Big Blue View
Daniel Jones was emotional, but typically accountable as he met with the media on Thursday for what might have been his final press conference as a member of the New York Giants.
Jones arrived to the podium inside the Giants’ Quest Diagnostics Training Center, an unusual occurrence for a mid-week interview with a prepared statement. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft said that playing for the Giants had been “a dream come true” and said that he was “100 percent accountable for my part” in the Giants being 2-8.
Jones, normally stoic, grew increasingly emotional as the roughly 11-minute session with media moved along.
Jones has received support from teammates this week, including from Dexter Lawrence and Darius Slayton, who came to the Giants with Jones in that 2019 draft.
“I’ve created a lot of great relationships here with the guys here, and definitely appreciate the support, but it’s about the team, and what’s best for the team,” Jones said. “I think, I know the guys will be ready to go, I know Tommy [DeVito] will be ready to go this week.”
Jones, though, understands that he won’t be on the field with them.
Jones looked like QB4 behind DeVito, Drew Lock and newly-signed practice squad quarterback Tim Boyle on Wednesday. On Thursday, Jones spent some time playing safety on the scout team.
“I’ve got the injury guarantee, so I understand it,” Jones said. “They don’t want to take any risks. So, yeah, at that point, it’s just do as you’re told.”
Jones knows that the injury guarantee, which would see him collect $23 million if he can’t pass a physical when the league year opens next March, is part of why he will likely never play another down for the Giants.
“I think that was a piece of the conversation for sure,” he said. “I wanted to play. I wanted to play badly and do what I could to play, but yeah, I think it was a part of it.”
Jones demurred when asked if he would have been willing to waive the injury guarantee, though his answer left open the possibility he might have entertained the idea.
“I wanted to play. I want to play. I want to be on the field,” Jones said. “I tried to do as much as I could to make that possible and make create a situation where we were both comfortable, but I think those discussions went on with my agent and with Joe [Schoen]. I want to play. I want to be on the field, but it’s [the] unfortunate business side of the game, too.”
The Giants are 2-8 and have the lowest-scoring offense in the league. They were 6-11 last year, and Jones is 3-13 in his starts over those two seasons. Between the performance on the field and his contract situation, Jones admitted that the possibility of being benched was “maybe a little bit in the back of your mind,” especially after the Week 10...
