New Giants general manager Joe Schoen met the New York media for the first time on Wednesday and delivered a clear message: Daniel Jones will be the team’s quarterback in 2022.
“I’ve looked at Daniel,” Schoen said at his introductory news conference. “Once the new staff gets in here, we’re going to get together — offensive coordinator, head coach, the entire staff — dive into the film as a group and look at what Daniel does best and we’re going to try to allow him to put his best foot forward.”
Jones struggled in 2021 under head coach Joe Judge, who was fired at the end of the season after two years at the helm. Schoen sounded ready to wipe the slate clean when it comes to Jones.
“I’ve looked at him. I wasn’t here in the past, so I don’t exactly know what he was told to do, but I do know this: I know he’s a great kid,” Schoen said. ” … There’s not anybody in this building that’s said a bad word about his work ethic, passion, desire to win, and I think you’ve got to have those traits as a quarterback. The kid has physical ability. He’s got arm strength, he’s athletic, he can run. I’m really excited to work with Daniel.”
Jones was on hand at the news conference, as was Giants co-owner John Mara, who threw his support behind Jones and discounted any notion that the team would try to trade for disgruntled Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Watson was inactive all 17 weeks of the season for the Texans as he faces civil lawsuits from 22 women who accused him of sexual misconduct.
“We’re not trading for Deshaun Watson,” Mara said. “There are so many reasons why we wouldn’t do that. Cap-wise, we couldn’t afford it, but more importantly with the allegations that are out there right now, that’s just not the right fit for us.”
Instead, it will be back to the drawing board for Jones with a new staff – something Mara undoubtedly will be happy to see.
“We’ve done everything possible to screw this kid up since he’s been here,” Mara said. “… We certainly have not given up on Daniel Jones.”
Jones, 24, was limited to 11 games because of a neck injury sustained in a Week 12 win over the Philadelphia Eagles that ended his season. Jones, the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, completed 232 passes for 2,428 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions on the season.
Since taking over from two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning in 2019, Jones is 12-25 as the starting quarterback, throwing for 8,398 total yards with 45 touchdowns and 29 interceptions.
If Schoen is to turn around the fortunes of the franchise — the Giants have played in one playoff game since winning the Super Bowl following the 2011 season — that will start with the head coach he brings on board. Since Schoen’s hiring on Friday, the Giants have had two interviews with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and also interviewed defensive coordinators Leslie Frazier (Bills), Lou Anarumo (Cincinnati Bengals) and Dan Quinn (Dallas Cowboys).
Schoen most recently was the assistant general manager of the Bills, so he has familiarity with both Daboll and Frazier.
–Field Level Media