EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — New York Giants rookie outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux is not concerned about the criticism Indianapolis Colts coach Jeff Saturday had of his sack celebration alongside injured quarterback Nick Foles on Sunday.
“I don’t know who he is,” Thibodeaux said on Wednesday. “So I don’t really worry about people commenting on me, and I don’t know.”
Saturday is the interim head coach of the Colts. As a player, he was a six-time Pro Bowl center, and after retirement he served as an ESPN analyst.
On Monday, he called Thibodeaux’s celebration “garbage” and “tasteless”. This came after Thibodeaux made snow angels alongside Foles while the quarterback was down the field injured.
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Foles eventually walked away after receiving medical treatment for a rib injury but needed the trolley to take him to the dressing room. Saturday said he was also disappointed in his offensive linemen for not protecting their quarterback.
Thibodeaux said after the game and then reiterated on Wednesday that he didn’t know Foles was injured doing the Snow Angels or when he was caught on camera shortly after doing the celebration of steph curry’s bedtime during Foles was still below.
“People can say anything about anything, so I don’t really worry about what people say,” said Thibodeaux. “I play this game to be successful and the only way I’m going to be successful is by beating quarterbacks. I get paid for that. I did this. And the celebrations are legal in football. I’ve been celebrating and God willing he’s still doing better and recovering.”
Thibodeaux came off the ledge unblocked late in the second quarter of the Giants’ 38-10 win on Sunday after a game from third behind. He blasted Foles from behind to pick up the keysack, which forced a punt.
The Giants then kicked a field goal and took the lead at halftime.
“People don’t understand that. After you’ve made a game and I look to the touchline and my team tells the special teams to go there, I don’t look back to see who’s on the field,” Thibodeaux said. “I never look back. There’s no turning back. As soon as you go straight to the sidelines, we sent them home.
“At that point it’s game over. Once you get the ball back and knock her out again, which she considers a crime, and you stop it, it’s over.”
Thibodeaux was the fifth overall pick in this year’s Oregon draft. He has 49 tackles, four sacks and a touchdown on a strip sack.
Giants coach Brian Daboll downplayed the incident earlier in the week. Thibodeaux said the team have not spoken to him since.
“You’re not playing the game to get someone hurt,” he said. “But I play defense. They brought me here to be a savage and take over the game and influence the game. We preach that affecting the game affects the quarterback. That’s what I’m here for.”