,000-plus Bing Blue fans invited to the Fan Fest reacted positively to finally seeing the team they love up close for the first time since the 2019 season.
That’s our Coach! pic.twitter.com/i0XU3ppsi0
— New York Giants (@Giants) August 12, 2021
“There’s a reason this is such a paramount organization in the National Football League, and that really starts with the fans,” Judge said. “I mean, the game is about the players, it’s about the fans, that’s really what the connection is. The passion of New York, having the experience to be in MSG during a Knicks playoff game and feeling the energy of those fans really pouring into the game, that’s something that’s unique.
“You don’t go into every stadium and feel that energy and passion. There’s a natural demeanor in this area of the country, specifically in North Jersey and New York of – look, it is a mentally tough area. That’s the way it is, that’s the way it’s supposed to be and that’s the way we’ve got to train our team to be, and I like that atmosphere. I like coming to the stadium and people expect to see excellence, and that’s what they deserve for the money they spend. That’s the product we have to work to give to them.”
Some notes from Fan Fest:
-Jones threw the ball well, had a nice connection with Shep going.
-Toney got a load management day, with Barkley.
-Engram had a drop and fans booed.
-Ro Williams continues to impress
-Slayton had a nice practice— The Giant Insider Newspaper & Podcast (@GiantInsider) August 12, 2021
The Giants will be back in the stadium in just a few nights when they host the New York Jets on Saturday night in their preseason opener.
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