Offensive lineman Andrew Thomas and running back Devontae Booker were the two Giants made available to the media Monday, and neither of them had heard or seen head coach Joe Judge’s 11-minute rant from Sunday.
They had heard about it, though, as it was apparently a topic in the locker room Monday.
“I know some of the players were talking about it today, but I didn't bother honing in on it and seeing what he had to say,” Booker said. “It was more so, 'you heard what Coach Judge said?' or whatever. It was stuff like that. But I was in the building only for a little bit today and was in and out, so I really didn't pay attention to any of it.”
Whatever the optic is inside the building, Booker and Thomas both agree that Judge’s message that the team is working hard despite the lack of results is the right one.
“I think a lot of our players are buying in to what Coach Judge preaches,” Thomas said. “We come in every day regardless of what happens on Sunday. We come in and we work to get better and to put a product on the field that we're proud of.”
“Really, we just try to stay positive and go out there every week and try to get a win for the team and the coaches,” Booker added. “Lately, we just haven't been doing so. It's really frustrating on us and I'm sure the coaches, but we've just still got to stay the path, finish this thing out and get a win this weekend.”
For both Booker and Thomas, the Giants’ losing ways are new to them in different fashions. Thomas was 36-7 with an appearance in the CFP Championship Game in his three years at Georgia, while Booker, who was 19-7 in two seasons at Utah, was on three losing teams in Denver but never one that lost 12 games.
Much as the defense says they don’t play to the scoreboard, though, neither Thomas nor Booker are worried about anything but the future and being the best players they can be for the Giants.
“For me, the focus is just trying to be the best player I can be for my team,” Thomas said. “There are obviously things that I need to clean up as a player before I can look at somebody else and point the finger. I've got to be playing at the best possible way I can, so to do that, I'm focused on that.”
“I haven't been to the playoffs yet since my six years here in the NFL. It can be frustrating and stuff at times, but when you know the season is going like this, you only revert back to one way, and that's just trying to finish the thing out strong,” Booker added. “You only can control what we can control at this point. That's really just been my whole mindset through the whole downfall of our season. It's just finishing everything, finishing out strong, finishing every run, and just going out there and playing hard and competing. That's the only way I know.”
It's important for Thomas, who has already drawn criticism for his slow development and/or poor play, but believes he’s on the right track for future success.
“I think both seasons I've continued to get better as the season went on. A lot of things I still want to clean up and be better at, but we've got another opportunity this week to play at a level that I'm proud of, so just trying to work on that every day,” Thomas said. “I'm still focused on myself being the best player I can be and the best teammate I can be, and I think that's doing well for me.”
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So, too, he says, are the Giants.
“I definitely believe (better days are ahead). We have a lot of talented guys in this locker room and the ability to play well, we've just got to get on the same page and stop beating ourselves. That's the biggest thing,” Thomas said. “Coach Judge always says is you can't win until you keep from losing. Until we do that, we're not going to be as successful as we want to be. It’s been tough with a lot of guys going down this year – a lot of leaders, which is hard for a team. But other guys stepped up and we just try to bond together and keep working hard for each other.”
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