Rapoport: Giants Officially Benching Jones

[MightyGiants]

I think we're all in agreement on that. Stevie Wonder can read between the lines.

They can't shoot themselves in the foot by saying something stupid and they can't jeopardize their draft position by doing something like winning meaningless games.

I can see Mara signing off on benching Jones to protect the team from the injury guarantee.  I can't see Mara signing off on having his team tank in a million years.    The "integrity of the game" means too much to Mara to allow short-term pain for long-term gain.

[uconnjack8]

Is Tommy really drawing people to games in December when the team is 2-13?  I think he will be a draw for a few games.  If he has some success then yes I see people getting excited again, but if the defense doesn't win games for him (like last year) and his play is similar, I doubt anyone will be excited after 3 weeks. 

[MightyGiants]

Is Tommy really drawing people to games in December when the team is 2-13?  I think he will be a draw for a few games.  If he has some success then yes I see people getting excited again, but if the defense doesn't win games for him (like last year) and his play is similar, I doubt anyone will be excited after 3 weeks. 

I agree, barring another string of victories (mostly off the D), I doubt we will see a repeat of DeVitomania.

[Trench]

I agree, barring another string of victories (mostly off the D), I doubt we will see a repeat of DeVitomania.

Time will tell. I'm choosing to be optimistic but I'll have a better feel after seeing him in person after a year of training and work he out in. Stranger things have happened

[MightyGiants]

Time will tell. I'm choosing to be optimistic but I'll have a better feel after seeing him in person after a year of training and work he out in. Stranger things have happened

Last year, once they were out of it, I wanted the Giants to lose so they would be in a position to draft a franchise QB, and they went on a winning streak.   At this point, I feel like if it weren't for bad luck, I would have no luck at all when it comes to being a Giants fan.  So I half expect the team to win 4 or more and put themselves firmly back in QB hell.

[Brooklyn Dave]

Why did they sign L:ock if they are going with Davito now ?

[MrGap92]

Last year, once they were out of it, I wanted the Giants to lose so they would be in a position to draft a franchise QB, and they went on a winning streak.   At this point, I feel like if it weren't for bad luck, I would have no luck at all when it comes to being a Giants fan.  So I half expect the team to win 4 or more and put themselves firmly back in QB hell.

It is a truly sad state of affairs Giants fans live with, regardless of where we all stand on various subjects, we all probably unanimously agree on this.

[MightyGiants]

Why did they sign L:ock if they are going with Davito now ?

Take your pick:

1) The Giants management made a mistake signing Lock as the backup for $5 million

2) The Giants comp pick formula is slightly better if Lock takes less snaps

3) With incentives the Giants have less of a cap hit if they don't play Lock

[B1GBLUE]

right or wrong, its overdue. name one other qb in the history of the league that had this long of a rope. most guys that put up his production get 15-20 games. I get it was the perfect storm, but the jig is up. When you can't play at least very good ball against the worst team in the league on an international stage...thats it. He's had his chances. I like the guy and feel bad for him. But this should have ended long ago.

[MightyGiants]

It is a truly sad state of affairs Giants fans live with, regardless of where we all stand on various subjects, we all probably unanimously agree on this.

Not just the Giants fans.  I have to think it's a sad state of affairs for the NFL at large.  NYC is the nation's biggest media market, and for over a decade, the NFL has had its two worst teams in that market.  The NFL missed out on an entire generation of potential fans from this area.

[Trench]

The NFL

Not just the Giants fans.  I have to think it's a sad state of affairs for the NFL at large.  NYC is the nation's biggest media market, and for over a decade, the NFL has had its two worst teams in that market.  The NFL missed out on an entire generation of potential fans from this area.
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Not just the Giants fans.  I have to think it's a sad state of affairs for the NFL at large.  NYC is the nation's biggest media market, and for over a decade, the NFL has had its two worst teams in that market.  The NFL missed out on an entire generation of potential fans from this area.
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The NFL wasn't short for trying. Jones had numerous opportunities to play prime time games and unfortunately at 6 seasons and $40 million he will go down as quite possibly (one of the) if not THE biggest bust in professional sports history.

[LennG]

Len,

It's interesting how angry you got so much that you felt the need to go after me on a personal level just for suggesting the IDEA that Schoen and Daboll be held accountable for their job performance.  I won't disagree that Jones is shot, and it's time to bench him.  I do disagree with your efforts to give Schoen and Daboll a free pass just because they didn't change the QB they inherited.  Hell, Schoen and Daboll even signed Jones to the $40 million per year contract.  From where I stand, it's impressive the mental gymnastics required to blame everything on Jones but not assign any responsibility to the guys who signed Jones to his veteran contract, passed on drafting QB on this draft, and even passed on Russel Wilson and instead signed Drew Lock.   But hey,  you do you Lenny

 I have never given Daboll a pass anywhere. I have been on his case basically ever since the kicker game. Personally, I don't think he will ever be a big-time HC. But you are relentless in your criticism of both Daboll and Schoen. T thread after t thread, article after article, you find something you beat it to death. (as some do about Jones)> It just gets monotonous after a while.

[kingm56]

Is Tommy really drawing people to games in December when the team is 2-13?  I think he will be a draw for a few games.  If he has some success then yes I see people getting excited again, but if the defense doesn't win games for him (like last year) and his play is similar, I doubt anyone will be excited after 3 weeks. 

No, he's not, nor does it matter.  The NFL ticket exchange has made that point moot/updated.  Those seats will be filled, by Giants fans or fans of the away team. Just like FEDEX was always filled when the commanders had zero marketable players. 

[TDToomer]

As expected the national media is barely discussing the benching of the starting QB in the biggest TV market in the league. ESPN briefly mentioned it on sports center and the radio. Don't say it's because we suck because ESPN spends segment after segment talking about the Bears struggles.

[DaveBrown74]

As expected the national media is barely discussing the benching of the starting QB in the biggest TV market in the league. ESPN briefly mentioned it on sports center and the radio. Don't say it's because we suck because ESPN spends segment after segment talking about the Bears struggles.

I suspect for most of the country this isn't major news, as it was totally expected. Jones has been the worst starting QB in the NFL this year with at least 7 starts if you go by the key stat categories. He was a complete disaster last year too before he got seriously hurt for the fourth time in five seasons. If there is anything about this that is news, it is that it took this franchise this long to move on from him.

People act like it's some total disaster if you draft a QB who doesn't work out. I don't agree with that at all. The disaster is if you incessantly cling to a delusional belief that he is good and remain in total denial for many years, as the Giants did. The Steelers used a first round pick on Kenny Pickett a couple years ago, and after year two they realized and admitted that he stinks, and they moved on. Now, just a year later, they're 8-2, they're in first place in their division, and they're currently vying for the number one seed in the AFC. People who claim a franchise is "screwed" for years if a first round picked QB doesn't work out are lost.

Every team makes mistakes. Smart teams identify mistakes within an acceptable time frame and move on from them. Dumb teams overrate their own talent, make excuses for underperforming players if they happen to like them personally, and then they remain in total denial about them until it becomes so obvious the player sucks that even people who know very little about football are giggling about it.