Kayvon Thibodeaux just gave Jets fans something to be mad about

The Jets and Giants haven't always shared the same level of vitriol that other New York sports rivalries have, but Giants pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is clearly looking to change that.

After two straight days of joint practices ahead of their upcoming preseason meeting later tonight, Thibodeaux made comments about Justin Fields and the Jets that struck a nerve among the fanbase.

The Giants pass rusher was asked by reporters to provide an evaluation of Fields after consecutive days of practice against the Jets, and rather than offer a straightforward, nonconfrontational response, Thibodeaux decided to turn up the heat a little.

Thibodeaux snarkily remarked that he wasn’t able to give a proper evaluation because Fields spent the entire week running from the Giants’ pass rush. The comment struck a nerve with Jets fans, who understandably saw it as a dismissive shot at their new quarterback and offensive line.

Kayvon Thibodeaux takes dismissive shot at Justin Fields and the Jets

The fifth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Thibodeaux was widely seen as a potential draft target for the Jets before the team opted to select two-time All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner one pick before him.

Gardner has gone on to become one of the NFL's best defensive players and just inked a new extension worth $120.4 million over four years to make him the highest-paid cornerback in league history.

Thibodeaux, meanwhile, has fallen a bit short of expectations. While he racked up 11.5 sacks in 2023, he managed just 43 total pressures and a lowly 62.9 Pro Football Focus pass-rush grade that year, suggesting his sack numbers may have been inflated.

He’s a good player, but questions about his motor have followed him throughout his NFL career. Take it from the man himself.

In that same press conference, Thibodeaux went on to insist that he wasn't surprised when the Jets passed on him in the draft three years ago. He recounted the story of his official top-30 visit with the Jets, during which he, by his own admission, "quit" one of the team's tests because he was "so tired."

If that story doesn’t sum up Thibodeaux’s NFL career so far, nothing does. The Oregon product has the talent to be one of the league’s premier pass rushers, yet he’s settled into being merely above average at his position.

So while Thibodeaux may be taking shots at the Jets — and while he may not even be wrong with what he’s saying — he probably isn’t the guy who should be doing the talking. His teammates, Brian Burns and rookie Abdul Carter, did the bulk of the dominating in practice this past week.

It's safe to say the Jets made the right decision selecting Gardner over Thibodeaux three years ago, and the more the latter speaks, the more evident that sentiment becomes.

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