Shortly after former New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins used a disparaging word on Twitter during an argument with a fan, he tweeted an apology to whoever he upset alongside the hashtag, #rabbitloveeverybody.
When meeting with the media a day later, Jenkins again apologized, but then proceeded to dig in as reporters continued to pepper him with repeat questions. At one point, the veteran attempted to explain his culture and how the use of that word had always been intended, but that did not sit well with those who cover the Giants.
Instantaneously, papers were published demanding that the Giants immediately release Jenkins because his two apologies did not suffice. The Giants, of course, obliged.
Jenkins was waived and subsequently claimed by the New Orleans Saints. And during his Wednesday introduction, Jenkins again explained that he had apologized but that New York reporters simply twisted his words and demanded some theoretical bloodshed.
“I mean, I never stood by it,” Jenkins told Saints reporters. “They twisted it. I said I’m sorry to whoever I offended. The way I was raised, we got different cultures and different terms that you use. If I was to go out there and say, ‘Hey, you went retarded on [the] football field,’ would you look at it as me talking about somebody disabled? Or would you look at me [as] saying, ‘Oh, he did some crazy stuff out there, some amazing stuff’?”
Three apologies and an attempted explanation still aren’t enough and those in New York are against crucifying Jenkins, claiming he simply doesn’t get it even though it seems like he clearly does.
What seems to be lost in translation is Jenkins’ upfront, don’t hide from it way of doing business. He’s being as real and honest as he can be, which is being misinterpreted as ignorance and an indifference.
Jenkins comes from a different time and from a different sub-culture that many of us can not to relate to. It doesn’t make what he said right by today’s extremely strict standards, but the absolute refusal to hear the man is alarming.
Luckily for Jenkins, he’s out of the toxic East Rutherford environment — fueled by losing and angry reporters trying to salvage their pageview bonuses by any means necessary — and onto the NFC Playoffs, where he has a chance to help the Saints get to the Super Bowl.
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