Ben McAdoo: “Nothing to address” regarding anonymous quotes

After an anonymous player criticized him to an ESPN reporter, New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo said Thursday he has “an open door policy” and there is “nothing to address” because he doesn’t know the source.

“First things first, I have an open door policy. So, any player that has anything to say is welcome to come in the front door and talk,” McAdoo said. “I had a couple conversations over the last couple of weeks and I welcome those conversations and the next thing is pretty simple. It’s hard to help a player when they don’t put their name on a quote. So, if they need some help, come see me. I’m the guy that can help them.

“The first day of training camp we get together and I talk about the difference between bitching and complaining. And there’s a difference to me. Nobody wants to be around a constant complainer. That doesn’t help the team, that doesn’t help the chemistry, that doesn’t help anything get any better. But, each player, maybe you have a bitch. And if you’ve got a bitch, I can understand that because if you don’t, I’m not doing it right.”

The coach doesn’t usually speak to media on Thursday, but chose to under the circumstances.

McAdoo said he hadn’t addressed the report with players.

“What report? Anonymous quotes? No. I don’t know who to address it with. There’s no name on the quotes, so to me there’s nothing to address. Get some names on the quotes and I’ll find out who I need to help and then I’ll help them,” he said. “I’m not doubting it, I’m just saying I don’t know who it’s coming from. If I know who it’s coming from, I can address it.”

In regards to the allegation he had recently increased how often he fines players, McAdoo said “I don’t fine players, players fine themselves. We have rules in place, the standards aren’t going to change, we’re going to hold guys accountable.”

McAdoo was asked if he was concerned about the impact of the situation on the locker room.

“I believe we have talented men of integrity in the locker room. I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, I have confidence in the locker room, I believe in those guys. If a player needs help, my door’s open,” he said.