Keen observers may have noticed that New York Giants quarterback JJ McCarthy was not wearing his signature black eyes in his first start for the team. The explanation goes back to his college rivalry with Ohio State.
McCarthy has made a point of not having black eyes when playing against the Buckeyes as part of a larger grudge. He took the same approach against the Houston Texans in Week 7 as former Buckeyes star CJ Stroud is their starting quarterback.
“Yeah, it’s a little cheesy,” he said, according to Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic. “Don’t get me wrong, but… you know, I guess I’m a nerdy guy. I took it personally in high school, growing up as an Ohio State fan, like a die-hard Ohio State fan. I had the quilt, I had the Fatheads, everything. And (it was) just a little bit of a disappointing situation. (So) at the end of the day, it’s just something that I will continue against all Buckeyes.”
Beyond the long-standing bad blood between OSU and Michigan, McCarthy objected to Buckeyes coach Ryan Day securing a commitment from fellow 2021 recruit Kyle McCord. Day had apparently committed to waiting much longer before settling on a QB during this cycle.
McCathy still hasn’t forgotten the perceived resentment.
Perhaps the added edge helped the third-year signal-caller against the Texans. He went 20 of 28 for 252 yards in a 27-21 overtime victory. It was one of his best performances in the NFL.
McCarthy reported that the black eye would return, however, with the Philadelphia Eagles next for the Giants. He’ll probably only leave the black eye in the locker when he faces Stroud or “unless Ryan Day shows up to the NFL.”
Gn sports
