Among the tall, toned young executives living along the Hudson River in Hoboken's uptown, Daniel Jones stands out as he tries to blend in. increase.
Jones fits well in high-rent districts that move upwards, look athletic, and give off an atmosphere where guys and gals in their twenties might have played lacrosse or soccer at an ivy league school. He cannot be overlooked. He has a wide shoulder of 6 feet 5 and is a specimen of a square chin, shaving cleanly on a daily basis and staying close to fresh, non-fashionable haircuts.
Jones, 25, has not participated in the migration of a common company in the neighborhood. He does not file a lawsuit and ferry across the river to a law firm or hedge fund in downtown Manhattan. If he wears shorts and a T-shirt or jogger and hoodie and hits the green with a specific light a few blocks away from the parking lot, he can reach the Giants training and practice facility in 12 minutes. He timed it. Even with typical traffic jams and those infamous New Jersey jug handles, he can complete his return trip in less than 30 minutes. It's a good place for him.
"People are aware of me, yes," Jones recently relaxed while sitting with a post at a French bakery and cafe right next to his apartment. I said freely. "It's like" how are you? " I really enjoy life here. There are places where you can walk around, eat something, and hang out. As you may notice from time to time, they are all very nice people.
"People come in and ask,'Are you Daniel Jones?', But that's always annoying. "Yes, I am. How are you doing?" People are good people. Certainly there are many Giants fans around here.
Certainly. And almost all of them know how the New York Football Giants quarterback went on last Sunday's match. The majority of them have an opinion on whether Daniel Jones will sink or swim this fall and winter.
Indeed, he was ranked 6th in the 2019 draft, his choice was ridiculed by the public, and he had never taken a walk in the three seasons with the Giants. The streets of his adopted Hudson County house know what it feels like to be with the winner. The Giants are 13-35 years old since his arrival. They are 12-25 with him as a starter. He took over Eli Manning on the bench and won the first two NFL starts as a rookie, with the Giants four games later. It was 500. Since then, they have never eavesdropped on the record of victory.
A life of commanding a good team, or a vibrant and semi-competitive team, is something Jones can only imagine. He does so from time to time.
"Maybe a little," he said. "It can be a little difficult to walk around, but there will be a few more people who want to say hello. I certainly want to trade it for some more victories."
Jones soon Identifying with the perception that he does not want great success shows that he reveals what he wants (and does not want). His four-year, $ 25.6 million contract will expire after this season. He has a relatively good reputation and fortune, but there is no guarantee after the 2022 season.
His fourth NFL training camp is approaching, and Jones is in the spotlight. He knows that. There is a new general manager, Joe Schoen, who worked at Buffalo when the Giants chose Jones from Duke. There is a new head coach, Brian Dabol,who was also in Buffalo when Jones was drafted. They want it to work with Jones, but they have no legacy or reputation in their relationship with him. At this point, given what happened in the past and what many expect in the upcoming rebuilding season, Jones should be considered upset if he is with the Giants in 2023.
Introspection is not a popular download for Jones playlists, especially for the general public. He goes somewhat along the flow when asked to project. Where will you be a year from now?
Jones has paused.
"I don't know," he said. "I don't spend a lot of time on it. I'm focused on what I'm doing now and hopefully I'm planning to have a lot of success, a great season and win a lot of games.
The fact that the team quarterbackthat allows the start challenges the ambiguous contract areameans that the team will not be sold, and the quarterback is the answer. .. Shane told the Giants that it was unwise to choose Jones' fifth-year option.
"That's probably what you think from time to time, but yes, I try not to," Jones said. "I don't think it will help you play well."
Sometimes he said, it will help you play better. The "contract year" ghost can inspire the player. Jones shook his head, dissatisfied with the fact that this had to do with him.
