The New York Giants, significantly quarterback Daniel Jones, took all types of hits in a season-opening blowout towards the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. A lot in order that some on the Vikings’ sideline apparently felt unhealthy for the passer.
Throughout an interview on Minneapolis’ KFAN 100.3, Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard mentioned the feelings his teammates felt as they held Jones to 186 yards on 22-of-42 passing, picked him off twice and sacked him 5 occasions in his personal stadium. The Vikings received 28-6.
Giants followers weren’t quiet with their displeasure, and the Vikings heard it as properly. In response to Greenard, they felt each satisfaction and pity:
“We heard the boos raining in there, we had been like, ‘OK, now we’re good on our facet,’ however once they acquired actually loud, to the place it was as loud as a 3rd down needs to be once they’re on protection, it was type of unhealthy.
“We type of began to really feel a bit bit unhealthy for him as we’re nonetheless simply utterly taking away every little thing that he needs to do. Hey, it is good to be on the opposite facet of it, and it is our job to not be on that facet of it.”
Greenard stated he has some understanding of what Jones and the Giants are going by way of. Earlier than signing a four-year, $76 million contract with the Vikings final offseason, Greenard turned a standout for the Houston Texans.
The Texans went a mixed 11-38 in Greenard’s first three seasons in Houston earlier than breaking by way of with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud final season.
Stated Greenard:
“I have been in Houston previously for 4 years, the place I have been part of that. I have been a part of these boos if you’re strolling on the sector and your offense does not make something occur. You’d assume it is an away sport at this level. However at the moment, you know the way we had been attacking him and understanding the place he is at in his profession based mostly on clearly the scheme that he has, regardless of the contract issues occurring.
“So we perceive he is coping with loads, and if we will add one other side of stress onto the man to make him velocity up his reads a bit bit extra, make it possible for he is not gonna get assured and cozy again within the pocket, man, it was an important feeling to see it on the primary couple of drives.”
The Giants have gone a mixed 22-37-1 with Jones after drafting him sixth total in 2019. Some questioned if the crew would transfer on final offseason after a disastrous 2023 season, however the Giants opted towards drafting one other QB with 2024’s sixth total decide, as an alternative giving Jones a brand new weapon in vast receiver Malik Nabers.
Shifting away from Jones’ four-year, $160 million contract signed in March 2023 was all however unattainable final offseason. It will not be so laborious subsequent spring, when chopping him would save the crew $19.4 million in cap area with $22.2 million in useless cash, per OverTheCap.
If the remainder of this season is something just like the season opener, Giants followers might be hoping for their very own Stroud within the 2025 NFL Draft.
