Giants Executive Rips ESPN Host For 'Mind-Boggling' Daniel Jones Segment
11/22/2024 02:06 PM
The New York Giants granted quarterback Daniel Jones' request for release on Friday, letting their former franchise quarterback go after six seasons.
Jones signed a massive $160 million contract two seasons ago, but the situation eventually reached a point where both sides felt it was best to part ways.
Jones was respectful to the team in a statement on Thursday following his experience playing on the scout team at practice, and the team returned that respect on Friday when it announced his release.
ESPN personality Elle Duncan referenced Jones' speech to the organization in her "Taking the Elle" segment on Thursday's edition of SportsCenter, and the team wasn't happy about how she did it.
ESPN's Elle Duncan on Daniel Jones' farewell to Giants fans: "You guys think he had this saved in his notes since like 2020? In all seriousness, DJ, I could have saved you like 90 seconds. A rewrite: I'm sorry you paid me $108 million for one playoff win. And I look forward to… pic.twitter.com/CF8Ix8M9M9
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 22, 2024
"We normally reserve 'Taking the Elle' for Fridays but Giants quarterback Daniel Jones just did something so inexplicable that we made an exception," Duncan said, mocking jones with her tone and inflection.
"After being benched this week, Jones took to the podium to say goodbye to the franchise and fans, but with, like, seven games left in the season."
Pat Hanlon, the Giants' vice president of communications, voiced his displeasure with how Duncan handled the matter on the show.
"That an ESPN personality would mock Daniel Jones' statement today is mind boggling," Hanlon said.
"Given what has happened at that company over past few years, tone deaf," he said, referencing the multiple rounds of layoffs that have taken place at the company.
Duncan doubled down on her statement, arguing that the Giants treated Jones with far less respect by benching him and adding him to the scout team.
"You want to call me disrespectful to Daniel Jones? Am I more disrespectful than the Giants making him a scout team safety?," she asked on social media.
Am I more disrespectful than all of those same fans that are in my mentions right now who booed him mercilessly for the last six seasons? I stand by everything that I said."
"There have been some great times, but, of course, we all wish there had been more of those," Jones said on Thursday, addressing the media in what turned out to be his final day as a Giant.
"I take full responsibility for my part in not bringing more wins. No one wanted to win those games worse than me. I gave everything I had."
Once Jones clears waivers, he'll be free to sign with any team around the league. We've seen former backups revitalize their careers on new teams after failing in their first destinations, like Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith and Sam Darnold.
Time will tell if Jones will add his name to that list, but it's clear that some individuals in the Giants organization will still root for him after he leaves.
Related: NFL Fans React To Giants Releasing Daniel Jones Mid-Season
