ELI: DAN READY TO BE THE MAN
Manning says Jones ready to take control of Big Blue
Their relationship was great, respect flowing down from the much older Eli Manning to Daniel Jones, and back up again, the much younger Jones up to Manning. As quarterback transitions go, the 2019 Giants season, from a personality-meshing standpoint, was a success.
These situations are never perfect, though, and as Manning looks ahead, he sees Jones, now free of the franchise icon in the building, more ready and capable of taking the reins of the offense and the team this season.
“I think it will be easier this year for him to kinda step up as that leader,’’ Manning said Monday on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “Last year was probably awkward for him, me being there, me being in meeting rooms and just kinda the whole dynamic. Me being gone and hey, he is the quarterback, he is the guy, for him to have that control and the authority over receivers and offensive line.
“I think he’s proven to be tough and work hard, he’s done all the right things, he has gone in with that approach of keeping his head down and not saying more than he has to, working hard and earning the respect from the teammates. Now he can elevate that where now he’s in charge. The questions are coming to him from the coordinator, he’s gonna have to give his voice and his opinion on things.’’
As soon as Jones was taken with the No. 6 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Manning knew he had to win games to keep his starting job. He did not envision the leash being as short as it was. The Giants lost their first two games and then-head coach Pat Shurmur made the move, benching Manning and inserting Jones. The pecking order stayed that way until Jones went out with a high ankle sprain. Manning started in Weeks 14 and 15 before Jones finished up, starting the final two games of a 4-12 season.
Manning retired and Shurmur and most of his staff were fired, leaving Jones to adapt to a new head coach, Joe Judge, and try to master a new offense installed by coordinator Jason Garrett.
“He’s got to learn a new offense, and get total control of that and earn the respect of a new coaching staff,’’ Manning said of Jones. “I think he’ll do a great job. They’ll figure out how to play and how to win football games in the NFL, the style, and I think he’s got the respect of the team and he’ll go out and have a great year.’’
Manning said he has spoken with Jones “a little bit and gotten his feedback on how everything’s going.’’ With all NFL team facilities shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Giants are conducting their offseason program remotely, via Zoom calls and virtual meetings. This is not ideal for anyone and especially not for Jones, embarking on his second NFL season with so much new to learn.
“I know this has got to be, it’s obviously tough on a lot of people, but in the sports world to try to put a team together when you can’t be with them,’’ Manning said. “It’s got to be hard not to be able to practice and have a spring, especially with a new coach and new systems going in.’’
As for how Jones is handling all this, Manning said, “He said it’s going well but it is a little different. Hopefully they’ll get back real soon and be able to get back to work.’’