If you caught the New York Giants’ season opener against the Commanders, you probably saw it. Malik Nabers, the team’s star wide receiver, looked more than a little heated on the sidelines. The cameras zoomed in, the internet detectives went to work, and the narrative was set: another diva receiver upset he’s not getting the ball. There’s just one problem with that story. It is completely wrong.
Nabers set the record straight, and honestly, his explanation is refreshingly human. “I had 12 targets,” he said, shutting down the “feed me” narrative. “Why would I argue about getting the ball if I had 12 targets?” It’s a fair point. So, what was the deal? Frustration, yes, but not because of his target share. The guy is a competitor, and the Giants’ offense was stuck in the mud, managing a measly six points. Nabers felt the energy wasn’t right and took it upon himself to light a fire under his teammates. He was trying to will the offense to life.
“The lights was on, the game was on, it’s time to play,” Nabers said. He was frustrated with his own performance, only hauling in five of those 12 targets for 71 yards, and the team’s inability to get anything going. How will his Week 2 game go?
Nabers’ “NBF” and the Daboll Exchange
As for that intense sideline chat with coach Brian Daboll? Nabers chalked it up to “two competitive people going at it.” He sees himself in his coach, two guys who desperately want to win. It wasn’t a fight; it was a passionate plea to get things moving. And for anyone still convinced he was just being moody, Nabers had a hilarious, self-aware diagnosis for his sideline demeanor.
“I got NBF. I got a natural b— face,” he said. “That’s just what it is. That’s my face… I guess I gotta smile more.” In a league full of carefully crafted PR-speak, the honesty is a breath of fresh air. It’s not about being a diva; it’s about a fierce competitor who hates losing and isn’t afraid to show it.
The Giants’ offense looked painfully familiar to last year’s struggles, and watching the tape back made Nabers “sick to my stomach.” That’s not a player who doesn’t care; it’s a player who cares almost too much. Now, he and the Giants have to channel that fire into a win against the Cowboys, a team they haven’t had much luck against lately. Maybe a little NBF is exactly what they need.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