"I think I have a lot of motivation," he said, and it actually sounded a bit procrastinated (for him). "I feel like I'm working hard. I've worked hard before. I've always worked hard for myself and for my teammates. I don't think it will really change. That's it, and I will continue what I have done, improve and refine the process. "
Efforts so far have not led to victory or personal success. Perhaps Jones needs to work harder. He rejects the concept.
"I think I spent a lot of effort and time," Jones said. "It's my life. It's all about football and my work. That's how I make decisions. I don't know how it will change or I can work harder. I'm more. I think there is a way you can work wisely, you learn it. Maybe you work another way and put it in another bucket. "
What you get and what you get and it What deserves is often not linked. Does Jones believe in his mind that all his efforts will ultimately lead him to the desired result?
"Yes, I believe it," he said. "I always believe that you get what you get and get results. What you are doing, how hard you are working, and how much you care. Trust me. I think there's anything that can lead to success. "
If the Giants were protecting Daniel Jones as hard as they were to protect Daniel Jones' privacy, the franchise would be. Will increase. He was almost immediately accepted by his teammates in 2019. The young player, close to 40, was involved with him in a more natural way than trying to partner with Manning, who married four children. When Jones evades the media, his bandwidth is significantly weaker. He is polite, always polite, cautious, and tolerant without expanding himself or his conversation. For two years, COVID-19 restrictions closed the changing rooms and kept the media out of the way.
After off-season work, Jones recently agreed to sit away from the team facility on Saturday morning. He arrived immediately at 10:30 am and said he had no plans for the next hour. You can do anything, whether it's off-recording or off-recording.
Shortly away from the apartment, he picked up a large glass bottle of water from the cooler box and ordered a small coffee-flavored drink. He was not recognized by the barista behind the counter, and if someone identified him as a Giants quarterback, they retained that knowledge to themselves. When Jones wasn't ready for a drink in about five minutes, he softly asked about the timing. As soon as the full plastic cup arrived, it looked almost thimble-sized with his big right hand.
He was immediately curious. Where does he live, how was his ride quality, and how much has he covered the Giants? wife. Kids. Which university did you attend?
At a two-person table, Jones sat down, put his phone down, and occasionally glanced at it. But he wasn't distracted by making this time valuable to both of us.
Does this weigh on you?
Jones knows what "this" means.
"Lack of success. Well, yeah, that puts a lot of strain on me," he said. "If you spend a lot of time and effort on something and you don't see the results, it's difficult when you're doing something. Playing soccer in the NFL or playing soccer in New York. I think it has a lot of weight. I and the whole team feel it and try as hard as I can to avoid this situation in the future. Yes, it weighs heavily on me. "
Giants Co-owner John Mara in late January Famously said, "I did everything I could to ruin this kid because he was here," on the day Shane was introduced as the new general manager — "this kid." Is Jones. This reached Jones very quickly and he had an important strategy for navigating: agreeing with the most influential members of the franchise or telling the story that he was treated poorly. I refuse to agree. Jones chose the latter.
"I don't know if that surprised me," he said. "I don't know. I think it's a mistake for me ... I feel completely responsible for how I played and it's a mistake to feel different. We won't win. Hmm. Not only do I need to win the game, I don't play. Looking back, I have to be honest with myself and honest with myself. That's what I improve. It's the only way and we're going to improve.''
It's difficult to measure Jones' improvement. His touchdown and intercept ratio as a rookie. Was 24-12 and was fully accepted. The ratio was 11-10 in 2020 and 10-7 in 2021. His fumble, which is an obvious problem in the first year, is from 19. Reduced from 10 to 7. However, its improved ball security caused aproblem. The aggression he showed in 2019 was similar to the fear of seizing the opportunity. Hesitated to rip the ball because it evolved into
As long as Jones admits a bad move, this is a bad move — a terrible attack line, with three head coaches in four years. Five attack coordinators, injuries to his main target-he was dealt with, making it easy, "he said. "At the same time, comparing your path and situation to the successes of others and the failures of others is also a recipe for disasters. Everyone will take a different path, and everyone will. You will experience different situations. It is your job to make it work and to keep track of your situation.
