Mauigoa makes his mark
John Harbaugh told all the rookies that after Saturday’s preseason game they would feel like they belong. Following the 13-10 loss to the Vikings, the Giants head coach went up to first-year guard Sisi Mauigoa to ask if he was right.
Turns out simply belonging isn’t his thing.
“He hit me with a question, ‘Do you feel like you belong?’” Mauigoa said. “And it got me wondering. I do honestly feel like I belong. But at the same time I don’t want to belong, I want to dominate the league.”
Mauigoa certainly showed an inclination toward that level of play when he pushed two defenders out of the way to open things up for a Devin Singletary on a 40-yard screen play in the first quarter.
“I was trying to avoid my guy (defensive lineman Domonique Orange) and go make a play but it ended up he was a non-believer to the screen side so I stayed with him,” Mauigoa explained. “Then once I saw Motor get out there and he missed (the first tackle) I looked at my guy and I was like ‘Alright, you’re running with me now.’ And I just took him for a ride.”
Mauigoa pushed him and Jamal Adams away to let Singletary scoot across the field and pick up the extra yards for the first down.
“The whole time before the game I was anxious,” Mauigoa admitted. “But after the first snap I ran straight down and it all just snapped from there.”.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
Out East Show: Westhampton Beach Brew & Grille, Hallockville Museum Farm Bees, North Fork Foodie Tour, Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation NewsdayTV's Doug Geed is heading 'Out East' to showcase the ultimate local spots you need to explore.
