Joe Schoen, Brian Daboll need this to work
The New York Giants have a game on Sunday, hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 1 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium. That, though, isn’t really the big story of the week.
The real thing to keep an eye on this week is the mood of the players and what they say after the announcement that former third-string undrafted free agent Tommy DeVito will replace Daniel Jones as the team’s starting quarterback.
This is a dangerous time for GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll as they try to navigate a 2-8 season, an inevitable quarterback transition, and keep their jobs beyond the end of this season.
Dexter Lawrence, who roomed with Jones during training camp when both were rookies, was diplomatic on Tuesday when I asked him about the move.
Lawrence admitted the move was “shocking,” but tried to extend the benefit of the doubt to Daboll and Schoen “they feel like Tommy will give us the best chance is what was said to win and you got to respect that.”
In further remarks to Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic, Lawrence made clear Jones was “QB1” in his mind. He admitted to Carroll that there was “a little bit of confusion” among the players regarding the decision.
“Because you don’t know their full thoughts behind it,” Lawrence said. “I think we trust the coaches and where they’re going and where they think we can go. That’s what you have to do. You have to be naïve. You start thinking about the wrong s—, then you start playing like s—, you know what I’m saying? You got to be naïve and trust the process.”
“(Brian Daboll) just said it was a hard decision,” Lawrence added. “I’m sure it’s hard. He’s the QB1. To me, the best quarterback on the team. But they see things differently. I guess that’s all that matters.”
Another player said this to FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz:
“We’re not idiots. They did it because of money. So be it. But Daniel has been all class, never complained, and is now being completely disregarded. The TEAM record is bad. You can point fingers everywhere. To try to blame him is trash, and making him third string is weak as fu**.”
DeVito and Jones will both likely speak to media on Wednesday. DeVito will be excited, but diplomatic. Jones, if he sticks to his usual script, will say he is not happy with the decision but won’t make waves and will be supportive of DeVito.
What will be more telling is what filters out from the rest of the players in the locker room.
Players aren’t stupid. They fully understand that they are 2-8 and the offense has been the league’s worst, meaning performance is a big part of the Jones benching. They also know there is a financial aspect to the move with the Giants now trying to avoid being on the hook for $23 million in injury guarantees.
There is also a ton of respect for Jones in the room. There are many, like Lawrence, who believe he is their best quarterback.
DeVito needs to make Schoen and Daboll right. The Giants need to win a few games and the offense needs to look better over the next several weeks.
If this goes disastrously, there is serious potential for the Giants’ current braintrust to lose the trust of the locker room. If that happens, it would be the one thing that could cause co-owner John Mara to forego his desire for patience and continuity, and start over.
Will Kayvon be back?
Edge defender Kayvon Thibodeaux (fractured wrist) is eligible to come off injured reserve. We will probably find out if he will do so when coach Brian Daboll speaks to media later on Wednesday.
Azee Ojulari has done well rushing the passer in the five games Thibodeaux has missed, but the Giants do miss Thibodeaux’s physicality as a run defender and his playmaking ability.
Hello, old friend
After eight seasons with the Giants, it was thought that Sterling Shepard would retire following the 2023 season. Instead, Shepard joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to play with Baker Mayfield, his collegiate quarterback at Oklahoma.
The 31-year-old has been productive for the Bucs. He has 16 receptions, eight of those in Tampa Bay’s last three games.
You can bet Shepard will want to have a good day against the Giants on Sunday.
