As the story goes, things between Dexter Lawrence II and the New York Giants didn't end well, to put it mildly. Lest we forget, though, the star defensive tackle was a franchise pillar for closer to a decade before his relationship with the club soured.
Lawrence represented Big Blue to the fullest until a public trade request led to him being sent to the Cincinnati Bengals in an ugly breakup. His presence was felt within the Tri-State Area. The 2019 first-round pick was an active member of the community and just as valuable off the field as he was on it.
Sure, the Giants can try to replicate Lawrence's production by patching together a cast of veterans, but can they replace his stewardship? Time will tell.
Meanwhile, Lawrence is reminding New York exactly what it's missing in the early goings of his arrival in Cincinnati. He's reportedly wasted no time settling into a culture-carrier role, per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic.
"The Bengals traded for Dexter Lawrence looking for a powerful force at the middle of their defense," Dehner wrote ($). "What we learned this offseason was that he would also be a powerful force in the middle of their locker room. His ability to instantly arrive and take on alpha status for a defense in desperate need of leadership went a long way to the growing belief the Bengals will have true revitalization on that side of the ball."
Dexter Lawrence didn't need long to remind Giants fans exactly what they're missing
It didn't stop there. Lawrence's peers in Cincy have "unanimously" highlighted how Lawrence "went out of his way" to be heard and set the tone, Dehner noted. The two-time All-Pro has been present throughout the team's workout program "since the day he signed" a one-year, $28 million contract extension.
A four-time captain with the G-Men, Lawrence is already showing why he's had the privilege of donning the "C" on his jersey. The stalwart is single-handedly instilling confidence in those around him, just like fans in New York grew accustomed to seeing.
Down-to-down dominance aside, Lawrence is a linchpin in more ways than one. His well-chronicled departure from the Giants leaves a significant power vacuum that can't be filled with free-agent signings or draft picks. He earned the respect by talking the talk and walking the walk to back it up.
Who fills Lawrence's massive shoes as the emotional anchor of the organization in New York remains to be seen. For what it's worth, there are some interesting candidates on both sides of the ball. Standout offensive tackles Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor make sense, as does second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart.
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