EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) New York Giants coach Joe Judge and wide receiver Golden Tate talked at length after the wide receiver complained about not getting enough passes thrown his way and the player’s wife later went on social media to echo his feelings.
Judge would not disclose what he and the player said Wednesday. The rookie head coach added the 11-year veteran would not be at the team’s light workout later in the afternoon for Sunday’s game at Washington (2-5).
Tate will practice with the team Thursday, Judge said.
Judge refused to say whether Tate not being at the walk-through was punishment for Tate actions in a 25-23 loss to Tampa Bay in a nationally televised game Monday night. He also said he would never openly criticize a player and that the incident is being handled internally.
”I don’t try to be deceptive, but I am very direct in letting everyone know I am not going to put my players on blast publicly,” Judge said. ”I will criticize them very openly and bluntly in squad meetings and hold everyone accountable.”
After catching a late 19-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Jones with 28 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, Tate walked up to a television camera and yelled ”throw me the ball.” The catch allowed New York to get within two points of the Bucs, but they failed to tie the game on a 2-point conversion pass.
Tate was targeted three times in the game and made two catches for 31 yards and the TD. He has caught touchdowns in the past two games.
The following day, Tate’s wife, Elise, went on social media to complain that her husband was being underutilized despite being open the whole game.
Tate has been targeted 29 times in seven games this season, making 22 catches for 226 yards and two touchdowns.
Darius Slayton has been targeted a team-leading 56 times. The second-year wideout has made 32 catches for 485 yards, a 15.2 yard average, and caught three touchdowns. Tight end Evan Engram has the second-highest targets with 54. He has 31 catches for 284 yards and no touchdowns.
Sterling Shepard, who came into the season as the expected No. 1 receiver, has missed four games with a turf toe. Still, he has 22 catches on 28 targets for 209 yards and a TD.
Tate was targeted 85 times in 11 games last season, his first with the Giants. He had 49 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns.
Judge said he avoids criticizing players in the media because it becomes a distraction.
”Right, wrong or indifferent, that’s what I believe,” Judge said.
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