Daniel Jones is a Broken Man Over the Giants Failed Attempt to Land Drake Maye
Boston Globe. Getty Images.It's stating the obvious, but I'll state it anyway. Nothing is guaranteed. Everything is a risk. Caveat emptor. Let the buyer beware. You pays your money, you takes your chances. As Sinatra sang, you're riding high in April, shot down in May. That's life.
But in all that uncertainty, nothing will take away your buyer's remorse like the sheer joy of somebody else's crushing disappointment. When you break someone's heart because they wanted what you just got, you know you made the right decision. It could be as small as your dinner coming and someone else at the table is sorry they didn't get what you ordered. Or the guy behind you in the Fantasy draft pissed off you took the player he was about to grab. And it can be as huge and life-changing as getting your offer accepted on a house just before someone else was about to swoop in and buy it.
Bigger still, it can be landing the Franchise Quarterback you desperately need, in the knowledge that other teams were dying to draft him. To put all their hopes for a bright future in his powerful hands.
Fortunately, the Patriots wouldn't budge on the Giants puny, insulting offer of the No. 6 pick and their 1st next year in exchange for the QB1 of their dreams. Nor did they draft Michael Penix. Instead, settling for a great receiver prospect in Malik Nabers. Thus kicking the QB can down the road and creating an awkward situation where they're forced to stick with Daniel Jones, despite their obvious vote of No Confidence in him.
And Jones is understandably shook:
If you remember, there's a Twilight Zone episode (based on a Rod Serling short story) in which a suburban street filled with nice families who all get along with each other gets a warning that the missiles are in the air and they have minutes before their idyllic Anytown, USA existence gets zapped into a flattened radioactive wasteland. One of the families was prepared for this possibility because dad built a fully stocked fallout shelter under the house. Chaos ensues as all his friends and neighbors beg him to let them in too, or else they'll all end up microwaved. And just as they're ready to condemn each other to a hot nuclear death, the news comes over the radio that the reports were false. World War III isn't happening. Go back to your lives, citizens. Except now they all have to do so with the knowledge of what they really think of each other when it all goes to hell.
That's a bit of what it's like for the Giants right now. And for Jones in particular. "Look buddy, we were just desperately trying to move on from you. Even willing to give up two very high draft picks just to replace you with a 21-year-old who's never played a snap in league. It's only because we have so little faith you'll ever amount to anything. No hard feelings, though. Now let's get back to work, shall we? Being one of the worst offenses in the NFL again awaits!"
It would take a heart of stone not to laugh.
Listen, on some level, I can relate. The quarterback I pinned all my hopes and dreams on didn't make it to the end of his third season. And they traded him to Jacksonville for an Amazon gift card. Fortunately for me and all of New England, but mostly me:
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… the Mac Jones replacement the Patriots wanted fell right into their laps. It's just an added side benefit to know the Giants wanted him too. As did Minnesota. And knowing that their failed attempt to force the Pats' hand is creating tension in that organization is just an extra added bonus. The idea that Daniel Jones has to show up every day to work with the very people who wanted him gone while New England got the QB1 we needed is better than getting five 1st rounders for that pick. Now if this dynamic can make the 2024 Giants tear each other apart like the families in that Twilight Zone, going 4-13 last year will have been worth it.