Janoris Jenkins calls out Giants coaches in ugly breaking point

Janoris Jenkins doesn’t understand why he isn’t “traveling” like other top cornerbacks in the NFL.

Ironically, he might have punched his ticket out of town by questioning the Giants coaches.

Actually, on second thought, he might still outlast this hot-seat staff.

The Giants are a mess, especially on defense and in the secondary, and their best cornerback said the decision not to have him follow the other team’s best wide receivers around the field is exacerbating the problems. Davante Adams and Allen Lazard combined for three touchdowns as the Packers beat the Giants, 31-13.

“I’m the only one in the league that don’t travel no more,” a frustrated Jenkins said after the Giants’ eighth straight loss. “I don’t understand why. I was traveling other years.”

It is no secret Jenkins’ usage is the product of being surrounded by first- and second-year defensive backs DeAndre Baker, Sam Beal, Grant Haley, Corey Ballentine and Julian Love. Baker, a rookie first-round pick, has had a difficult time grasping the playbook and has gone from full-time starter to rotating with Beal.

Jenkins didn’t call out his teammates, but his claim that it is “common sense” to let him play to his strengths is tone-deaf to the situation around him. He doesn’t see the benefit of further voicing his complaints to defensive coordinator James Bettcher after the conversations already had behind the scenes.

“I’m playing within the scheme,” Jenkins said. “I ain’t got to complain. I just want to play football. Sometimes you ain’t got to say too much.”

Blame Bettcher if you wish — the youngsters don’t seem to be improving — but general manager Dave Gettleman left his team without other veteran cornerbacks in the offseason and asked “Jackrabbit” to mentor four 2018-19 draft picks.

Jenkins will be on the final year of his $62.5 million free-agent contract next season and could be cut to save $11.25 million against the salary cap with only a $3.5 million penalty. The problem with that strategy is the 31-year-old former Pro Bowler still is head and shoulders better than any other cornerback on the roster.

“I play on the left side of the field all game,” Jenkins said. “I get two passes a game. C’mon bro. Everybody in the league who has a top corner, they travel. Rabbit don’t travel no more.”

Jenkins traveled with Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans in Week 3 and had one of the worst games of his career, allowing eight catches for 190 yards and three touchdowns. He also gave up the big pass into field-goal range in the final minute that nearly cost the Giants one of their two wins.

“I’m just here to do my job, play football and play for the man next to me,” Jenkins said. “I can’t play everybody’s position. I can only play my side, my field, my man.”

Safety Antoine Bethea previously played for the Colts, 49ers and Cardinals, including under Bettcher when he was in the secondary with All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson.

“[Jenkins] is a good cover corner for us, and we’re just looking for ways we can help this defense,” Bethea said. “If he feels as though that’s one way to improve … In the past, in the defense I’ve been in with Bettch, we did it that way. That’s a question you have to ask the defensive coordinator.”

Except it would require Bettcher to point his finger at his young players or Gettleman.

This is the second time Jenkins has caused a stir in the postgame locker room. After a Week 2 loss, he sounded off on being tired of starting 0-2 year after year and on the lack of a pass rush making it hard to cover.

The pass rush has improved since then. Giants coach Pat Shurmur talked to Jenkins about keeping such opinions in-house.

“Just go look at the film,’ Jenkins said. “I ain’t got to explain to ya’ll. Use me the way I need to be used. That’s all I’m saying.”

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