When the New York Giants? Will Demps walks onto M&T Bank Stadium?s field before Friday?s preseason opener with the Ravens, he will look across to see old teammates he might have recently rubbed the wrong way.
During a July 31 interview, posted on giants.com. the former Ravens safety said, “I think we?re more talented here. I?m not saying what we did have in Baltimore wasn?t talented, but we have a lot. We?re young here; we?re hungry. I?ve seen a lot of success there in my four years, and I think for me I can bring some of that here and just feed off of each other.”
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Demps has had quite an offseason since the unrestricted free agent left the Ravens on March 15. Just last week, he knocked out teammate and Pro Bowler Jeremy Shockey during a training camp practice, giving him a concussion. The interview on giants.com appeared the same day as his hit on Shockey. He also appeared in a music video by a former member of Destiny?s Child.
For a player that has not appeared in a Pro Bowl, his public profile is pretty large, with a page of videos on youtube.com featuring the new Giant.
Former teammates say the flash is not really reflective of the player.
“Demps is a physical guy,” Ravens receiver Devard Darling said this week. “He?s a pretty boy off the field, but he can bring it on the field.”
Darling added: “We know what he can do ? great tackler, very physical. They?ve got great guys like Sam Madison. They?re a pretty good bunch.”
The hit on Shockey has become a calling card for Demps this preseason, as word traveled quickly around the league. He blindsided the tight end and celebrated afterward. He appears to have brought much of the swagger associated with the Ravens? defense to New York, a town that thrives on stars with bravado.
“I heard about it, but didn?t see it,” Darling said, referring to Demps? hit on Shockey.
Demps started in all 11 games that he played in for the Ravens last season before tearing an anterior cruciate ligament. He was placed on the injured reserve in early December. Before he left, though, he recorded 70 tackles and recovered two fumbles.
So, how does the man jockeying to replace Demps at safety, rookie Dawan Landry, feel about Demps? comments?
“That?s his opinion. That?s the way he feels. Everyone is entitled to his own opinion,” Landry said.
Landry is carving out his own hard-hitting niche in Baltimore and does not look at Demps as a daunting predecessor.
“Will Demps was a great player, but I never looked at it like that.,” Landry said. “I wanted to come in, compete and help the team out. Every guy brings a different thing to the table, and I just have to bring my A game and hope that helps the team.”
