Giants players address Evan Neal ripping fans after 'MNF' debacle

New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley shared words of wisdom for teammate Evan Neal after the right tackle lashed out at fans who booed the team during this past Monday's 24-3 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks. 

"The advice I would give to him or any other teammate is never pick a battle with the fans," Barkley told reporters on Thursday, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN. "You're never going to win that one. They've been here before us and they're going to be here after us. That is just the truth."

Neal gestured toward members of the MetLife Stadium crowd at halftime of Monday's game and made it known Wednesday he was telling certain fans at that time to "boo louder." The seventh overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft then ranted that the people who booed the team "really don’t understand the game of football to the level that we understand it in this building" and are "bandwagoners" who "flip hot dogs and hamburgers somewhere." 

Neal apologized via social media on Wednesday night and did so again while meeting with reporters after Thursday's practice. As head coach Brian Daboll revealed earlier in the day, the 23-year-old acknowledged he felt frustrated after he and the rest of the New York offensive line received widespread criticism for surrendering 11 total sacks against Seattle. 

"I don't think it was necessary but I was proud of him for doing it," Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton said about Neal apologizing on multiple occasions. "I respected [him] doing it. A lot of people make mistakes and keep it pushing like nothing happened. The fact that he addressed it and owned up to it shows maturity out of him."

Neal and the rest of the 1-3 Giants have bigger things to worry about, as they may have to play their best game of the season to have any chance of upsetting the 3-1 Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium this Sunday. OddsChecker listed the Giants as 11.5-point underdogs for that road game as of Thursday evening.