New York Giants top draft pick Kayvon Thibodeaux says he's focused on football, ready to 'grind'

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Kayvon Thibodeaux seems to understand the pre-draft process is over. As one of the newest players on the New York Giants, his focus is no longer on where he will be drafted or building his brand. It's about playing football.

The fifth overall pick in this year's NFL draft talked at his introductory news conference about needing to «grind» and make learning the playbook his priority.

That is what is on the agenda for the much-talked-about Oregon product.

«Everything is about what you do,» Thibodeaux said. «I feel like, one thing with me, I can't be a guy who blows smoke. I can't be a guy with nothing to show for it. I can't be a guy who people look at and don't believe in. So for me, no matter what I say, I know I have to go put in the work.»

It's especially relevant for a player who seems to have big aspirations beyond football. Thibodeaux dealt with public criticism throughout the draft process that questioned his work ethic and desire to be great, some even suggesting he was too worried about his brand.

It's something that Thibodeaux's mentor, Giants legend Michael Strahan, brought up during one of their conversations. He stressed that Thibodeaux had to take care of the football side first before worrying about what might come next.

«Just to keep the main thing the main thing, and that's kind of been the focus of all that,» Thibodeaux said of the advice Strahan provided. «Football is going to be that avenue. Football is going to be that terminal for everything you want to do after, so long as you keep the main thing the main thing.

»He also shed light into the idea that people thought the same thing about him. Like, man, you must have had this planned out. But for him, he shared with me that it