Kadarius Toney went from invisible to rookie sensation in a flash, but he still hasn’t crossed over into diva-receiver territory.
All of the receivers mostly served as a game-plan decoy last week when the Giants beat the Raiders, but Toney was held to just one catch for 9 yards on one target. That’s a long way from his back-to-back breakout games in October.
“We came out victorious with one target? OK,” Toney said after Wednesday’s practice. “Hoo-rah.”
So, there is no, “Throw me the ball!” demand coming from Toney — like there has been in the past with Odell Beckham Jr. and Golden Tate, and might have been in a Kenny Golladay-Jason Garrett spat earlier this season.
“In this sport here, you never get to the peak of your career until you learn everything you need to learn,” Toney said. “I’m not a vet. Every day is a learning experience.”
The first half of Toney’s rookie season was a roller-coaster of injuries, controversies and highlights. The main thing absent was repetition, though that’s been the case for oft-injured offensive weapons Golladay, Saquon Barkley, Evan Engram, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton, too.
Kadarius Toney Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post“We’re at full power with everybody, but only time will tell what will happen in the future,” Toney said. “We can’t predict nobody else’s future.”
After missing most of spring workouts and training camp, Toney was a nonfactor over the first three games. He created a craze among excitement-starved fans when he went off for 16 catches and 267 yards combined against the Saints and Cowboys, but the bumps re-emerged.
An ejection for throwing a punch late against the Cowboys. An ankle injury after making three catches on the opening drive against the Rams. A missed game against the Panthers. A gash on his thumb against the Chiefs, when he was held to four catches for 26 yards.
In an effort to reinvolve Toney’s playmaking against the Raiders, the Giants tried a Wildcat direct snap (loss of 2 yards) and a lateral with the option to throw a pass (loss of 6).
“We can always use more sale,” Toney said of the failed trick plays. “That’s what you call it in the play when you’re trying to fool the defense. Every play is designed to go for a touchdown, but every play doesn’t end up in that result.”
Toney’s first touchdown will have to wait until after the bye week … if he feels healthy?
Kadarius Toney runs up field. Robert Sabo“I’m pretty much myself,” Toney said. “It’s always good to take a break from what you love to do. It makes it kind of new when you come back. We’re driven to finish the season as strong as we can and put ourselves in the best position.”
Toney still is learning how to handle the off-field spotlight cast on professional athletes. Giants coach Joe Judge has met with Toney multiple times, including last week, to explain the importance of choosing words carefully on social media.
After Raiders receiver Henry Ruggs III was arrested and cut following an alleged high-speed, drunk-driving accident resulting in the death of a woman, Toney wrote, “We young … everybody make mistakes … y’all lookin at the situation like ‘this or that’ kuz it ain’t y’all … having so much too [sic] say … he know he messed up don’t drag em for it … that’s goofy to me … just pray for the families involved.”
Speaking to the media for the first time since sending that tweet widely interpreted as insensitive, Toney was pressed about his intention.
“Pray for the families involved. That was stated in there. I don’t know how everything else came about. Take it how you want,” he said. “How could you regret having empathy for both sides? I don’t get it.”
A testy exchange with a reporter ended with Toney declining to explain his usage of “goofy” and a team official intervening.
“There’s going to be attention anyway just because of who I am with anything I say,” Toney said. “[The message] from Joe is more, ‘Say what you have to say and mean what you say. You shouldn’t have to go back and clarify anything you say,’ which I’m not doing here.
“Anybody in the NFL is in the same position I’m in. No matter what we post, no matter what we do. It’s no different for me.”







