Giants icon discusses team's controversial handling of QB Daniel Jones

Individuals such as NFL reporter Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports said after the New York Giants fell to 2-7 on the season via Sunday's 27-22 loss to the rival Washington Commanders (7-2) that Giants head coach Brian Daboll should bench quarterback Daniel Jones so that the club can move on from Jones in March 2025. 

Daboll nevertheless confirmed on Monday that he plans to start Jones when the Giants face the 2-7 Carolina Panthers in Germany this coming Sunday. Giants icon and current NFL analyst Tiki Barber later explained during the WFAN afternoon show why he agrees with Daboll's handling of a delicate situation. 

"You can’t just concede losing," Barber said, as shared by Ryan Chichester of Audacy. "You can’t just say, 'I’m gonna put us in a worse position to try and win football games.'" 

Barber was referencing how Daboll believes Jones gives the Giants a better chance to defeat the Panthers than either primary backup Drew Lock or undrafted 2023 rookie Tommy DeVito. 

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio previously wondered if the Giants could turn to DeVito as soon as this week if only to get some looks at the 26-year-old who won three of his first four starts last season. 

Whether or not Jones is to blame for the fact the Giants have gone 3-12 in games he's started since he signed a four-year contract in March 2023 is now irrelevant. He has a worrisome history of neck-related injuries, suffered a torn ACL last November and routinely takes punishing hits each game. Thus, Vacchiano and others think the Giants must sit a healthy Jones now so they can avoid triggering the injury guarantee for 2025 attached to his contract. 

While it seems unlikely that Jones will play well enough through Week 18 to earn another season with the Giants, Barber indicated that Daboll cannot yet actively punt on the rest of the ongoing campaign. Some think that team co-owner John Mara could part ways with Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen if the Giants end the season near or in the basement of the overall league standings. 

"What the Giants can’t do is put themselves more in no-man’s land," Barber continued. "They’re kind of there now because you know that Daniel Jones is likely not here for the future, but he still gives you the best chance to win. And Brian Daboll still wants to win. He’s coaching to try and win football games."

As of Monday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Giants as five-point favorites over the Panthers.