EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — After a relatively quiet rookie season, Matt Dodge is on the hot seat.
The New York Giants’ punter was front and center on every sports highlight show on Sunday night with coach Tom Coughlin in his face, ripping him for failing to kick the ball out of bounds on DeSean Jackson’s game-ending 65-yard punt return in the NFC East showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Dodge was criticized by some and vilified by others for a play that almost certainly cost the Giants (9-5) the division title. The good news was there was no hate mail.
Through it all, Dodge has stood tall. The seventh-round draft pick who was given the job after veteran Jeff Feagles retired this spring, has been in front of his locker every day answering questions about the punt, his future, his mental state and life in general.
