New York Giants fans are reeling after seeing what happened at MetLife Stadium in their 28-6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1, but it's not just the fans who are going through a whirlwind of emotions.
Former players are also frustrated, including one of the franchise's legends.
The Giants wore their century red uniforms to commemorate the team's 100th season, and several team legends were honored at the stadium among the franchise's 100 Greatest Giants.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Lawrence Taylor is surrounded by Giants fans during Fan Fest at MetLife Stadium to celebrate the New York Giants' 100th season on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (IMAGE)
Among them were Lawrence Taylor and Carl Banks, two vital members of the Giants teams that brought home Super Bowl titles in 1987 and 1991. Taylor ranked first overall on the Top 100 Giants of All Time, while Banks came in at No. 17.
During an appearance on the “Bleav in Giants” podcast, Banks revealed that after watching the Giants' first half against the Vikings, Taylor wanted to put the pads back on.
“I can tell you that when we were standing in line to be introduced as the 100 Greatest Players, one guy who never commentates games because he doesn't watch many of them was Lawrence Taylor. He looked at me and… this is a true story, folks. If you want to know what we said, [the 100 greatest Giants] “We were thinking about halftime,” Banks explained.
VIKINGS WRONG FOR DANIEL JONES; GIANTS THROWN TO LEGENDS OF THE ORGANIZATION
“Lawrence looked at me at halftime and said, 'Carl, I could pick 22 of us right now and go out there and outplay these guys. We'd be in this game.' The youngest guy on that line was probably 50 years old. Lawrence Taylor looked at me and said, 'I can pick 22 of us right now and go out there right now and kick these guys' asses.'”
The championship pedigree most recently seen during the 2011 NFL season hasn’t shone brightly in East Rutherford, New Jersey, for some time now. The Giants have only made the playoffs twice since then, most recently in 2022 during head coach Brian Daboll’s inaugural season.
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones jogs off the field during the first half of a game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
And it doesn't look like the Giants' locker room will be championship-caliber this season after the disaster that unfolded Sunday. Quarterback Daniel Jones and the Giants offense were booed off the field after an atrocious performance that resulted in no touchdowns.
Jones has been the target of Giants fans after Week 1. He completed 22 of 42 passes for 186 yards with two interceptions and was sacked five times in the loss. Entering his sixth season and, more importantly, the second year of the four-year, $160 million contract he signed before last season, Jones is expected to lead the Giants back to the playoffs like he did in 2022.
Instead, in his first game back from tearing his ACL midway through the 2023 campaign, Jones appears to have regressed.
The Giants have a chance in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders, a team that was defeated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1.
But the product that Taylor and the rest of the crowd that filled MetLife Stadium witnessed made the former linebacker want to help his former team because the courage and fight just wasn't there.
New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor enters the field before a game between the New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium. (Images by John Jones-Imagn)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“To start the season looking the way you did on both ends of the court… it feels like you're stuck in 2023,” Banks said.
Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage on Xand subscribe to The Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
