Carl Banks, who played with legendary pass rusher Lawrence Taylor, has some thoughts on rookie Abdul Carter, who tallied 1.5 sacks. Banks expressed disappointment after Carter was benched for the second time during Monday night’s 33-15 defeat to the Patriots, citing his failure to fulfill team responsibilities.
Earlier this season, Carter missed a walkthrough prior to a Week 11 loss against the Packers and ended up not starting against them either. “It’s really time for him to mature,” Banks stated during WFAN’s game broadcast. “I’m not saying we need to start fights within the team, but I think we have to consider that this isn’t a one-off situation. It feels like it’s been a persistent issue all season. Losing like this affects the entire locker room. How many times do incidents like this occur without recognition or discipline?”
Bob Papa, the Giants’ play-by-play announcer, pointed out that incidents like these are common, which led Banks to continue criticizing the former Penn State star. The Giants currently sit at 2-11, and Banks remarked that he had expected more from Carter. “I was optimistic about him, but it’s disappointing,” he said. “You can’t care more than the players do. He needs to get into shape and take ownership going forward.”
Carter started the season with plenty of praise from analysts, yet ironically, he was benched more often than he sacked quarterbacks in the first 13 weeks. Some reports, as shared by sources, pointed out issues with timeliness in Carter’s rookie season, though there were conflicting opinions on that matter.
Carter defended his absence from the walkthrough before the Week 11 game, explaining he was undergoing therapy. However, details about his recent violation remained vague from both him and Coach Mike Kafka.
Despite the disappointing night for the defense, Carter managed to record his first full sack of the season. “We need to improve,” he commented. “I have to take pride in my efforts and fulfill my responsibilities. It really is that simple.” He also noted, “I can’t discuss everything; that’s just how it is.”
Some of Carter’s teammates, including captain Dexter Lawrence, share Banks’ view, suggesting that the young player needs to grow up. Lawrence noted, “He clearly has a passion for football and approaches it seriously, which is impressive at his age.”
As the season winds down, Carter will aim to make an impact in the remaining four games, hopefully finishing with more sacks than instances of discipline.
