New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh has a clear message for Cam Skattebo after seeing the second-year running back’s botched backflip on a surgically repaired leg.
‘My reaction was – I haven’t talked to him yet; I’m going to talk to him, I’m sure – my reaction was this: Dude, at least stick it,’ the laughing first-year Giants head coach told the Bleav in Giants podcast. ‘I mean, land the thing if you’re going to do it, you know? That was my first reaction.’
For his part, Skattebo has vowed to protect himself this preseason after failing to stick last week’s backflip at Fanatics Fest in midtown Manhattan.
The 24-year-old’s impressive rookie season came to an abrupt end in Week 8 when he suffered a gruesome leg injury that included open tibia fracture, a ruptured deltoid ligament, and a right ankle dislocation.
Since then, the Arizona State product has been rehabbing his right leg, which he tried to show off with last week’s backflip.
Of course, Skattebo failed to stick the landing, but still hopped back to his feet to give a triumphant shout for the nervous fans in attendance.
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh had a clear message for Cam Skattebo after seeing the second-year running back’s botched backflip on a surgically repaired leg
Skattebo left Giants fans horrified after stumbling while performing a backflip at Fanatics Fest
‘Yeah, I mean, so I’ve been doing backflips since I was like four years old, so it’s natural to me,’ he told Sirius XM’s ‘The Fantasy Footballers’ during a following Fanatics event.
‘I’m gonna address the elephant,’ he said, interrupting himself. ‘I will not hurt myself before the season.
‘Yeah, so what happened was, I don’t know if you guys know WWE or not, those floors are bouncy,’ he continued. ‘So when I took off, I was mid-air, like, holy cow, I’m not gonna land this, I’m way too high. Landed, but it had too much cushion. It wasn’t a stiff, firm ground. So that’s why I kinda like went back, safely landed, got back up, was good to go.
‘So, nothing came out from that. I’m perfectly fine. Nothing happened. We’re good.’
Teammate and fellow guest Jaxson Dart was impressed with his running back’s athleticism.
‘Hey, when I looked at it though, I was like, that’s the most explosive I’ve seen Skat,’ Dart said. ‘He over-rotated.
‘He looks real good, man. He looks real good.’
The running back suffered a broken right fibula and dislocated right ankle against the Eagles
Skattebo received a wide array of reactions to the move.
While some have embraced his ‘wild man’ persona, others have accused him of recklessness.
‘No, I totally enjoy that part,’ he said of the ‘wild maniac’ moniker he’s been given. ‘I think I less enjoy the brain-dead kind of guy. But it is what it is. I mean, the New York people love it, so I’m just gonna keep being me. And if they wanna say I’m brain-dead and I don’t have no brain, then who cares? F*** it, you know?’
Skattebo’s one-cut, downhill style fit perfectly into the pro game last season as he racked up 410 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground with another 207 yards and two scores on 24 receptions.
Depending on his recovery from last year’s surgery, Skattebo has been tabbed as a strong sleeper candidate in fantasy football drafts this season.
