Giants LB Abdul Carter 'glad' to go through benching, addresses teammates calling him out

It’s been a tough few weeks for New York Giants rookie linebacker Abdul Carter. Interim head coach Mike Kafka has been in charge for three games; he’s benched Carter for the start of two of them for disciplinary issues.

Carter, the No. 3 overall pick out of Penn State, just turned 22 years old in October. He knows it’s on him to grow up quickly in the NFL.

“I’m learning a lot in terms of just being a man, being in the NFL, just going through it,” Carter said Tuesday. “I’m learning a lot and I’m glad I’m going through it so I can be better prepared in the future.”

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. 

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

General manager Joe Schoen on Tuesday addressed the incidents involving Carter. 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.”

Carter’s teammates are holding him accountable. Veteran defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence called him “hard-headed” and encouraged him to “grow up” after Monday’s game. Carter has zero issue with Lawrence and other teammates calling him out.

“I take it. The guys who say that, those are guys I look up to, guys I respect,” Carter said. “So, if they say something like that, I’m going to look at myself first, like ‘alright, what am I doing? How can I get better?’ and prove to them that I can earn their respect and go out and be who I’m supposed to be.”