New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones gave what is likely his final press conference as a member of Big Blue on Thursday.
The former No. 6 overall selection in the 2019 NFL draft was uncharacteristically emotional in his delivery. He thanked the franchise and fans and accepted accountability for his role in the team’s recent failures.
“Football’s a team game, certainly. But the quarterback is a big piece of that, and I understand that. For my part and my piece of it, I take responsibility,” said Jones, who is now at the bottom of the Giants’ depth chart.
His “benching” was not entirely merit-based. The Giants will likely cut ties with Jones after the season as they have an “out” in his contract. In the interim, they will keep Jones out of harm’s way. During drills on Thursday, he played safety on the scout team.
From the New York Post:
It’s not unusual for offensive players who are not playing Sunday to lend a hand at a walking/jogging pace in that situation, but it is unusual for a $160 million investment to be reduced to that role.
There is an awkward dynamic to practice right now because the Giants do not want to risk Jones getting injured. There is a $23 million injury guarantee in his contract that will activate if he cannot pass a physical by March 12, which would raise the dead-salary-cap charge for cutting Jones from $22.2 million to $45.2 million.
Jones also told reporters that the injury guarantee was discussed during the conversation, during which he was told he was being sat down.
“That was a piece of the conversation, for sure,” Jones said. “I wanted to play. I wanted to play badly and do what I could to play. I think it was a part of it. Most of those discussions took place with my agents and Joe.”
Jones obviously isn’t happy about the decision but understands the business side of the game. There was talk of him waiving the injury guarantee but no agreement could be reached.
Still, Jones standing out in the secondary watching his successors hand off was strange to onlookers.
“Well, I’ve got the injury guarantee,” he said. “So, that’s that. I understand it. they don’t want to take any risks. At that point, it’s just do as you’re told.”
And Jones might be told to simply go home and stay there. A sad ending to what began as a promising Giants career.
