Cam Skattebo takes aim at the NFL after big New York Giants win, and the league immediately proved him right
The New York Giants running back answered questions about the controversial penalty he was flagged for during 124-yard performance.
The New York Giants are 4-2-1 and that largely has to do with running back Cam Skattebo going off for 124 rushing yards in 17 carries in a 27-21 win over the Houston Texans.
It was a big day for the young running back, especially on the heels of getting no chances to run the football one week earlier. But one particular play will be a talking point this week, as Skattebo was flagged for unnecesary roughness in the first quarter.
In the play, Skattebo lowers his helmet to initiate contact with Houston Texans safety M.J. Stewart. At first glance, it was a highlight-reel play for Skattebo hitting the truck stick.
Skattebo’s message to the NFL
The play has generated a lot of controversy on social media, with the consensus feeling being Skattebo didn’t do anything wrong. Skattebo became the first ball carrier to be flagged for lowering his helmet this season, per Mike Garafolo.
It’s a tough spot for the officials, to be fair. Rules are rules and they have to enforce them, I guess. But these plays happen in all games and it’s the inconsistency that’s easy to be bothered by.
In any case, Skattebo isn’t planning on making any adjustments to his approach.
“The NFL loves to post me when I do stuff like that but then also wants to take stuff from me,” Skattebo told reporters postgame via Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic. “I’m going to run the ball like I want to run the ball. If I’m going to continue to get flags for it or fined for it, guess I’m going to play for free.”
Skattebo added he’d keep his conversation with officials private.
To Skattebo’s point, the NFL’s official account on X didn’t take long to prove him right. In the afternoon games, the league posted Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs for his own “truck stick.” In the play, Gibbs similarly lowers his helmet to initiate contact. One play gets a flag, another gets a highlight post on social media.
A quick glance at the replies shows a lot of fans angry at the inconsistency, including one fan saying: “So you can still boom people, just not if your name is Cam Skattebo.”
Giants RB is probably right to stick to what works
Not changing the way he plays is probably a good call.
So far, Skattebo’s approach is yielding positive returns on the field. Skattebo averaged over seven yards per carry on Sunday as the Giants posted a higher EPA/play in the run game than the pass game. The league rarely makes that call and it’s a difficult one to enforce correctly.
Financially, this will likely translate into a fine during the week. Skattebo was fined in Week 3 for the same reason, and he can expect a higher sum with this being his second offense of the season.
