Dexter Lawrence isn’t going to run from the Giants.
Lawrence’s tumultuous week began with his lack of production being called out by Giants great Carl Banks and ended Sunday with another non-impact performance in a 34-24 loss to the 49ers.
The Giants are off to a 2-7 start for the third straight season.
“Winning is everything,” Lawrence said. “Right now, we’re sitting at 2-7. We have to come back next week and win.”
The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, but Lawrence hasn’t changed his tune about wanting to be in the Giants Ring of Honor. Especially after his teammates and coaches rallied around him last week with tales of the attention he faces in the trenches and stats of how he is the most double-teamed player in the league to combat Banks’ criticism that opponents don’t “respect” him anymore.
Does the three-time Pro Bowler have any desire to play anywhere else?
“I don’t,” Lawrence said. “Just keep leading. Eventually, the wall will break.”
Kayvon Thibodeaux, who is under contract on the fifth-year option, also stated a desire to remain with the Giants past the trade deadline.
Lawrence is signed through 2027 on a contract with a $21.8 million average annual paycheck that felt like a bargain before the season started. The Giants added $3 million in incentives before the season, but he is stuck on a half-sack for the season after being held Sunday to one tackle (for loss).
“We didn’t make the plays that came to us,” Lawrence said, “and it showed.”
The Giants allowed 380 yards, including 159 on the ground, but one play summed up the game better than any other: Backup running back Brian Robinson Jr. ran through a tackle attempt by Deonte Banks for an 18-yard, third-quarter touchdown on an eighth straight running play.
Cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse — who was claimed off waivers Monday and took over for starter Korie Black in the injury-plagued secondary during the second half — essentially escorted Robinson into the end zone for the final 3 yards. Behind the play, Lawrence was jogging as Banks wound up on his back.
“I don’t think there was any lack of effort,” Lawrence said. “Everybody played hard. Just didn’t make the plays.”
All Giants who spoke to the media after the game — Banks and Brian Burns, who had a strip-sack did not — agreed with Lawrence that execution was a bigger problem than effort.
“I think I was getting a lot of knock-back, a lot of push, seeing a lot of doubles,” Lawrence said. “Same stuff [as usual]. I think I’m playing well, but I have to make more plays.”
The Giants have the NFL’s worst rushing defense, which has been a three-year problem. And it was doubly noticeable when the Giants were missing 60 percent of their starting secondary.
“Everyone as an individual has to look at himself,” Lawrence said, “and see if they are executing, if they are in the right spot, if they are doing the right thing, if they are studying longer, if they are making the plays that come to them.”
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