It won’t match “Bountygate” or “Spygate,” but the New York Giants finally have a scandal they can call their own: Bedgate.
A media storm (or, rather, mild breeze) began when left tackle Will Beatty suggested that his back issues were caused by the beds at the team's training camp facilities at SUNY Albany. Beatty has since returned to practice, but not all of his teammates have been as lucky.
Offensive tackle James Brewer has been suffering back problems (“I definitely do miss my own bed,” he said Monday) and on Tuesday defensive tackle Marvin Austin was in New York City to have his back examined at the Hospital for Special Surgery.
“I mean, everybody has been complaining about their back because the beds in the dorm are fairly hard,” defensive tackle Linval Joseph said.
Joseph said his back is hurting as well, and when asked if he believed the pain was caused by the beds, he said, “I really do.”
Tight end Martellus Bennett says his back feels fine, but he understands where the frustration is coming from.
“We’re big humans,” Bennett said. “Every bed is small. You can’t put a damn dinosaur in a twin-sized bed. Unless you’ve got California King, the bed’s going to be small to these guys. A normal-sized human jumps into a regular-sized bed, it fits perfectly. Large big humans jump into a regular-sized bed, the bed’s too small.”
The Giants have not yet committed to SUNY Albany for next season’s training camp, and it’s starting to look like Tuesday will be the team’s final practice in the state’s capital.
Given the reduced amount of practices at training camp as stipulated by the collective bargaining agreement, making the move from northern New Jersey might not make as much sense in the future.
Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings said talks with the Giants haven’t taken place yet and Giants co-owner John Mara said that discussion will have to wait until the fall.
Fortunately for Giants fans, the players spent their last night on these beds on Monday and should all be home by Tuesday night.
Update: The Giants say they're responsible for providing the mattresses at camp. In the past, a team spokesman said, players could get a new one if they were having issues. The team said they have not heard any complaints, but obviously Joseph, Beatty, Brewer and Bennett weren't shy about sharing grievances with the media.
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