Daniel Jones wrote his goodbye to the Giants on a piece of paper, he said at an emotional Thursday press conference, “to make sure I say it the right way.”
That’s him. That was Jones as a Giant: representing the franchise and his teammates the best he could. Trying to do everything the right way.
That is the person and leader that Joe Schoen, Brian Daboll and the Giants organization are pushing out the door.
This is a business, and Jones hasn’t played well enough, to be sure. But it would be a mistake to take Jones’ character and intangibles for granted.
His teammates don’t. And that’s what brought Jones to tears for a brief moment on Thursday: his teammates’ unwavering support of him even after the GM and head coach shut him down.
“I’ve created a lot of great relationships with the guys here and definitely appreciate the support,” Jones said, getting choked up.
Jones delivered two especially revealing messages in his first interview since Monday’s demotion:
One was that Jones seemingly volunteered to waive at least part or all of the $23 million injury guarantee for 2025 in his contract to remain on the field as the Giants’ quarterback, but that didn’t sway Schoen and Daboll.
“I want to play. I wanted to be on the field. I tried to do as much as I could to make that possible and create a situation where we were both comfortable,” Jones said. “[But] we’re 2-8 and not where we want to be, and they’re looking to change things up. That’s what was communicated.”
The second was that Jones may be leaving the team soon for good.
“I love the game. I love being part of a team,” he said. “I’m excited for the next opportunity, and [I] know that there’s a lot of good football in front of me. And I’m excited about that.”
He even implied that asking for his release could be on the table.
“I’m still processing and trying to think through what the best thing is for this team, what the best thing is for me,” he said. “But my focus right now is on this team. I’m doing the best I can to help Tommy [DeVito] prepare.”
Jones’ effort to be a great teammate to the end produced a brutal scene during practice: the Giants’ franchise quarterback put on a red pinnie and served as a safety on the scout-team defense during a walkthrough install for DeVito and the offense.
That selfless act said everything about both Jones and the Giants: This was a humiliating scene for a player and person who has given the organization everything he has, but he was relegated to the No. 4 quarterback spot not even taking scout-team snaps because “I got the injury guarantee.”
“They don’t want to take any risk,” he said.
Jones still took the high road on Thursday by thanking the fan base, accepting “full responsibility for my part in not bringing more wins” and avoiding any derogatory comments about Schoen.
He then walked off the podium with a scar on his forehead, one of many wounds incurred by giving the Giants his all.
“No one wanted to win more games worse than me,” he said.
In the locker room, meanwhile, questions persisted about this team’s direction.
Star pass rusher Brian Burns first was asked how the team has reacted to Jones’ demotion.
“At first, I would think everybody was taken off guard a little bit. I wouldn’t say people expected it,” Burns said. “But I feel like after a while, everybody knows what type of business this is and how quick things can change. So I feel like things went to the regular program after everything transpired.”
Then Burns was asked if he thinks the Giants are still doing what’s best for the team to win games.
“That’s not really my call,” Burns told the Daily News. “I mean, they must see something. I don’t know. I really don’t know.”
BUCS’ EVANS UPGRADED TO FULL PARTICIPANT
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 full.
Buccaneers corner Jamel Dean (hamstring) and wideout Mike Evans (hamstring) were both full participants, meanwhile, giving Tampa Bay two of its best players back on Sunday. Tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee/foot), meanwhile, remained limited as a projected game-time decision.
