Days later, the Giants are still shocked at the Buccaneers decision to dive at their knees on Sunday’s kneel-down.
And there’s more than a small measure of anger, as well.
Giants right guard Chris Snee said he would protect himself if anyone tries to do it in the future.
“We’ll just tighten up and just be ready for them to fire off,” Snee said, via Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News. “And I wouldn’t change my reaction in any way. If a guy dives at my knees, my knee is going into the back of his head. That’s what happened in the game, and that’s what will happen going forward.”
And while Bucs coach Greg Schiano became the focal point for the decision, after defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said they were just doing what they were told, Giants defensive end Justin Tuck said players have to accept responsibility as well.
“If [Giants defensive coordinator] Perry Fewell told me to dive at a guy’s knee, when we were losing, I would say ‘No,’” Tuck said. “And that is just a man on man talking.”
Even if it was a valid strategic ploy by Schiano, it’s also a bullet that’s already been fired, in his second game as an pro coach. As effective as it might have been at Rutgers, no one in the NFL will ever be caught off guard by it again.
And if Snee’s thoughts are held by offensive linemen throughout the league (as they likely are), the Bucs will have to be prepared for the retaliation as well.