Daniel Jones wrote his goodbye to the Giants on a piece of paper, he said during an emotional news conference Thursday, “to make sure he said it the right way.”
It’s him. This was Jones as a giant: representing the franchise and his teammates as best he could. Try to do everything the right way.
This is the person and leader that Joe Schoen, Brian Daboll and the Giants organization are pushing out the door.
It’s a deal, and Jones didn’t play well enough, that’s for sure. But it would be a mistake to take Jones’ character and intangibles for granted.
This is not the case for his teammates. And that’s what made Jones cry for a brief moment Thursday: the unwavering support of his teammates, even after the general manager and head coach called it quits.
“I’ve created a lot of good relationships with the guys here and I really appreciate their support,” Jones said, choking up.
Jones delivered two particularly revealing messages in his first interview since Monday’s demotion:
One was that Jones had apparently volunteered to waive at least part or all of the $23 million injury guarantee for 2025 in his contract to stay on the field as a quarterback of the Giants, but that did not influence Schoen and Daboll.
“I want to play. I wanted to be on the ground. I tried to do everything I could to make this possible and create a situation that we were both comfortable in,” Jones said. “[But] we’re 2-8 and we’re not where we want to be, and they’re looking to change things. This is what was communicated.
The second was that Jones might soon leave the team for good.
“I love the game. I love being part of a team,” he said. “I’m excited about the next opportunity, and [I] know that there is a lot of good football ahead of me. And I’m excited about that.
He even hinted that seeking his release might be on the table.
“I’m still thinking and trying to think about what’s the best thing for this team, what’s the best thing for me,” he said. “But my focus right now is on this team. I do my best to help Tommy [DeVito] prepare.”
Jones’ efforts to be a great teammate until the end produced a brutal scene during practice: the Giants franchise quarterback donned a red bib and served as a safety for the team’s defense reconnaissance during a step-by-step setup for DeVito and the offense.
This selfless act spoke volumes about Jones and the Giants: It was a humiliating scene for a player and a person who gave the organization everything he had, but he was relegated to the fourth quarterback spot. guard without even taking snaps of the scout team because “I got the injury guarantee.”
“They don’t want to take any risks,” he said.
Jones still took the high road Thursday by thanking the fan base, accepting “full responsibility for my role in not bringing more wins” and avoiding any disparaging comments about Schoen.
He later left the podium with a scar on his forehead, one of many injuries sustained while playing his best for the Giants.
“No one wanted to win more games than me,” he said.
In the locker room, meanwhile, questions lingered about where this team would go.
Passing star Brian Burns was first asked how the team reacted to Jones’ demotion.
“At first I thought everyone was a little caught off guard. I wouldn’t say people expected it,” Burns said. “But I feel like after a while, everyone knows what kind of business it is and how quickly things can change. So I feel like things went back to the regular schedule after everything happened.
Burns was then asked if he thought the Giants always did what was best for the team to win games.
“It’s not really my decision,” Burns told the Daily News. “I mean, they have to see something. I don’t know. I really don’t know.
BUCS EVANS UPGRADE FROM PARTICIPANT TO FULL
Giants corner Dru Phillips (hip) was added to Thursday’s injury report but remained a full participant. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (knee), safety Tyler Nubin (back), wideout Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Achilles) and linebacker Darius Muasau (hamstring) remained limited.
Edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist), wideout Darius Slayton (concussion), guard Greg Van Roten (abdomen), tight end Theo Johnson (back), linebacker Matt Adams (knee) and Phillips were at full strength .
Buccaneers corner Jamel Dean (hamstring) and wideout Mike Evans (hamstring) were both full participants, giving Tampa Bay two of its best players back on Sunday. Tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee/foot), meanwhile, remained limited as a projected decision during the game.
