The New York Giants are facing criticism for their handling of benched quarterback Daniel Jones, and according to Fox Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz, that disapproval is coming from inside the locker room.
‘There is ”disappointment” among some #Giants players regarding how the Daniel Jones situation was handled over the past week, especially with players aware it was primarily a financial decision by the organization,’ Schultz wrote on X.
The struggling former first-round pick was demoted to third string this week after the Giants fell to 2-8 with Sunday’s overtime loss to the lowly Carolina Panthers in Germany.
This comes after the Giants gave Jones a four-year, $160 million contract, only half of which is guaranteed. That means New York can release him this offseason, thereby dropping his cap figure to $22 million from the $41 million he’d represent if he remained on the roster.
‘We’re not idiots,’ Schultz says one offensive player told him over the phone. ‘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.
Jones was demoted to third string this week after the Giants fell to 2-8 with Sunday’s loss
‘To try to blame him is trash, and making him third string is weak as fu**.’
The team now plans to start fan favorite and local hero Tommy DeVito while fellow veteran Drew Lock remains the backup.
But to hear Jones’ highest-profile teammate, he remains the team’s best option for the time being.
‘He’s the QB1,’ All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II said Tuesday. ‘To me, he’s the best quarterback on the team.’
As Schultz explained, multiple sources ranging from players, coaches and executives see deep-seeded problems within the team.
‘… The issues within the organization go far beyond just one person,’ Schultz wrote.
Jones’ agents did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
Dexter Lawrence II says he still thinks of Daniel Jones as ‘QB1’: ‘He’s the best quarterback’
For his part, head coach Brian Daboll hasn’t put all the blame on Jones, or at least not publicly.
‘It’s just not on Daniel you know that’s on me, that’s on an entire offensive performance,’ Daboll told reporters. ‘So again making this decision to try to spark it to give Tommy an opportunity again, he did some nice things when he was in there and he played as a rookie. And I know he´s eager for the opportunity.’
Both Daboll and Giants GM Joe Schoen could be replaced this offseason without any signs of improvement.
Jones, the sixth-overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, is having his second straight poor season with New York. Over ten games, he’s tossed just eight touchdowns while surrendering seven interceptions and four fumbles.
The Giants could have options in April’s NFL Draft with Colorado quarterback and Deion Sanders’ son Sheduer, Miami star Cam Ward, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Georgia’s Carson Beck all likely in play for New York.