As Cam Skattebo crashed to the ground following a failed backflip, it’d be hard to fault the New York Giants for fearing the worst.
Thankfully for all parties, Skattebo emerged unscathed at Fanatics Fest. What could have been a devastating setback for the second-year running back instead became a viral clip.
Skattebo, who missed the back half of last season following a severe ankle injury, didn’t need long to fire back at his critics.
“I’m just going to keep being me,” Skattebo said on Sunday, “and if they want to say I’m brain-dead, and I don’t have no brain, then who cares, [expletive] it.”
We won’t go that far, though Skattebo’s short-term excitement should nonetheless have the Giants already thinking about the future.
Cam Skattebo just incentivized the Giants to draft a running back in 2027
Before going any further, let me be clear that I’m not here to shame Skattebo or suggest he was wrong to attempt a backflip.
We’d be having a much different conversation had Skattebo gotten hurt, but that’s true of any off-field situation.
No one would have cared about Jason Pierre-Paul playing with fireworks had he not lost a finger.
But the most significant takeaway from last Friday’s flop is that Skattebo remains unabashedly himself, which is both endearing and concerning.
And although I’m personally a big Skattebo fan, his commitment to doing what he wants should have the Giants already thinking about Day 2 draft prospects.
Don’t look so surprised. When next spring rolls around, Tyrone Tracy Jr. will be entering his final year of team control, allowing him to qualify for an extension.
Devin Singletary is in the final year of his contract and turns 29 in September. Who else is prepared for him to reunite with Brian Daboll next season, whether in Tennessee or elsewhere?
So if Skattebo is going to live life how he wants, then there’s no reason not to at least consider drafting another running back.
No one is saying that Skattebo can’t become a multi-year starter. But we know that John Harbaugh loves utilizing multiple running backs, even when he has a dual-threat quarterback.
We also don’t know if last year’s injury will impact Skattebo’s play. He was a full participant at the end of OTAs, and there have been no reported setbacks.
It’s too early to know which draft-eligible running backs would make the most sense for the Giants. Predicting the NFL Draft is a crapshoot, even more so when the event is over nine months away.
And to reiterate, I’m a massive Skattebo fan. It never hurts to have insurance, though, especially when you have someone so, shall we say, enthusiastic.
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