"What I can't control, the energy and effort you worry about them. And waste time. I think my situation has many advantages. I've learned a lot of football, looked at it differently, and heard different coaches and different philosophies. It depends on how you look at it, but it helps you to be positive and grow. ”
Jones has a girlfriend who lives in Manhattan. It's a waste of time to scrutinize his social media to find his night photos in towns and beaches. Sure, Jones has Twitter and Instagram accounts, but his followers should look at the blank wall instead of sitting and scanning the actions of those accounts. A recent check revealed that Instagram has 228,000 followers and has posted only 7 times. He has been on Twitter since March 2014 and has only 71,000 followers. Soon he will be overtaken by a rookie outside linebacker Kayvon Thibode (67,100). Saquon Barkley has 470,500 followers.
"I have it. I've never been inspired by posting a lot or posting very aggressively," Jones said.
During the season, Jones will be completely logged off. During the off-season, he checks it from time to time — monitor his friends and keep news and trends reasonably up-to-date.
"I'm certainly looking for any kind of football Twitter Giants No conversation, "Jones said. "It can be distracting."
Jones often smiled during the conversation, and after one of those bright moments, he said: In fact, there aren't many pictures of you that look cheerful. Most of the shots behind his podium reveal expressions of concern and sometimes even sadness after games and practice.
He grinned.
"Honestly, most of these conversations happen when you're unsuccessful after the game. It's hard to smile in that situation," Jones said. .. "I don't think you're surprised. In honor, I don't think the player's favorite job is to stand on the podium and answer questions. But that's certainly an important part of the job. Yes, I understand that. "
What he shared next did not mean rudeness.
"Honestly, I don't know if you like me, hate me, I think I'm bad, I think I'm good," Jones said. "I don't know."
He said he hadn't read anything written about himself. So far. Limit.
"Most of the emotions I get from reporters come from trying to convey the questions I got on the podium and who is asking what kind of question. I think it makes sense, "he said.
There are examples of him being accused of being intercepted, not because of him, but when he wasn't worthy of it, he got hot. He categorically refused to correct the false story that swirls about him.
"There is always something like that," Jones said. "I don't think it's always my job to protect yourself, get out there, correct people, say things you don't like, and say your thoughts. When you start worrying about it, you Get into trouble.
"You need to be able to hear it and understand that people don't understand the situation. They don't know you. Importantly, your teammates are you. It's important that you know and your coach knows you and respects you. That's important. "
Jones prefers to be under the radar, but with him Even recognizing the charm of big cities and their surroundings. "Yes, it's a great place to live and be a young man," Jones said.
When you're holding the handle of a winning team, it's a great place to live and become a young man. This avoided him and he tried not to stick to it.
"I'm certainly thinking of becoming one of the most successful Giants teams to remember, affectionately look back on," Jones said. "Yes, I think it's natural to think."
The next bragging or self-promotional claim from Jones comes first. Still, he claimed, "I am very confident in what I can do, the ability to play that position, and the ability to lead the group." I don't think it has changed based on our results or lack of success.
His confidence that Jones feels deep in his core doesn't match the downbeat aura from the trends he shoots.
I don't know if it helps,'' he said. "Building relationships with teammates, connecting with teammates, respecting them, and respecting you are probably essential to winning the game.
At the facility when the 2007 and 2011 Giants team players who won the Super Bowl visited, Jones had to sound as if they were from another universe with glory. Listen to the story of awkwardness.
"Yes, there is no place like New York City. There is nothing they say about winning in New York," Jones said. "Yes, I think it's fun."
Winning can change players and people. Jones is determined that even if the fate of the giant improves, it will not change.
"No, I don't think so," he said. "I don't want to be anything other than myself now."
Jones tidied up the table, faithfully disposed of empty cups and glass bottles, thanked Chat and headed. Get out in the bright sunshine.
