Giants’ Lawrence calls criticism from Carl Banks ‘delusional’

Star defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence doesn’t agree with New York Giants legend and radio analyst Carl Banks’ assessment of his performance.

Banks criticized Lawrence following the Giants’ 38-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

“Dexter Lawrence, nobody respects you anymore. Nobody,” Banks said during a recent episode of his “Bleav in Giants” podcast. The two-time Super Bowl champion also said that Lawrence isn’t playing up to the standard he set in previous seasons.

“He’s delusional. … His words are delusional,” Lawrence said when asked about Banks’ comments, according to the New York Post’s Steve Serby.

The 6-foot-4, 340-pound lineman contended that “numbers are not everything,” pointing out that he continues to attract the same attention from double-teaming blockers as he did in past seasons.

Lawrence is getting doubled on a league-high 74.9% of his pass-rush opportunities compared to a 74.5% rate during his 2024 campaign, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

That benefits the three-time Pro Bowler’s teammates: Brian Burns is tied for the league lead with 10 sacks through eight games.

“I think the way I play is disruptive. If you ask people I play against, they’ll tell you the same thing, not people who’s talking,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence has recorded 20 tackles, one tackle for loss, 0.5 sacks, and an interception to begin his seventh season with the Giants. Those numbers are down from the nine sacks and 18 QB hits he generated in 12 games last year prior to suffering a season-ending elbow injury.

Banks said his critique of Lawrence was “fair” and added that he believes the Giants are talented enough to get out of their 2-6 hole.

“If he is unhappy with me I am OK with that. It won’t change how I feel about him,” Banks wrote in a text to the New York Post. “Hopefully they will collectively ask more of themselves and finish strong. They have the talent to do so and I will (be) rooting for that to happen.”

The Giants host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

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