Imagine being so frustrated with your teammates that you have to physically stop yourself from attacking them on the sideline during a game.
That’s exactly what was happening with Dexter Lawrence during his final, agonizing stretch with the Giants.
Pat Leonard, who covers the Giants for the New York Daily News and hosts the “Talking Ball” podcast, dropped a jaw-dropping revelation during a recent appearance on WFAN with Craig Carton.
While walking through the Giants’ recent trade, Leonard explained that Lawrence’s frustration ran far deeper than a contract dispute. The football side of things was unbearable for a player of his caliber.
The Giants had gone 7-27 in their last 34 games — a number that should make every Big Blue fan wince — and Lawrence had already made his feelings public years ago.
“We are two years removed from Dexter saying, ‘I’m done rebuilding,’” Leonard said, via YouTube. “Like, he said that out loud. I’m done rebuilding. Stop asking me about it. It’s time to win.”
Leonard revealed that during the Giants’ loss in Pittsburgh in 2024 — when Russell Wilson was the Steelers’ quarterback — Lawrence was at his absolute limit.
“Dexter Lawrence was doing breathing exercises on the sideline to prevent himself from going over and choking out his teammates,” Leonard said, “(because) he was just finished with the fact that there wasn’t enough accountability on the team.”
Lawrence had reportedly been signaling his dissatisfaction to the Giants for roughly two years before his public trade demand.
The breathing exercises story isn’t just a colorful anecdote. It’s a window into what players feel when they’re trapped on a losing team with no clear path forward.
The Giants, ultimately, gave Lawrence his wish, trading him to the Bengals for the No. 10 overall pick. Time will tell how it fares for both sides.
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