Giants legend names 'worst thing' Daniel Jones can do during pivotal season

Much-maligned quarterback Daniel Jones recently insisted that the New York Giants have "a better team" than they did at this point last September and "certainly plan to play in the playoffs" regardless of what critics think about the club's roster.

During an appearance on the WFAN "Boomer and Gio" program, Giants legend and NFL analyst Phil Simms sugge sted that how Jones handles inevitable struggles this fall will determine if the 27-year-old is still with the organization next summer.

"Just go out there and do it," Simms said about Jones, as shared by Lou DiPietro of Audacy. "If you sit on the bench and think, 'Oh God, I already made a mistake, I gotta be careful,' that's the worst thing you can do. (Legendary coach) Bill Parcells would always say it's not a game for perfection , so you gotta go out there and you got to play right to the edge, and you gotta learn where that is so you don't fall off the cliff, and play that way because that's when you're at your best."

After Jones tossed a pair of ugly interceptions in his 2024 preseason debut, Giants head coach Brian Daboll made it known he plans to "keep pushing the ball down the field" during games following the departure of star running back Saquon Barkley. Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen gave Jones promising wide receiver Malik Nabers via the sixth overall pick of this year's draft, and the hope is that Nabers will prove to be a home-run hitter beginning with this Sunday's regular-season opener against the Minnesota Vikings.

It was reported in early September that one reason Daboll will serve as New York's primary offensive play-caller is that he understands he could be fired in January "if things go south." Meanwhile, it's no secret the Giants could escape Jones' contract next offseason if he either suffers another brutal injury or disappoints with his play.

"...If you play quarterback in the NFL and you're in there long enough, you're gonna have stretches where the fans, the media and all that, they're coming after you, and you just got to be tough enough to fight through it and not let it affect you," Simms said. "Easy to say and hard to do, sometimes, because when it starts going bad, it just gets louder and louder, and you got to block it out."

As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed New York as a two-point underdog for Sunday's home game against Minnesota. How Jones and Co. block such noise out could determine if the Giants shock doubters and compete for a playoff berth.