WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
  • Malik Nabers criticized Fox’s portrayal of him after the Giants’ 19-11 victory over the Eagles in Philadelphia.
  • Joe Davis and Greg Olsen questioned Nabers’ body language during the game.
  • Nabers finished with five catches on eight targets for 43 yards.
  • The Giants took a 16-8 lead with about nine minutes left before completing the 19-11 win.

Malik Nabers celebrated the Giants’ 19-11 victory over the Eagles in Philadelphia on Sunday, but he was unhappy with the way Fox portrayed him during the game. His response came through a social media post after the win.

Nabers objected to comments from Fox play-by-play announcer Joe Davis and analyst Greg Olsen. Both broadcasters criticized the receiver’s body language at different points during the game.

“Yall be trying [to] create a narrative on me soo bad, it's actually crazy. If you [don't] like the way I play the game, keep the camera off me!! SIMPLE!” Nabers wrote as part of an Instagram story.

Nabers also challenged what he described as Olsen calling him a bad teammate. He argued that nobody he has played with on any team has characterized him that way.

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“But [Olsen] calling me a bad teammate when every team I've been on, there's NOBODY I've played with has said dat bout me is crazy!” Nabers wrote.

He also wrote, “My face the same way if I'm having a good game, bad, winning or losing.”

His post continued: “If it's a problem: 1. Keep the camera off of me.”

Nabers finished that portion of his response with another directive: “2. Pray bout it! Simple.”

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The receiver had five catches on eight targets for 43 yards in the victory. It was the first time since Week 3 that Nabers had been held to fewer than 100 yards.

The broadcast discussion developed with the Giants leading 13-8 and driving early in the fourth quarter. New York quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw behind Nabers for an incompletion, and later replays showed Nabers waving the air.

Olsen told viewers that the gesture indicated Nabers wanted the pass thrown farther in front of him. Davis then said, “His body language has been terrible today.”

Olsen quickly added his own assessment, saying, “It's just not good.”

The conversation remained focused on Nabers and his body language. Davis questioned why the receiver did not appear more positive after tight end Isaiah Likely scored a go-ahead touchdown for New York earlier in the second half.

Olsen discussed the expectations surrounding talented receivers who want the ball. “I've played with a lot of really good wide receivers. ... There's never been a great wide receiver who hasn't demanded the ball.”

“That kind of comes with the territory. There are a few exceptions of guys that are just a different personality and a different approach,” Olsen continued.

Olsen then described what he viewed as the boundary between competitiveness and behavior that affects teammates. “But there is a very fine line between being demanding, being a competitor and all of those great things. That's great.”

“It just can never cross [that line] where it feels like it takes away from the success of your teammates. So when your teammate catches a wide-open touchdown, you need to be the happiest guy on the field,” Olsen said.

Olsen added, “You can't still be worried about your targets. That's the fine line.”

Despite that criticism, Olsen also acknowledged Nabers’ ability. “He's a talented young, really good player. He's just got to keep it in check.”

Shortly afterward, Nabers laid out for a McCarthy pass in the end zone on third down but could not complete the catch. Olsen responded by emphasizing both the quality of the throw and the opportunity presented to Nabers.

“Listen, you want to demand the ball; you can't throw that ball any better. That's a touchdown,” Olsen said.

“You're a premier player in this league. You've got an opportunity there, you've got to catch it,” Olsen added.

The Giants settled for a field goal instead of a touchdown on that possession. The kick increased New York’s lead to 16-8 with about nine minutes remaining in the game before the Giants completed their 19-11 victory.