What did Colts' Daniel Jones learn in New York? 'All the cliches'
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WESTFIELD, Ind. – Years in the New York media market will make a man more than proficient in the use of cliches, especially if that person has a particular rocky tenure as quarterback of the New York Giants.
By the time he reached the Indianapolis Colts this offseason, Daniel Jones had dusted off more than his fair share of cliches to keep the microphones moving and the airwaves filled. And it’s actually his main takeaway from his Giants tenure.
“There’s specific, down to the smallest detail, and things that you’ll carry with you,” Jones said to a small group of reporters Tuesday, July 29 after being asked what he took away the most from his time in New York. “Generally, I think just smart decision-making and accuracy is what wins football games at the quarterback position. So just being continuously committed and relentless with a good decision-making process … I think all the cliches you hear as a quarterback, that is what wins games. I think I definitely experienced that in New York.”
Of course, it’s more complicated than that. Jones was the franchise’s first-round pick (sixth overall) out of Duke in 2018, the heir apparent to franchise legend and two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning. He was the victim of poor roster construction and coaching for the first three years of his career and rarely did himself any favors to mitigate those hindrances.
But the Giants went 9-6-1 in 2022, the first season of coach Brian Daboll’s tenure, with Jones having by far his most complete season in the NFL. The next season featured regression and a season-ending ACL injury that impacted his preparation for the 2024 season.
After a 2-8 start to the season, the Giants benched Jones. Later that week, the team agreed to release Jones, who signed with the Minnesota Vikings for the remainder of the season as an emergency quarterback option.
“Obviously you’re disappointed as a competitor, a place I was drafted, had a great opportunity,” Jones said. “Some great times, but obviously not enough there at the end.”
His time with Minnesota and head coach Kevin O’Connell, highly regarded for his work with quarterbacks as a former NFL backup himself, was valuable. Jones found himself impressed with the level of detail and particularity that goes into quarterbacks’ game plans.
“Their process is very meticulous throughout the week,” Jones said. “They’re checking all the boxes and going through every look – walking through it, talking through it. Just a high, high level of detail and preparation.”
It’s something he has taken to Indianapolis, where he finds himself in a starting quarterback battle against another former high first-round pick in Anthony Richardson.
“Excited for the next step,” Jones said, “and to come here and work with these guys.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daniel Jones excited for Colts chance after Giants' benching, release
