Giants Q&A: Rare moment of anger shown by Daniel Jones
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) scrambles away from Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Tre Herndon (37) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. Credit: AP/John Raoux
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.
A dropped pass by receiver Marcus Johnson seemed to do the trick in Sunday’s 23-17 win over the Jaguars, eliciting a rare flash of frustration from the Giants’ quarterback. By normal standards in a league where tablets are chucked and linemen are screamed at on a weekly basis it was a mild (and not wholly uncalled) for PG-rated flare up. Given Jones’ stoic disposition on the field, though, it was tantamount to a tantrum.
Even coach Brian Daboll was shocked by the fact Jones’ anger – which was nothing more than him tossing his head and apparently yelling “Catch the ball!” after the fourth-down drop near the goal line – was caught on the TV broadcast.
“Daniel? No way,” Daboll said. “He’s like a cucumber, man.”
What did Jones say about it after the game?
He was chagrined. “It was the heat of the moment. I wish I could have that situation back. I pride myself on being composed in those situations and I wasn’t there… I’m disappointed I let that happen.”
He went on to say he has “full faith and confidence in Marcus.”
No. He slapped the turf when he was tackled after a 24-yard run in the fourth quarter that he nearly broke for a long touchdown. And after he scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 1-yard sneak at the end of that drive he came back to the sideline with some rare displays of spunk.
“I’m a competitor,” he said with a sheepishness to counterbalance his on-field demeanor. “You get fiery.”
The rookie tight end left the game in the first half after he was poked in the left eye. He had to be taken to a nearby hospital but was back in the locker room by the time the game ended. He traveled home with the Giants and will see an opthamologist on Monday. He held a bag of ice over his eye as he made his way to the team bus occasionally removing it to show wincing teammates the gruesome damage that left the eye swollen shut and surrounded by a rainbow of bruising.
No. Bob Bredeson who had solidified the left guard position for the Giants and rookie right tackle Evan Neal both had to be carted to the locker room in the first half and will undergo MRIs on Monday. Daboll did not have any immediate diagnosis on either of them. They were replaced by rookie Joshua Ezeudu and Tyre Phillips, respectively. Neither made any glaring mistakes to make anyone notice.
No but it felt like it at times, especially with “Let’s Go, Giants!” and “De-fense!” chants echoing around TIAA Field. “It was awesome,” Daboll said. “Even coming out before the game to see all the blue. They were creaming and yelling. They traveled well. I certainly think it was an advantage for us. We appreciate their support big time.”
Yes. Gano said he heard a double thump as he made contact. He did however manage to put enough on the ball to sneak it over the crossbar for what has to be one of the ugliest field goals of his career.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
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