New York Giants right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor has been a colorful interviewee since signing with the club in free agency this past offseason.
This week, he may have gone a bit too far with his opinions after the Giants’ 26-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.
Leading up to the game, Eluemunor, who was nursing a hip injury, had his competency questioned as he prepared to face Steelers All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt.
Eluemunor answered those critics by saying that he had faced Watt before and was ready for the challenge.
“I want to be on an island with T.J. Watt all day,” Eluemunor told reporters last week.
The game, naturally, told a different story. Although Eluemunor played fairly well in the game, Watt was able to wreck the Giants’ hopes with two second-half sacks and a fumble recovery to help pin a loss on the Big Blue.
Eluemunor, in his spot on WFAN radio on Tuesday, believes he still got the better of Watt on the evening.
“I was on an island with him for a majority of the game. And he didn’t do a damn thing. I’m not gonna sit here and fricking sing his praises,” Eluemunor told hosts Sal Licata and Brandon Tierney. “He didn’t do anything for three-and-half quarters and had one impact play.”
Yes, but that one impact play is the one people will remember. As we all know, offensive linemen only get shoutouts when they mess up.
Watt took the situation in stride and didn’t address Eluemunor by name.
“I mean, I have a lot of respect for every single player in the NFL,” he said. “Everybody works hard, and I’m just trying to get my opportunities when I get ’em and make the most of ’em when they happen.”
Watt’s official line on the night: six pressures, 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. All were impactful as the Giants’ offense sputtered again.
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