yesterday
Joe Shane new GM and before I got to
any discussion about their draft picks and they had some
fascinating draft picks, that we will discuss in a moment.
I wanted
to ask him some specific and direct questions about
the Daniel Jones option because I'm still fascinated by the thought
process that goes into. He's our guy, he's our guy, this is
our guy, you have to have a quarterback.
We have a good one.
We 50-year option.
I'm kind of full. I'm kind of full from the risotto. Like,
I'm
no, no, thanks,
and I'm, I don't know how you reconcile the two. I don't know
how I did because if he's your guy
22 million in all that much
for one more year,
22 isn't all that much. And if he does really well,
you're looking at, I think 34 million
franchise tag next year. So, I'm fascinated by the decision
to not
Pick up the option for Daniel Jones.
Here's some of the conversation I had yesterday with Joe. Shane
about that decision to not
extend Jones contract for one more season.
Yeah, the the 22 million. I mean that's that's a large
number. But again, we're excited about working with
Daniel. We're happy where he is, it. This is an indictment
on who Daniel is is as a person or anything like that, what
we're really happy with what Daniel has done for us
throughout the process. When we had him over the three months,
getting to know him and being in the building for four weeks
now, and the offseason.
Program and we like everything he's doing, we're excited to
work with him. We just thought that was the best decision
right now, for, for where we are moving forward again. We're
excited to work with them. We you know, we've upgraded
the offensive line. We'd like some of the weapons that we have
around him. And again, we want to see Daniel be able to put
his best foot forward. And I think we've done that this
offseason, but
that decision was just what was best for us right now.
There was more there too. I kept after him on a couple of
things. And at one point, I asked if it wasn't guaranteed
fully at exercise, if this was pre 2020.
Yeah, and it was guaranteed for injury. Only would you have
picked it up and I got the Feeling hadn't, really thought
about that, and he said, he didn't want to deal in
hypotheticals. And right. I think they would have picked it
up. I think so. Yeah, that makes sense.
Yeah, they did a calculation that, and as I've said, I said
before, and I've written this at PFT, what they did is they
bet against Daniel Jones.
We talk all the time about a player who bets on himself.
They bet against him,
they bet
that he's not going to be good enough. That they'll say, we're
glad
we have this 22 million dollar commitment. I also asked him
about whether or not they looked at other situations as
cautionary, tales, whether it's the Brows with Baker, Mayfield.
The Panthers are Sam. Donald.
Do you look back at the
Bears with Mitchell to Biscay, who didn't pick up the 50 or
option. And we're happy that they didn't because
he didn't play well enough in that fourth year for them to
even think twice about keeping him around The Following
season. And he said that, that really wasn't any of it. Looked
at their tribe.
I also asked him.
Are you just thinking this is
a carrot that you're dangling for him to have a big season.
They're happy. If he has a big season good problem to have, he
agreed with me. It's a good problem to have.
He said, no, he doesn't Extra motivation. So I'm just
fascinated by this because at its core. This is a team that
is not willing to bet 22 million dollars
on avoiding the possibility of having to pay 34 because they
don't think he's going to be good enough that they're going
to look at 22 million for 2023 and say,
we're happy that that's all we're paying. Our starting
quarterback is 22, million is not that much for starting
quarterback. All right, that's what fascinates him plucks. You
know, it's that's where it is. I don't think it's betting
against, I think that's a little harsh. Harsh to
say that that betting against the guy they're running a good
business. They're doing something smarter hedging their
hedging, right? Well it listen. It's still 22 million dollars.
All right, that's three starting players on your team,
you know, so you got to, you got to make sure
he is that guy to go forward,
you know, there are the cautionary tales like you
explained. I mean, whether it's going to be five, starting
players on your team if you have to franchise tag, well,
okay. All right. Well, they're willing to take that but they
don't know yet.
They want him to be that guy.
I want them to be the franchise guy and to have to pay him 35
million. That's why they drafted him there. He's it's
a little bit like Jalen hurts in the discussion. I least in my
opinion of just going what he checks the box and so many
areas
and really in some of the areas where we don't check the box.
Yeah, he's been at fault, but damn, have we and Dave
gettleman done. Absolutely crap to help him out. So that's
where it's like, I don't think, they not even sure
how good he can be yet. That's
There's a unanswered part there
and I think that's fair and I know we've talked about this
a lot and you and me and I know you agree with me in a lot of
ways
it is, it's hard to get a feel. I know he hasn't been perfect,
but it's been three offensive coordinators. And as I tell
everybody up here in New York, like it wasn't just a bad
offense. Align. It wasn't just bad. That's where people are
there.
Everyone's just as well as a bad offensive line. Like it was
one of the 10 worst. No, it was absolutely the worst
like not even Close, there's not another team in
the discussion for how bad their offensive lines been the last
few years.
So that's where
you know, they want him to be the guy. I think I do not know
but they got to see and it's a new coaching staff and he's got
to prove it to them and the new GM to that. He's the guy to
there.
And I think that plays into the fact of also why
you don't give them that, you know, guaranteed money two
years down the road.
I'll be posting after the show the full interview at pfft. You
can find it now. Although we would prefer that you not. Go
look for it. Now at the youtube.com /, NBC Sports Page,
watch the show.
I'll take care of you afterward. I promise. I'll go
have my coffee. I got a big sugar cookie. My wife bought me
the other day. It'll require me to take a nap by 10:30. But
before then I'll post about Shane's comments because
he lit up. He lit up right when I use the
good problem to have phrase, right? Have Jones has a big
fourth year and they have to deal with it next year. He said
it's a good problem to have. You've also got the franchise
tag. If you needed a year from now,
that's a gamble.
