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UPDATE: NFL Network issued a correction regarding the Giants’ team meeting this week during which Jaxson Dart addressed the controversy surrounding him, Abdul Carter and President Donald Trump. The meeting happened Tuesday, not Wednesday.
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Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart has yet to speak publicly about the fallout from him introducing President Donald Trump last week at a rally.
But during a team meeting Wednesday, Dart did discuss the matter.
He addressed teammates and talked about his introduction of Trump, according to NFL Network. Other prominent players — including Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Jameis Winston — also spoke in the meeting. The details of what was said remain unclear.
So does this: Will the Dart/Trump controversy have any significant locker room impact during the season, especially if the Giants struggle?
That’s impossible to know for sure right now, even as NFL Network reported that “Dart and the players worked through it” in the meeting.
The Giants, as you’d expect, are leaking and pushing the “everything is OK now” narrative, as they try to clean up last week’s mess.
But again, the cohesiveness of the locker room won’t truly be tested until coach John Harbaugh’s first season begins — with back-to-back tough primetime games against the Cowboys and Rams, no less.
What happens if the Giants get pounded in those games and Dart struggles?
And does Abdul Carter — who objected to Dart’s introduction of Trump — think everything is now fine and dandy?
The Giants on Wednesday reconvened for an organized team activities practice — their first since the Dart/Carter/Trump situation caught fire.
On Friday, they will hold an OTAs practice that is open to reporters. Harbaugh will speak afterward. (He has yet to address this matter publicly.) It is unclear if Dart and/or Carter will speak to reporters.
It’s worth noting that Harbaugh is on friendly terms with Trump. Last summer, when Harbaugh still coached the Ravens, he and several family members (including Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh) visited the White House and met with Trump.
After the visit, John Harbaugh was asked about Trump previously calling an area of Baltimore a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess” where “no human being would want to live.” Harbaugh dodged the question.
“How you framed that question — I would have framed that question like: ‘You got a chance to go visit with the president, man. What was that experience like?’” Harbaugh said. “It was amazing. It was awesome.
“And I promise you I root for our president. I want our president to be successful just like I want my quarterback to be successful and I want my team to be successful. And it was an amazing experience.”
Almost a year later, on Friday, Dart introduced Trump at a rally in Suffern, N.Y. Carter responded Saturday morning by tweeting: “Thought this sh-- was AI, what we doing man.”
On Saturday evening, Carter followed up with this tweet: “Me & JD6 are good! We spoke earlier as Men. Yall can keep yall narratives.”
As for Dart introducing Trump, the Giants made it clear — via a leak to the New York Post — that they weren’t pleased about the particulars of how it went down, though they respect Dart’s right to support Trump.
Dart didn’t ask the Giants for approval to introduce Trump at the rally, after he received an invitation from the White House. The team didn’t know it was going to happen until about 30 minutes prior.
Dart also attempted to start a Giants chant from the stage, and the team did not appreciate Dart invoking its name in a political setting, while he was supporting Trump in his personal time.
Ultimately, the Giants view Dart’s actions at the rally as a misstep.
It’s not difficult to grasp one of the likely reasons why Carter isn’t a Trump fan. Carter has posted proudly on social media about his Islamic faith. In 2015, before Trump became president the first time, he called for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.”
MORE GIANTS COVERAGE
- Why Abdul Carter missed Giants’ meeting about Jaxson Dart’s Trump introduction
- Giants legend questions who leaked Jaxson Dart meeting
- Former NFL MVP warns Giants’ Jaxson Dart’s public Trump support comes with a price
- What will Giants’ John Harbaugh say about Jaxson Dart, Abdul Carter amid Trump controversy?
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