Former Duke Football quarterback Daniel Jones saw his first NFL action last Thursday night and exceeded all expectations, but the New York Giants owner does not want to see Jones on the field this season.
When your much scrutinized rookie, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has a perfect NFL debut he’d probably expect some praise and congratulations from the higher-ups in the organization.
Not for Daniel Jones and the New York Giants, however.
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Against the New York Jets on Thursday night, Jones completed all five of his pass attempts for 67 yards and a touchdown.
On the first offensive drive of the game, starting quarterback Eli Manning with three-and-out with the starting offense.
Those who killed the Giants for the selection of Jones were praising him on Thursday night and into Friday morning, trying to create more of a quarterback controversy than there already is.
However, on Tuesday afternoon when New York Giants owner John Mara spoke to the media he said that he hopes Jones does not play at all this season and Eli Manning starts all of the games for Big Blue.
Mara told the assembled media:
"“I hope Eli has a great year and Daniel never sees the field. I mean, that would be in an ideal world that you’d like to see that, but again, at the end of the day, that’s going to be a decision by the head coach as to when, or if, Daniel winds up playing this year.”"
With Manning as the team’s starting quarterback, the Giants have won a total of eight games in the past two seasons, three in 2017 and five in 2018, with much more talent on paper than the team appears to have this season.
Through comments to the media, head coach Pat Shurmur and General Manager Dave Gettleman seem to go back-and-forth on playing Jones this season, possibly getting instructions from Mr. Mara telling them that Jones will not play until the team is mathematically eliminated from the playoff contention or there is an injury to Manning.
Eli Manning led the New York Giants to Super Bowl Championships in 2007 and 2011, both victories coming over the New England Patriots.
While Daniel Jones may not see action in the regular season for the New York Giants, he will be on the field Friday night as the Giants host the Chicago Bears in Week 2 of the NFL Pre-Season at 7:30pm EST.