Giants WR On Cowboys Coach: 'No Hard Feelings!'
For New York Giants rookie receiver Jalin Hyatt, making his regular-season NFL debut against the Dallas Cowboys couldn't be more fitting.
Besides the two teams' heated rivalry spanning over half a century, Hyatt gained a more personal connection to the Cowboys even before coming into the league. At his Tennessee Volunteers pro day, Hyatt and Cowboys receiver coach Robert Prince had an exchange that went viral after appearing on "Hey Rookie, Welcome to the NFL." In the exchange, Prince seemingly insinuated that Hyatt is best suited as a speedster and challenged him to show his route-running ability.
While it's very possible, if not likely, that Prince was just trying to motivate Hyatt, many saw it as a legitimate slight at the receiver. Months later, this storyline has reemerged ahead of the Cowboys-Giants showdown on Sunday Night Football.
When asked about the apparent feud, Hyatt revealed that he holds no ill will towards Prince, even referring to the coach as a "good dude, great coach."
© Caitie McMekin, The Knoxville News
"He wanted me to do the best and I respect him for that," Hyatt said, per The Athletic's Dan Duggan. "There was obviously some stuff that we didn’t see eye-to-eye on, but it is what it is. He has his opinions, I have my opinions and at the same time, I’m trying to work to be the best player I can be. Whatever tips and things he had for me, I’m going to make sure I observe them. There’s no hard feelings. He’s obviously been in the league for a while, so I have a lot of respect for him.”
Many saw Hyatt as one of the class' premier receivers leading up to the draft, so it was a surprise when the Giants landed him in the third round. The South Carolina-native had an outstanding 2022 season, catching 67 passes for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns to win the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best receiver. His signature moment came in Tennessee's landmark win over then-No. 3 Alabama, when he racked up 207 yards and five touchdowns on just six receptions.
Prince, meanwhile, has 14 years of NFL coaching experience and an additional 17 at the collegiate level. Last year was his first in Dallas, and he helped young star CeeDee Lamb have a career season at just 23 years old.
There's no shortage of storylines any time the Cowboys and Giants get together, and this just adds a bit of extra spice to Sunday's showdown.
