Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Surrounded by more media than an offensive lineman normally attracts, John Jerry knew what questions were coming.
He'd have preferred to be asked about the task of making the New York Giants roster and perhaps even starting. He even got some of those queries.
The main focus of his interview on Tuesday as the Giants held their first training camp practice was Jerry's time with the Miami Dolphins. More specifically, his role in the 2013 bullying scandal.
The NFL's investigation of the Dolphins cited Jerry, Richie Incognito and center Mike Pouncey as players who harassed Jonathan Martin. Only Pouncey remains with the Dolphins,, and Incognito currently isn't in the league.
Jerry says he told the Giants everything about the bullying scandal.
"I have nothing to lie about, so they know everything," he said. "I'm not worried about that. I'm focused on nothing but the Giants, and this season coming up. I've moved on from that. That's in the past."
True. But some issues remain from the scandal.
Jerry, 28, was asked about psychological testing that the players cited in the investigation were to undergo.
"I'm not going to comment on that because I still don't know what's going on with that," Jerry said.
Asked if he had undergone any such testing, he indicated he hadn't.
He also knows he will be identified with the Miami bullying, regardless of how big or little his role might have been.
"I can't control that," he said. "People are going to think what they want to think about you. That's something I know is out of my hands. Pretty much all the fans care about is you going out there and performing and getting them Ws."
When the Giants signed Jerry after Miami let him go, they said they were satisfied with his explanations of the bullying incidents.
The 6-foot-5, 335-pound Jerry started all 16 games last season for the Dolphins and played in 57 games over four seasons for Miami. New York is rebuilding its offensive line; the only holdover certain to start is second-year right tackle Justin Pugh.
So Jerry has an opportunity to be a regular once he is fully healed from arthroscopic knee surgery and can go full-tilt in practices and preseason games.
The projected starters at guard are Geoff Schwartz, late of Kansas City, and Brandon Mosley, a 2012 fourth-round pick. Mosley left practice early Tuesday with what coach Tom Coughlin referred to as something heat-related.
Second-round pick Weston Richburg worked at both center and guard on Tuesday.
Coughlin knows the Giants need to be patient with Jerry.
"He was hurt all spring and was sick all summer," Coughlin said. "He's out, he's lost some weight, and he's trying to get back in it, so it will take a while."
What Jerry hopes won't take a while is getting accepted by his teammates. He believes that already has occurred.
"At the end of the day, the only people I really care about knowing who I am is the guys in the locker room," Jerry said. "And I think the guys in the locker room have got a pretty good feel for who I am. I came out the same year as (center) J.D. (Walton), and I've been on J.D. pretty good, and he knows the type of person I am.
"And I've gotten the chance to talk to some of the guys in the locker room, and we've discussed things like that. So I think they have a pretty good feel for who I am."
___
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
