FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — That’s two strikes for Giants rookie Abdul Carter.
Carter was benched Monday for the second time in three games under interim head coach Mike Kafka for a violation of team rules pertaining to missing a team responsibility, a league source told The Post.
It is part of a recurring trend during Carter’s rookie season, during which he has not been on time, multiple sources said, though other sources previously pushed back against the notion that he has a habit of running late.
“I have to be better,” Carter said. “I have to take pride in what I do, be where I have to be at. Simple as that.”
Carter sat the first quarter as the Patriots turned two offensive possessions into 10 points.
Only a punt return touchdown kept Carter from missing more plays as the Giants fell behind 17-0.
“I ain’t going to get into detail,” Carter said. “S–t happens.”
Two weeks ago, Carter missed a 15-minute walk-through while he was in a red-light therapy bed in the training facility.
Carter adamantly denied he slept through the walk-through and said it was part of his recovery regimen.
It appears no lesson was learned from that one-series (six-play) benching, so what do teammates need to see from Carter?
“Just grow up, really,” captain Dexter Lawrence said. “I think he loves football and he takes it serious. His approach to the game is really good. Just young stuff that can’t happen.”
Lawrence called Carter “hard-headed” when asked why Carter didn’t learn from his first mistake.
“It’s definitely frustrating,” Lawrence said of the reaction from veterans who are on time, “but you have to stay on him and help him learn from his mistake.”
Interim head coach Mike Kafka is trying to set a culture of accountability after fired head coach Brian Daboll allowed his star players too much rope, with any punishments for transgressions coming in behind-the-scenes fines.
“My decision,” Kafka said. “Just based on how we went during the week.”
Carter entered the game with just a half-sack in 12 games but added his first career full sack (for 0 yards lost).
His benchings are coming at a particularly inopportune time with Kayvon Thibodeaux sidelined by injury, providing a chance to start.
“I know he doesn’t intend to do what he did, but at the end of the day I’m just trying to be there for him, mentor him and help him as much as I can,” captain Brian Burns said. “I think [the message] got through. It’s just an honest mistake.”
Kafka changed the meeting, walk-through and practice times when he first took over three weeks ago.
“You have to be a pro and know where you have to be and when you have to be there,” Lawrence said. “It changed, but it’s not changing every day. He’s just got to adjust.”
