Giants' Evan Neal, Xavier McKinney lose friendly Alabama-Tennessee wager
Giants safety Xavier McKinney participates in team drills during training camp in East Rutherford, N.J., on Aug, 9. Credit: Noah K. Murray
The Giants’ Evan Neal and Xavier McKinney, proud products of the University of Alabama football program, faced reporters after practice on Wednesday wearing orange University of Tennessee hats.
Both said they were required to wear the enemy headgear after losing a bet to assistant trainer Phil Buzzerio, who attended graduate school at Tennessee. The Volunteers defeated Alabama, 52-49, on Saturday.
“As soon as this is over with, I’ve got to throw this in the trash,” McKinney said. “It’s rough, man. But we’re going to bounce back, though. We’re going to bounce back. We’ll be all right.”
Said Neal, “It feels awful. I never really liked orange.”
Had the Crimson Tide won, Neal said, “[Buzzerio] would have had to wear an elephant costume [for Alabama’s logo]. I bought an elephant costume for him.”
Golladay, Toney still out
Receivers Kenny Golladay (knee) and Kadarius Toney (hamstring) both did not practice on Wednesday.
Coach Brian Daboll said there is no current plan to put Toney on injured reserve and that he continues to get better. Toney has not played since Week 2.
Asked whether he remains optimistic Toney can become a contributor, Daboll said, “I do. Yup.”
Pederson: ‘no regrets’
This will be Jaguars coach Doug Pederson’s first game against the Giants since the notorious final game of the 2020 season.
That was when he was with the Eagles and infamously replaced Jalen Hurts with Nate Sudfeld at quarterback in the fourth quarter, costing the Eagles any realistic chance of beating Washington and the Giants a chance to win the NFC East.
Does he ever hear about that play from Giants fans and/or regret that decision?
“No, I have no regrets,” he said on a call with New York-area reporters. “Listen, that was a long time ago and [I have] a lot of respect for Giants fans and expect a good crowd down here this weekend. But no regrets.”
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
