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Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has been suspended by the New York Giants. That is why Rodgers-Cromartie was not at practice Wednesday.
Coach McAdoo: DRC came in today and decided to leave. We will suspend him. #NYGiants
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 11, 2017
Per reports from various Giants beat writers, Rodgers-Cromartie and coach Ben McAdoo had what safety Landon Collins termed an “altercation” before halftime of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Kim Jones of NFL Network is reporting that Rodgers-Cromartie and an an assistant coach had a “blowup” on Tuesday.
Ian Rapoport is reporting that the blowup stemmed from DRC getting pulled from Sunday’s game. Per Art Stapleton of The Record, DRC expressed unhappiness with his role on the team.
“We had a conversation yesterday. He came into the building this morning. Decided to leave and we will put him on suspension,” McAdoo said during his post-practice meeting with the media.
McAdoo did not say how long Rodgers-Cromartie would be suspended for. DRC had apparently attended a team meeting Wednesday morning before being suspended.
Asked to comment on the suspension during a call Wednesday with Denver media, McAdoo said “No, I've said everything I needed to say.''
Rodgers-Cromartie told Josina Anderson of ESPN that he expects to be back with the Giants tomorrow and that he handled his argument with McAdoo “the wrong way.” More from DRc, via Anderson:
"But to sit me a game had me hot, so I left. I was suspended way before I left. I left bc I felt what he said was BS."
Several #Giants players used words "misunderstanding" and "miscommunication" when asked about reported altercations btw DRC and McAdoo/staff
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) October 11, 2017
It is fair to begin to wonder if McAdoo is losing the players in the locker room. The incident with DRC is the most blatant, but not the only one. Cornerback Eli Apple has recently made comments about the “culture,” and cornerback Janoris Jenkins bolted the sideline Sunday before the game against the Chargers was over.
Landon Collins: "We’re gonna talk about it in this afternoon’s meeting. It’s a big issue in the room and we need to address it. We don’t need anyone else separating from the team."
— Tom Rock (@TomRock_Newsday) October 11, 2017
[UPDATE 4:07 p.m.]
The way this all unfolded was that DRC was told Tuesday he would be inactive. He was suspended after he left the building on Wednesday.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) October 11, 2017
[UPDATED 4:10 p.m.]
DRC left the field in 2nd half of Sunday's game. Met with McAdoo on Tuesday, was told he'd be inactive for game in Den. Came in Wednesday morning and then left before practice. Was suspended for leaving.
— Tom Rock (@TomRock_Newsday) October 11, 2017
That's one version of the story.
[UPDATED 5:20 P.M.]
“According to a source close to the situation, the issues with Rodgers-Cromartie began last Friday, when the cornerback walked out of the team's "recovery day" session. During Sunday's loss to the Chargers, the source said, Rodgers-Cromartie slammed his helmet down on the sideline, left the team while the game was in progress and went to the locker room with what teammates and coaches understood was the intent to leave the stadium. ... At this time, a source said, the Giants have no plans to release or trade Rodgers-Cromartie and instead plan to welcome him back with a clean slate once he has served his punishment.”
[UPDATE 7:33 P.M.]
“ ... WFAN's Mike Francesa reported that the suspension was related to Rodgers-Cromartie taking off his pads before halftime of last Sunday’s loss to the Chargers. He reportedly said he wouldn’t go back onto the field, which led to a physical confrontation with another player on the team.”