I'd say it's an eight million dollar gamble or your test or
you're talking to his representatives and you're
trying to get an extension and he pointed out that
Jones is represented by the same guys who represent Josh
Allen. So
they worked with Josh Allen right. When
Shane was in Buffalo,
he believes that they'll be able Able
to work something out. Long-term
if Jones has big ear, but here's the reality. Here's how
it works. Very simple analysis. Yeah, if you have to tag,
the guy, the tag number drives, the contract
the tag number determines,
what the contracts going to be. That's the starting point, and
if he has a really good year.
He may want more than the tag is the starting point. He may
say put me right in the middle of 40 to 50 million. Put me at
45 43, 42, who knows. Salary cap keeps going haywire,
but I still think he's had eight. That would put
the franchise tag at 30 franchise tag for quarterback was 29.
This year's, no way. It's only going to be 30 next year
because it's driven by the increase in the cap. I think
it's going to be 33 34 million
next year. So it's about a 12 million get. It's at least
a ten million dollar Gamble and they're happy to lose it right
there. They will be thrilled. If Daniel Jones plays so well
that they got to pay 33 34 million,
but but they avoid
the problem.
Of a year from now being the team. That's trying to offload.
Daniel Jones and his 22 million dollar fully guaranteed salary.
Like the Browns are trying to do, right? And the Panthers
have get Panthers. The Panthers aren't even trying. They know.
There's no point, right? They know it. There's no, we're
just keeping this guy.
No one's touching Sam. Donald for all or part of 18.8. So
we're just going to keep it. Yeah. No, you're exactly right.
And I think that's why, that's why it's good business.
You know, that's and I understand like your it is.
Fascinating because we don't see quarterbacks in this spot
that much and still the vibe in the talk is positive about
Daniel Jones out of New York. So it, I understand how you
think it's fascinating
because it is, it's
they say all the right things and then over in this corner,
you're like, wait, but they're not doing the right thing by
him financially. Well, okay.
Alright. Well, they, you know, we explained it, we talked
about it. There's there's issues there and I think it is
smart, buy them, especially with the new regime in there to
get a feel for the guy and nobody.
He is. And I was listening to Brian Day ball yesterday was
talking about Daniel Jones and he still getting a feel for
what he likes offensively and he wants them to have
ownership. So
they're getting that bind and
on that Bond and then hopefully
it shows on the football field
and he can prove he's the guy or he can get the money,
you know, to back up that he's the guy but
I really think just from
even being in the Giants building last year for one day
during a training camp, talking to a lot of the coaches there
over the last few years. And they think Daniel Jones is
the man
and a lot of ways, they really do
so II. This is a guy that yeah, they're doing this business
wise, but I think they're really rooting for and want
them to be, you know, the face of their franchise for years to
come.
And to you know, I don't think even if he has an amazing year
this year.
I don't think it'll be enough still to go. I want 45 million
dollars a year or anything like that. And I think there's
there's still
line of demarcation there that you know, you gotta go more
than just one year. Flash pan thing here to get that kind of
money. At least. That would be my two cents. Yeah, maybe not.
I know I shall. And didn't you three.
Well, I shall and ascended enough in year 3 and get
himself to the top of the market. His first two years,
didn't, his first two years, were better than Daniel Jones.
First. Three though. Thank you. And that's what
people, wait. I hear this a lot. And I'm glad you probably this
year to Josh Allen through 20 touchdowns and 10
interceptions. And they went to the playoffs and he was Russian
for. He almost broke the record for 100-yard games, rushing in
a row,
as a quarterback. So,
there's a difference that was rookie year. Now, the second
year he didn't have their that wasn't happy either way. Second
year was 20 and 10 and they went to the playoffs. I know
that. So, yeah, but he was really good as a rookie to was
really good as a room was, we saw that we saw some stuff
Daniel Jones.
Not to that extent. We've seen some stuff here,
but now hopefully he's got some support and an offensive play
caller. Like Josh Allen did that can put him in a spot to
really show all the skills he has and hopefully can
wear. I was getting to as it was blabbering is
Daniel. Jones is the key to all this the fact that they know
he's mature enough professional enough and I think we're
listening enough to understand the scenario. He's in, that's
what makes this all possible and be able to be smooth.
That's where I was getting to him. Sorry, I'm blond. It's
early.
And I couldn't get to it.
Yeah, it wasn't that bad. I trust me. I've sat I sat here.
Through were set up wondering. What the hell is he trying to
say,
but you're right. You're right. And they don't think he's going
to be flustered by the fact that that he's
not guaranteed the fifth year and he said himself, he's got
responsibility for the way things have gone so far in his
career so that they do believe in him
and
they have accepted the fact that if he's really really good
this year. It's going to cost them right. But again, it's
a good problem to have. That means they Great quarterback.
If you have a great quarterback, you got to pay
a great quarterback.
They would rather have a great quarterback
and pay a great quarterback.
Then not have a great quarterback
and not pay a great quarterback. And what they're
trying to avoid is the possibility and this is where
I say, they're hedging.
They don't want to be in a situation where they don't have
a great quarterback, but they're paying 22 million.
Yeah, that's what they want to avoid. And it's hard to blame
them. When you look around at other examples. It's hard to
blame them
for that. All right.