Rai Benjamin tried to bribe his way into a pair of cleats, and the fastest Giants players asked for a chance to race the Olympic gold medalist.
Once all jokes died down, Benjamin, who won gold in the 400-meter hurdles and helped the U.S. win the 4×400 in Paris, just soaked in a day of practice from the sideline Wednesday as a Giants superfan.
It was the result of the Mount Vernon native joking recently on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” that he just wanted a one-day contract from the Giants.
“I’ll never fool myself,” Benjamin said. “I can’t do what these guys do. They train their whole lives for this, and I run in a circle. … Football speed and track speed are two different things. I can’t catch a ball over the middle. Vice versa, they can’t beat me in a straight line — even if they tried.”
Benjamin, 27, was wearing a Giants No. 1 jersey with his own name on the back.
That jersey — retired in 1935 for Ray Flaherty — was just unretired for rookie receiver Malik Nabers.
General manager Joe Schoen joked about getting Benjamin into a helmet, too. He played receiver and free safety in high school.
“Don’t tease me with a good time,” Benjamin replied, later adding that he “offered the athletic trainer $20 to sneak me some cleats.”
Benjamin was track teammates at USC with Giants cornerback Adoree’ Jackson. He is friends with former Giants cornerback Darnay Holmes.
“I’m up here right now,” Benjamin said, raising his hand to illustrate his emotional high at getting a peak behind the curtain. “I’m so grateful for them having me out here, knowing how important it is to get the ‘W’ on Sunday. I blocked off my schedule just for this. I have no hard exit time, so whenever these guys get off the field I’ll leave — if I feel like leaving.”
Benjamin brought his two gold medals with him to practice but still was awed by the four sterling silver Lombardi Trophies in the lobby at Giants headquarters, especially the two won at the Patriots’ expense in Super Bowls 2008 and 2012.
“Favorite Giants,” Benjamin said, “I have to go Eli first because a man named Tom Brady — much respect — but you will never be my GOAT … I looked at them for a little bit and I was like, ‘I know Tom Brady has lost sleep over two of these trophies. Sorry, Tom.’”
Benjamin also addressed the team before practice.
“It’s hard motivating highly motivated people,” Benjamin said. “What I respect is the commitment and the sacrifice as an athlete. I know the pressure that’s bestowed upon you and the expectation. I know having to perform with all that’s being said is really hard.”
