On Thursday following observe, benched quarterback Daniel Jones stood in entrance of the New York Giants media, referred to as enjoying for the group “a dream come true” and stated that he was “one hundred pc accountable” for his function in New York getting off to a 2-8 begin.
On Friday Jones requested for, and was granted, his launch from the staff.
In an announcement posted on social media, the Giants referred to as the quarterback a “nice consultant” of the group, pointing to his “dealing with” of the state of affairs and straight referencing his feedback to the media:
Now Jones will head to waivers, however given his contract for this season, a declare is unlikely. Any staff claiming him can be liable for the remaining $13,805,555 the quarterback is assured in 2024, that means it’s extra doubtless Jones will change into a free agent.
That might give Jones a job within the choice concerning the place he performs subsequent, ought to he hit free company.
There are additionally some monetary implications right here for the Giants. Jones was due $30.5 million in 2025, with a cap quantity north of $41 million. However releasing him now means New York takes the total $22.21 million lifeless cap hit subsequent yr, as a substitute of the $41.605 million lifeless cap quantity subsequent season. Thus, the discharge additionally sees the Giants save almost $20 million in 2025 cap area, plus the money related along with his 2025 contract, and the QB is totally off the books in 2026.
This brings to a detailed his time in New York. Jones was a first-round choice by the Giants again in 2019, coming off the board at No. 6 and because the second quarterback taken, behind first-overall choice Kyler Murray. Throughout his tenure in New York Jones guided the Giants to a single playoff berth, and a win over the Minnesota Vikings within the Wild Card Spherical following the 2022 NFL season.
He signed an enormous four-year contract extension price as much as $160 million following that season.
Jones’ launch is each a lesson in accountability — the group straight referencing how he dealt with “the state of affairs” speaks to that time — in addition to a cautionary story in how organizations deal with the place. When the Giants determined to increase Jones, which opened the door to Saquon Barkley’s eventual departure, it was questioned by many across the league. Was his rebound season in 2022 and New York’s journey to the postseason an indication of true enchancment, or relatively a mirage, constructed upon a brand new offensive system and the advantages of a weak schedule greater than the rest?
The whole lot that has occurred in New York since then maybe gives the most effective reply to that query.
