NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
There comes a time when a bird must leave the nest. For the New York Giants and QB Daniel Jones, that time was this offseason. With QBs on the market, this was the opportunity the Giants needed to get their franchise back on track. While Jones does have supporters, it’s time for the organization to do what’s best for them. Moving on from Jones is the best solution.
Over the last three seasons, Jones started 37 games under center with a career record of 12-25. In that span, the Giants have not reached the playoffs, and yet, Jones is the guy they keep giving the keys to. Now, if there were no QBs available in either free agency, for trade, or the NFL Draft, then that’s a different story. But they were out there. The Giants just keep deciding to coddle a guy who’s not getting the job done.
The whispers regarding Jones are that he has potential. While that may be true, how long must the Giants and their fans have to wait until that potential is fulfilled? 2022 will be his 4th season with the team and if the Giants or Jones gets out to a slow start, will the move be made? Backing up Jones this year will be Tyrod Taylor and Davis Webb. Taylor has had success in the NFL as a starter and back up and that might be all the Giants need to have Jones on a short leash.
But there is a drawback there. If Jones is pulled for Taylor and Taylor struggles, is Jones the guy who can put the benching behind him and be professional about it or will he pout? This is like catching your kid doing something wrong and you tell him if he does it against, he’s in big trouble. So, he does it again to test you and all you do is yell again, with no action. This is what the Giants will be facing this season.
But the issues still go a little deeper. Jones missed 5 games last season and still has not reached the feats of his 2019 campaign where he passed for 26 TDs. Instead, his numbers have declined. In 2020, Jones passed for only 14 TDs and in limited action in 2021, he passed for just 11. But Jones still has other demons in his closet. While a good runner, Jones has had trouble holding onto the ball. Over his three-year career, he has 36 fumbles.
If Jones begins to shake under pressure, the New York Giants will have no one to blame but themselves. Drafting and trading for a player is one thing but to keep someone in-house for three seasons and still continue to grind it out with them, well, that’s entirely on the front office.
The Giants had opportunities to fix that position. This offseason alone, Deshaun Watson, Matt Ryan, Baker Mayfield, Russell Wilson, and Jimmy Garoppolo were up for grabs. But the Giants decided to stand pat in a division where every other team is improving at every position. Giving Jones one more season seems more out of loyalty than anything. Winning is the only language fans understand. Right now, the Giants faithful has had it up to their necks in loyalty when it comes to Daniel Jones.
