Tag: Sal Licata

Giants legend Carl Banks resigns from weekly spot on WFAN

Giants legend Carl Banks has resigned from his spot on WFAN’s midday show after an ugly clash with hosts Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata.

New York Giants legend Carl Banks has resigned from his role on WFAN’s midday show after clashing with Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata last week.

The standoff arose after the co-hosts heavily criticized Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, slamming him for anything from his motor to the way his body looks to how he dresses.

“He stinks, dude. There’s nothing about his game that jumps out to me,” Licata said. “His body looks awkward (and) he’s not fast.”

Banks called into the show the following day, which was his usual spot, and the trio talked for roughly 20 minutes. The conversation became increasingly heated before Licata finally instructed his producers to hang up on Banks.

“I can’t take it anymore. Pull him down, seriously. We have to have a voice here and I appreciate the time Carl, thank you,” Licata said as the call ended.

It was a stunning moment in New York sports talk radio history and it did not go without consequences. Although WFAN attempted to smooth things over with Banks, he ultimately felt too disrespected to return and terminated his role.

During their Wednesday show, Licata and Tierney addressed Banks’ resignation.

“Usually in this spot, we have Carl Banks on. Last week we had a testy debate with Carl. Right on the air afterwards, I came on and apologized for the way that it ended, kind of cutting the call short there after 20 minutes,” Licata said, via the New York Post. “I also called him during the week, and also apologized. He said all was good. But Carl just doesn’t want to do the spot anymore, so we move on.”

“Yeah, we move on,” Tierney added.

Tierney says he spoke to Banks on Tuesday and they had a “great talk” but, ultimately, the two-time Super Bowl champion would not be returning to their show.

“Listen, things are gonna happen in this medium, when you bring a lot of passion to a topic, as certainly we did that day, and hopefully every day. And Carl did that day. When things go awry, as they sometimes do, you gotta own it. And I think we did. And I think Carl did as well,” Tierney said.

Maybe next time they won’t pull the plug on a New York Giants legend who has probably forgotten more about football than others will ever know.

[lawrence-related id=718007,712444,693319]

Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux shrugs off WFAN criticism

New York Giants LB Kayvon Thibodeaux is letting the criticism from WFAN hosts Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata roll right off his back.

New York sports talk radio has taken center stage in recent days, which speaks volumes considering that the New York Giants and New York Jets will play this coming Sunday.

But two moments on WFAN from earlier this week have stolen the show.

The first came on Tuesday when co-hosts Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata took aim at Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, remarking on both his play and physical appearance. It was an odd commentary and one that drew a response from Giants legend Carl Banks.

After calling into the show on Wednesday, Banks engaged in a back-and-forth with Licata before being abruptly hung up on in a viral moment.

Asked about the WFAN criticism and Banks coming to his defense, Thibodeaux dismissed Tierney and Licata but expressed appreciation for Banks.

“Man, let’s just keep playing. Everybody has an opinion, everybody has a critique and sometimes I like it when they’re educated, sometimes when somebody’s trying to help me get better,” Thibodeaux told reporters on Thursday. “But most of the time you try not to pay attention to it because it’ll have your emotions going up and down.

“I actually was just told about (it by) one of the reporters about what happened, and I’ll probably go look at it later on, but I appreciate the support from the people who do like my game and the people who want to watch me play.”

Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Wink Martindale continued to express his support for Thibodeaux — a stance that has not waivered even the tiniest bit this season.

“I’ve said this every time I come up here, I think he’s a very good football player and I think he’s having a really good season,” Martindale said. “I mean, you’re talking about a guy in the NFL that as an edge rusher, as a linebacker who played 68 out of the 69 plays, which is a rarity in itself. I think that — where’s he at now, five-and-a-half sacks?

“He makes everything roll for us. I know no matter what he does, it might not reach what some people think he should be doing, but I think he’s a hell of a football player. I’m glad that we have him. I’m glad that I’ve had the opportunity to coach him.”

Thibodeaux has 5.5 sacks through seven weeks this season, which is ninth-most in the league and ahead of Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, who Tierney and Licata used as a base for their criticism.

[lawrence-related id=718043,718028,718034]

Follow the Giants Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

WFAN hosts hang up on Carl Banks amid Kayvon Thibodeaux debate

In the middle of a debate about New York Giants LB Kayvon Thibodeaux, WFAN hosts Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata hung up on Carl Banks.

New York sports talk radio is a bit of a circus. It always has been and that’s part of the allure.

People in New York, whether they are fans or analysts, are passionate about sports and especially passionate about their New York Giants in recent years. Fiery debate is a staple of everyday life but things took an ugly and unexpected turn this week.

On Tuesday, WFAN host Sal Licata took aim at Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux but did it in a rather odd way.

“He stinks, dude. There’s nothing about his game that jumps out to me,” Licata said. “His body looks awkward (and) he’s not fast.”

Licata then transitioned from criticizing Thibodeaux’s physique to offering commentary on his fashion sense.

“What does he do? He runs his mouth and he dresses nicely,” Licata added.

Retired Giants legend Carl Banks took exception to Licata’s commentary and join he and co-host Brandon Tierney during their show on Wednesday. To say things did not go smoothly would be an understatement.

“This unhealthy obsession for finding what is wrong with Kayvon Thibodeaux is bordering weird,” Banks told the WFAN duo. “You talk about you don’t like a guy’s body? The guy just had a game that would put him in the running for Defensive Player of the Week. He had seven or eight pressures. Go look at Khalil Mack and see if he even had five pressures

“You don’t have to like him. You don’t even have to like his body. But tell me you watched the game before you say he just stands there and you don’t like his body. He had a monster game. What are we talking about?”

Things became increasingly volatile as Banks and Licata began talking over each other. And when Banks would not back down, Licata instructed the producers to end the call. And they did. Abruptly.

“I can’t take it anymore. Pull him down, seriously. We have to have a voice here and I appreciate the time Carl, thank you,” Licata said as the call ended.

“I hate that that comes across as disrespectful ’cause I really do love Carl,” Tierney said a bit later. “And he loves us, but after a while, it’s too much. You can’t tell us how to do a show.”

Banks later took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share his thoughts on the show and how it ended.

Whatever your opinion on Thibodeaux, it’s not a good look for WFAN, the Giants’ flagship station, to cut the line on Banks. He’s one of the greatest players in franchise history, belongs in the Hall of Fame, and currently serves as an on-air analyst alongside Bob Papa.

[lawrence-related id=717992,717987,717965]