Giants Kayvon Thibodeaux has strong message after Jeff Saturday critique
The New York Giants faced off against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday during Week 17 which ended in a 38-10 demolition of Jeff Saturday’s Colts. The Colts had to resort to installing third-string quarterback Sam Ellinger after Nick Foles left with an injury.
Foles was sacked on his blindside by Giants star rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux before the second half and while Foles was being treated on the field Thibodeaux celebrated, claiming that he did not realize Foles was hurt.
@NickFoles looks to be in a lot of pain @Colts pic.twitter.com/o5xR61xw6o
— The Irish NFL Show (@IreNFL) January 1, 2023
After the game Colts head coach Jeff Saturday commented on Kayvon Thibodeaux’s celebration calling it “tasteless” and “trash.”
"“Tasteless from the celebration afterwards. Just trash. Not a fan of it at all and yeah, disappointed from the o-line perspective and from teammates in general. We protect our own,” Saturday said."
Thibodeaux responded to Saturday’s critique on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, and his response was more shocking than the celebration itself. Thibodeaux went as far as to say he “doesn’t know who he [Jeff Saturday] is.”
"I don't know who [Jeff Saturday] is. Anybody who comments on it, unless I know who they are, it doesn't really affect me."
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) January 4, 2023
Kayvon Thibodeaux on his snow angel celebration after sacking Nick Foles: pic.twitter.com/OQZAayKKoY
As many recall there were character/maturity concerns with Thibodeaux heading into the 2022 NFL Draft. This reaction to Saturday, who Thibodeaux should know is a Super Bowl champion and former All-Pro center is pretty bold especially coming from a rookie. In the short clip above posted by “Giants Videos” Thibodeaux initially comes after the media telling them that they can’t tell him how to celebrate since they [the media] have never played football.
The media members clarify quickly that they aren’t “creating” any kind of narrative, they are quoting Saturday’s statements. Thibodeaux then backtracks by acting as if responding to Saturday is beneath him. There is nothing wrong with being a competitor but there should be some level of respect between a head coach and a rookie defensive end who will end the regular season not even participating in all 17 regular season games.
Giants head coach Brian Daboll may censor comments such as these or he may chalk this up to the competitive elitist nature of a young athlete. Thibodeaux is clearly a bold player on and off the field. We shall see if he ends up being more entertaining on the field or in the locker room as his career in New York progresses. But for now we can probably cross of the Indianapolis Colts as a destination for Thibodeaux in the future.