How Thibodeaux, Neal plan to make Giants a winner again

“It’s going to be 50-50 every time. He’s going to hit me with an upper cut and I’m going to hit him with a right hook. He’ll hit me with a jab and I’m going to hit him with a stomach hit. We’re going to keep going back and forth.” Kayvon Thibodeaux

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Shortly after Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal became first-round draft picks of the New York Giants, the new teammates were side by side making their way through media interviews, photo shoots and getting to know each other.

Truth is, Thibodeaux and Neal are going to see a lot of each other on the field, too.

Beginning with Giants rookie camp in a couple of weeks, with countless practices to follow, Neal and Thibodeaux will more than likely be lining up against each other and banging heads every day.

The challenge will be to make each other better – and as a tandem, the Giants come away from the first round in Joe Schoen’s first NFL draft as general manager with confidence that collectively they will make this team a whole lot better.

“It’s going to be 50-50 every time,” Thibodeaux said, laughing when asked if he planned on winning the 1-on-1 reps between the two rookies. “He’s going to hit me with an upper cut and I’m going to hit him with a right hook. He’ll hit me with a jab and I’m going to hit him with a stomach hit. We’re going to keep going back and forth.”

Thibodeaux boasts one of the biggest personalities in this year’s draft, and that’s been evident for months. He stepped onto the red carpet alongside Hall of Famer Michael Irvin as part of NFL Network’s pre-draft festivities, was passed the microphone and ultimately by the end of the segment, you would have thought it was Thibodeaux doing the interview of Irvin, not the other way around.

The Giants were not scared off by Thibodeaux’s oversized

presence, and Schoen insisted that was in part because they took the time to know the person, not just the prospect.

They met with him at the scouting combine. Schoen went to dinner for Korean BBQ with him the night before his pro day in Eugene, Oregon. Thibodeaux visited the Giants facility, and there were numerous FaceTime sessions, including one final video call between Thibodeaux, Schoen and coach Brian Daboll before the former got on the plane in Los Angeles for the trip to Las Vegas.

“We had good meetings with him. Good player,” Daboll said. “Just wanted to wish him luck.”

Added Schoen: “We got to know the kid maybe more than any player in this draft. Liked the personality and liked the player.”

In terms of personality when the lights are on, at least away from the field, Neal is a church mouse compared to Thibodeaux. They are not necessarily

the odd couple, but as Neal waited for his turn to talk to the media via conference call as Thibodeaux wrapped up his session, Thibodeaux was the one holding court.

Neal said he enjoyed watching Thibodeaux in his element up close, admitting that he’s much more of an introvert.

He wears dark-rimmed glasses and drove a Dodge truck at Alabama. Once maxing out at 390 pounds, Neal has trimmed down to a svelte 337 on his 6foot-7 frame.

Neal won’t match Thibodeaux’s swagger, but don’t mistake that for a lack of confidence.

Asked if he was already prepared for the talking from Thibodeaux likely coming his way in practice, Neal’s playful response was met with laughter: “I really don’t care whether he does. I’m going to talk with my shoulder pads.”

Neal offers power and finesse, as does Thibodeaux.

Both were considered to be candidates for the first overall pick within the last year, Neal as recently as the combine this winter. Schoen said Neal will start his professional career competing at right tackle – it’d be a surprise if he did not win the job from the start – opposite left tackle Andrew Thomas.

Thibodeaux and Neal were introduced to the media together last weekend at the Giants facility, and they reminisced about how organizers at elite football camps when they were teens would match them up against each other.

Now they’ll be tied together for the foreseeable future with a shared goal.

“OK, he’s the best. I’m the best,” Thibodeaux said. “Now let’s get better.”

Today’s NFL is all about protecting and attacking the quarterback.

The Giants feel like they took a significant step in both respects in a span of three picks.

“I’m hungry,” Thibodeaux said. “I’m really competitive and I’m hungry, and I feel like New York is the pinnacle of a dogeat-dog world.”

And the Giants feel like they now have a pair of 21-year-olds who may differ in their bark but still share the same menacing bite.

GIANTS.COM As productive and impressive as they were in college, Kayvon Thibodeaux, right, and Evan Neal have plenty of room to develop and grow. Their potential is not tapped out.