Former NFL QB rips Giants' Daniel Jones after Seahawks debacle

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/3/23

Former NFL quarterback and current "The NFL Today" analyst Boomer Esiason didn't like what he saw from or heard about New York Giants signal-caller Daniel Jones during the Giants' 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night.

"Daniel Jones is like walking around, and I’m like, 'Come on,'" Esiason said during Tuesday's edition of the WFAN morning show, per Ryan Chichester of Audacy. "I know when a quarterback is kind of disconnected and not playing well, and it affects the rest of the team. Last night was a typical Daniel Jones middling, no spirit, no fight, no type of leadership game."

Jones' offensive line betrayed him throughout Monday's blowout that included the quarterback taking a remarkable 10 sacks, but he also lost a fumble deep in New York territory, tossed an inexcusable pick-six that essentially put the game to bed and failed to see open wide receivers on multiple occasions.

According to ESPN stats, Jones ended Week 4 ranked 27th in the NFL among qualified players with a 37.0 adjusted QBR and 33rd with a 69.7 passer rating on the season. No quarterback tossed more interceptions than Jones (six) across the campaign's first four weeks.

Those running the Giants knew long before they signed Jones to a four-year contract in March that could be worth up to $160M that the 26-year-old is a cool customer who doesn't wear his emotions on his sleeve. Esiason suggested Tuesday morning that Jones needs to show more energy on gamedays with the Giants at 1-3 and seemingly spiraling toward the basement of the overall league standings.

"The quarterback has got to be the engine," Esiason explained. "When you give a guy $41M a year, you cannot have a quarterback back there who is afraid to throw the ball or is hesitant in any way, shape, or form."

Ahead of Monday's matchup at MetLife Stadium, multiple Giants players defended Jones and insisted he wasn't in danger of losing the locker room. Esiason wasn't buying such takes after Monday night and hinted head coach Brian Daboll may no longer be sold on his quarterback:

"They were talking about Daniel Jones, and Brian Daboll says, 'I am always up, I am always into it, I have the energy. I just have to get him going,'" Esiason said about a conversation that aired during the ESPN broadcast of Monday's game, per Chichester. "Did the head coach just say he needs to get his quarterback going, who they paid $41M to? That tells me there are frustrations behind the scenes."

While the Giants technically can escape Jones' contract after the 2024 season, he isn't going anywhere anytime soon. He'll look to turn things around when Big Blue plays at the 3-1 Miami Dolphins this coming Sunday.

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