Abdul Carter benching: Giants GM addresses rookie pass rusher's repeated disciplinary issues

New York Giants rookie linebacker Abdul Carter has made more headlines this season for his conduct off the field rather than his play on the field. Carter has been benched twice in the last three games for disciplinary issues.

Carter, the No. 3 overall pick out of Penn State, just turned 22 years old in October. As general manager Joe Schoen put it Tuesday, he was “thrust into the spotlight in New York City.” Schoen and the organization believe in Carter and aren’t giving up on him.

“Abdul is a young man that’s 21 years old that’s smart and understands the magnitude of his actions and also understands what it means to be a pro,” Schoen said. “These kids are 21 years old and thrust into the spotlight in New York City. It’s not always going to be perfect. People make mistakes. Nobody’s perfect. Part of our job is to develop them as football players, but also as people. We will continue to do that with everybody in our organization.”

Abdul Carter addresses 2nd benching in recent weeks

Carter was benched for the opening series of the 27-20 Week 11 home defeat to the Green Bay Packers. Jordan Raanan of ESPN reported that Carter was asleep at the team facility and missed a walk-through that week, leading to his benching for one series.

He did not play the entire first quarter of Monday’s 33-15 Week 13 road loss to the New England Patriots. On3‘s Richie O’Leary reported Sunday that Carter was late to a meeting and expected to be benched Monday. Carter was asked after the game about being benched for the second time in three weeks.

“Sh*t happens,” Carter said. “I’m not going to get into details. Sh*t happens.”

Interim head coach Mike Kafka said it was his decision to bench Carter for the entirety of the first quarter against New England. Schoen supported Kafka doing that.

“I support him with that decision,” Schoen said, “and I’ll just leave it at that.”