EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The most recent in a collection of accidents to Graham Gano has him probably being sidelined by a herniated disc in his again that’s urgent up towards his backbone. It may very well be the least of his issues contemplating followers are wishing demise upon the New York Giants kicker.
Gano, who has been hampered by accidents the previous three seasons, revealed Thursday that he has obtained threats and had unwell will wished upon him over time, together with after lacking a vital subject purpose in final Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
“I hear everybody else’s frustration — media, followers. Shoot, ever since sports activities betting began taking place, I get folks telling me to kill myself each week,” Gano mentioned. “Trigger I will hit a kick that loses them cash. I will miss a kick and it loses them cash. It was the opposite day that somebody advised me to get most cancers and die. I imply, that stuff is a part of it.
“Simply enjoying this lengthy, you are used to it by now. However with that being mentioned, I see everybody’s frustration. And I am pissed off too. I simply need to play ball. Simply consistently not with the ability to is hard. Doing all the things I can to attempt to come again and play. That’s my hope.”
Gano, 38, is a veteran. He has seen all completely different variations of threats and harassment, together with letters and direct messages on social media. The Giants and NFL safety have been monitoring messages to Gano in accordance with security protocols for greater than three years.
They naturally have an impact, even when he tries to dam it out.
“No person desires to listen to that stuff,” Gano mentioned. “I feel everybody within the locker room is aware of in case you have one thing occurring to speak to any individual about it. I hope that everyone in right here would. No person desires to listen to stuff like that. I simply need to make the followers blissful, assist the staff win video games and so not with the ability to do that’s onerous.”
The revelations by Gano had been made after he was recognized with a herniated disc earlier this week. He felt some discomfort final week and thought it was merely a results of sleeping awkwardly. He went and kicked towards the 49ers. The issue was exacerbated whereas lifting weights on Monday.
Gano didn’t follow Wednesday or Thursday and will miss this week’s recreation towards the Chicago Bears. Veteran Younghoe Koo would kick in his place if Gano, who mentioned he is feeling higher following an injection, cannot make it.
The accidents have begun to pile up for Gano in current seasons with the Giants. He missed time in three consecutive seasons due to well being issues and already had a stint on injured reserve this 12 months due to a groin damage.
It has made Gano a straightforward goal for indignant followers.
“I actually do not reply,” he mentioned. “I attempt to not see as a lot as I can. If I begin seeing that stuff, I simply shut it off. Sadly, that’s a part of the sport. Lots of people will ship you stuff like that. I will get letters, I will get followers telling me that stuff to my face recreation days, the DMs. I hear loads of it from different guys on the staff too. It is robust. Particularly these days [with] psychological well being. It is robust however I’ve gotten thick pores and skin over time. Early on it actually bothered you a large number.”
Gano’s feedback come on a day the place the NFL household realized of the obvious suicide of Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland. Gano conceded it was one thing that was talked about by gamers within the locker room on Thursday morning.
Giants coach Brian Daboll mentioned that psychological well being is recurrently a typical subject inside the group.
“All the time. I imply, we all the time handle psychological well being, how essential it’s,” he mentioned. “Giants director of wellness and scientific providers] Dr. Lani [Lawrence], staff therapist, does an excellent job with that.
“You all have children or folks that you simply’re shut with. You by no means know what anyone’s going by way of. So psychological well being, notably these days, for these of you who’ve children, that increase, children that undergo loads of various things, hear loads of various things and browse loads of various things. It is lots completely different than when most of us had been up. That is an actual factor. … That is why you need to have folks within the constructing, specific these days.”