On Monday, the New York Giants formally benched quarterback Daniel Jones, demoting him to the QB3 spot, successfully ending his profession in East Rutherford.
It was a transfer many noticed coming after a Week 10 debacle in Germany in opposition to the Carolina Panthers however one which was adopted by a extra controversial determination.
As an alternative of shifting Drew Lock into the beginning function and utilizing Tommy DeVito as his backup, the Giants as a substitute promoted DeVito to QB1 so as to create a spark.
“After evaluating a bunch of issues and a whole lot of tape and being round Tommy final yr the place he created somewhat little bit of a spark for us, that’s the explanation why we’re going with Tommy,” head coach Brian Daboll instructed reporters.
“Drew would be the backup. Proceed to work with him. He’s been nothing however a professional and as was Daniel. It’s by no means a simple dialog to have with the gamers. However felt like this was a crucial transfer for us and look ahead to working with Tommy and getting him able to go in opposition to Tampa.”
Daboll refused to elaborate on why Jones was demoted to QB3 and shall be inactive for the rest of the season, however the causes are apparent. There’s an damage clause and a $23 million assured wage in 2025 hanging over their heads. Admitting that will trigger some points with the NFLPA, so the coach tried to string a needle along with his feedback.
Everybody can settle for that reply with a wink and a nod. We all know.
However why DeVito over Lock, who was handed a one-year, $5 million contract in the course of the offseason? In spite of everything, DeVito has been a wholesome scratch for the previous 10 video games.
Pressed additional, Daboll mentioned after evaluating the movie, they all of a sudden found that DeVito was their finest quarterback.
“I needed to take our time and watch a whole lot of tape. Not simply this yr’s, final yr’s, another issues, too. And attempt to make the very best determination we will make for our crew. That’s what I did,” he mentioned.
Uh-huh. We’re certain it has nothing to do with the potential escalators in Lock’s contract or the truth that the Giants have the third-least remaining cap area within the NFL. It was only a “soccer determination.”
If that have been true, one should surprise how the Giants failed to acknowledge this over their first 10 video games.
Jones is prone to be minimize after this season, Lock will turn into an unrestricted free agent, and DeVito will turn into an unique rights free agent. It’s fully doable — if not believable — that not one of the three return.
“We’re simply targeted right here on this week and the choice that we made to get these guys able to go. That’s the place our focus is,” Daboll mentioned when requested about the way forward for Jones and the opposite quarterbacks.
The irony is that DeVito was most likely the only option however how the Giants have dealt with him to date, Lock’s contracts and Daboll’s solutions make it a spectacle. It casts doubt on normal supervisor Joe Schoen and Daboll and their skill to correctly consider quarters. It additionally calls into query their skill to deal with contracts and personnel. In spite of everything, that is removed from the primary time personnel selections have raised an eyebrow.
And what if DeVito, who will play behind an improved offensive line in comparison with his final time on the sector, truly goes out and wins? It’d save the regime however price them an opportunity at a real franchise quarterback.
Even when the present Giants regime makes the precise transfer, they discover a option to muck it up. And that may not make co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch glad.
