Kelvin Benjamin rips Giants head coach Joe Judge for on-field altercation

The New York Giants released Kelvin Benjamin on Wednesday but the converted wide receiver isn't going quietly, pointing the finger at coach Joe Judge for causing a scene at training camp, per ESPN.

In a phone interview with ESPN on Wednesday night, Benjamin detailed how Judge called him over on the field to inform him he had reported to camp overweight. According to Benjamin, Judge then began cursing at him and bringing up incidents that occurred during spring minicamp. Benjamin then walked off the field to compose himself and was released by the team the following afternoon.

For Benjamin, the real issue was Judge causing a scene on the field instead of talking to him behind closed doors.

"It was awkward," Benjamin told ESPN. "My mental state was thrown. I didn't know what to do."

New York had asked Benjamin, who was trying to make the transition to tight end, to report to training camp at 251 pounds. He reported for minicamp at 265 and to training camp at 268. Despite passing a conditioning test on Tuesday, the team still planned to fine him for reporting to camp overweight. 

That's where Judge comes in, according to Benjamin.

"First thing (Judge) said is I came in 15 pounds overweight," the six-year veteran said. "So I'm like, 'How did I come in 15 pounds overweight when I was 265 for minicamp?' And he said 'you left at 265 and came back at 268.' Of course, I lift weights. I got more muscle.

"I'm basically smaller than I was as a wide receiver. I was like, 'how is that possible? I'm a tight end now. How does that make sense?'"

General manager David Gettleman tried to intervene before Benjamin left the field, but the writing was on the wall that he wasn't going to be with the team much longer.

Judge responded on Thursday, saying he is "going to have respect for the player and anything we share between the player, coach and obviously Dave (Gettleman), we're going to keep between us right there. I want to make sure I'm going to respect anything we say in confidentiality and we talked directly with him."

Benjamin still doesn't see it that way.

"It's personal vendettas," he said. "That is what it is more than anything. They didn't want to give me the opportunity to get on the field... Of course they're going to make it seem like I walked away. Where I quit. Anybody who went through a situation like that, I mean, how can I practice at that point? At the end of the day right is right, wrong is wrong."