Daniel Jones’s time with the Giants has come to an end.
The organization released him Friday days after announcing he was being benched in favor of third-string Tommy DeVito. Jones met with the media Thursday and gave a 90-second statement that read like a farewell message as he thanked the organization and expressed optimism about his next opportunity.
“The opportunity to play for the New York Giants was truly a dream come true,” Jones said to begin his statement. “I’ve met so many special people and created relationships that will truly last a lifetime.”
The comments proved prophetic. On Friday, team owner John Mara put out a statement: Jones asked for and was granted his release.
Jones has until 4 p.m. ET Monday to clear waivers, which he will likely do because of his contract. Any team that picks up Jones off waivers would be responsible for the $13.8 million he’s guaranteed for the rest of the season. After he clears waivers, Jones is free to sign with any team, and the Giants would pay the rest of his guaranteed salary.
Jones signed a four-year, $160 million extension in March despite coming off an ACL injury and an uneven track record. That contract was fully guaranteed for 2024, but had an injury guarantee only for 2025. Had he failed a physical in March, $23 million of his 2025 salary would have been guaranteed. Jones was willing to waive his injury guarantee if it meant he could keep playing, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, who said the Giants wouldn’t agree to Jones’s conditions given how he was performing. The team will still face a dead cap charge of $22 million in 2025.
Though Jones is no longer a Giant, the team was invested in defending him to the very end.
A day before the former first-round pick was cut, ESPN’s Elle Duncan roasted Jones in a short SportsCenter segment.
“You guys think he had this saved in his notes since like 2020?” Duncan said of Jones’s emotional farewell. “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 reviving my career as Brock Purdy’s backup. The end.”
Hours later, veteran Giants communications executive Pat Hanlon ripped the segment. “That an ESPN personality would mock Daniel Jones’ statement today is mind boggling,” Hanlon wrote. “Given what has happened at that company over past few years, tone deaf.”
On Friday morning, Stephen A. Smith strongly implied that the Giants called ESPN executives to complain about Duncan, whom the camera panned to during Smith’s rant.
“You got the nerve to call the offices and complain about somebody who went on national television to do their job,” Smith said. “Why don’t you do your damn job?!”
Both the Giants and ESPN declined to comment.
