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 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
“I think obviously we’re 2-8, and that’s not where we want to be, and they’re looking to change things up, so I think that was what was communicated,” Jones said. “Definitely not happy about it. Not what you want to hear, so yeah, all those emotions you have, but at the end of the day, this is football, and we’re in a business where you expect to get results, and we weren’t doing it, so you got to accept it and understand.”
Will Jones stick around for the final seven games? In 2022, when the Las Vegas Raiders benched Derek Carr for the final few games under similar circumstances Carr and the Raiders agreed to have Carr leave the team before the season ended.
Jones wasn’t ready on Wednesday to commit one way or the other.
“I think I’m still kind of processing, and for now I’m doing the best I can to help Tommy prepare, help the team prepare, and that’s what I’m going to do right now,” Jones said. “I think first you think about what’s best for the team and how you can help, and then myself and what’s best for my situation going forward.”
It won’t be any surprise if Jones decided not to hang around as a scout team safety and spare wheel doing little more than tossing a few passes in individual drills and handing off to running backs. Maybe that happens after Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaners. Maybe it comes after the Thanksgiving Day game against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Giants will take a cap hit of $22.21 million next season when they release Jones even without the injury guarantee. That is pro-rated signing bonus money Jones has already been paid, but that needs to be accounted for within the cap.
“It’s been a tremendous honor to be a part of this organization, to represent the Mara and Tisch families,” Jones said. “It’s a first class organization, and I’ve met a lot of great people here, and then created a lot of great relationships, especially with teammates and guys I’ve played with, and it’s been a real honor to be a part of it.”
Jones, unless something unexpected happens, will finish with a 24-44-1 record as the Giants’ starting quarterback.
What’s next for Jones? He will be able to look across the field on Sunday and see Baker Mayfield, on his fourth team and playing exceptionally well for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There are other examples of highly-drafted quarterbacks excelling long after moving on from their original teams — like Geno Smith, Sam Darnold and Jared Goff.
“Just still trying to kind of process this, and what’s best for the team, what’s best for me, and thenmake a decision on that going forward,” Jones said. “But, yeah, I’m confident in my ability, a lot of good football ahead, and I’m excited for that.”
After 5½ years, it’s obvious none of that football is going to be with the Giants.
