Come at Dexter Lawrence at your own risk. On the field, he’s one of the league’s biggest — pun very much intended — disruptors. And now we know the same can be said off it, too.
Earlier in the week, New York Giants legend Carl Banks took to his BLeave in Giants podcast, where he had some choice words for Big Blue's defensive anchor. Banks used Lawrence’s lack of stats as a chance to declare that the 27-year-old no longer commands respect, "Dexter Lawrence... No one respects you anymore. Nobody."
Banks is known as a straight shooter, but the comment came out of nowhere. Fortunately, after Wednesday's practice, Sexy Dexy met with the media to address the no-respect nonsense and brought the heat:
"I don't really know what he's watching. He can say what he wants. I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing, trying to help us get a win. Those were strong words. If that’s how he feels, f*** it."Dexter Lawrence
Dexter Lawrence responds to Carl Banks' challenge
Would No. 97 like to be having a better statistical season? Of course. He has half a sack and one tackle for loss this year. That doesn't look great. But those stats also don't tell the whole story. The advanced metrics are still his friend. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranks as the 14th-best defensive tackle out of 128.
Let's also acknowledge that no one gets double-teamed more than the three-time Pro Bowler, and his lack of a reliable interior running mate likely makes his job much more difficult.
Listen, holding Lawrence accountable is one thing — and Giants fans should hold him accountable. But coming at him and saying no one respects him is another thing altogether.
Related: Giants fans torch baffling Dexter Lawrence trade proposal from PFF
But for the sake of holding people accountable, Banks is around the organization. He's still very much an active member of Big Blue Nation. If he had something to say to Dex, why do it on a podcast? Why not square it face-to-face?
Let's hope Sexy Dexy internalizes the heck out of Banks' comments and uses it as fuel for Sunday's contest against the San Francisco 49ers. The G-Men could use a vintage game from their best defensive player. It's good to see Dex showing some fight. Now it's time to bring it in Week 9.