New York Giants rookie linebacker Abdul Carter was benched for the first quarter of Monday night’s 33-15 loss to the New England Patriots due to disciplinary issues.
Interim head coach Mike Kafka coined it as a “coaches’ decision, my decision,” but didn’t add much detail as to why he benched the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
It was not the first time Kafka had disciplined Carter. Three weeks ago, Carter was benched for the first possession of the Giants’ 27-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers, punishment for missing a walkthrough.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports that Carter has had disciplinary issues for some time now, dating back to when Brian Daboll was still head coach.
The rookie pass rusher has had issues all year with being late and/or missing team obligations. Now fired coach Brian Daboll fined Carter for it on multiple occasions. Interim coach Mike Kafka has been heavier handed with it, with the most recent benching coming after Carter was also sat down for the start of the Giants’ Week 11 game against the Packers.
Now, there’s nothing overly nefarious here. The Green Bay benching was triggered by Carter losing track of time—getting red-light therapy in the players lounge while the team started a walkthrough a few steps away on the practice field. Which might be excusable, if it didn’t keep happening. Leaders in that position group, captain Brian Burns primarily among them, have tried to get through to Carter. Coaches, obviously, have too.
That it hasn’t happened is an indictment on everyone, Carter included. The rookie had a reputation coming out of Penn State, fair or not, for being selfish and entitled, and NFL teams were well aware of it. He’s living up to it now. And the fact that the team hasn’t been able to reel him in, and ingrain how his actions the other six days of the week are costing him on game day, raises questions on a lot of other people there.
The Giants can’t seem to get a break, no matter where they turn. An old gambler I knew once said, “I can’t even win for losing,” meaning he should get something for being wrong so often. The Giants got the No. 3 overall pick for finishing 3-14 last year, and Carter was sitting there when it was their turn to pick.
Everyone said it was a steal. They got the best player in the draft. Best player in what way, though? Talent, maybe, but we all know that’s just part of the equation that makes a player great. Carter has a lot of catching up to do in terms of winning over his teammates, coaches, and fans.
Carter has just 1.5 sacks on the season and has been putting in the effort on the field, but something is missing. Perhaps he’ll come on the final four games and begin to show off that massive talent.