New York Giants fans know all too well what the Daniel Jones experience entails — almost always more bad than good. It’s why the team chose to eat $69 million in dead cap just to get rid of him. That’s $69 million... to not play football.
Jones then made his way to Minnesota to link up with Kevin O'Connell before eventually becoming a free agent. He had a few suitors, but ultimately chose to take his talents to the Indianapolis Colts, where he knew there was an open competition for the starting job with Anthony Richardson.
And on Tuesday, he officially won it. His new head coach, Shane Steichen, explained the decision with one of the softest justifications you’ll ever hear. Tell the fans you’re not convinced without telling them: “I think he’s a veteran guy that has been around the block, and seen a few things, and seeing how he interacts with his teammates and how they have taken to him, and how he’s taken to them.”
Colts HC Shane Steichen gives laughable reason for naming Daniel Jones the starting QB
It doesn’t get much safer than that. Talk about tiptoeing around a decision. So Steichen didn’t make the call based on how well Jones has been playing in camp or preseason, just that he’s seen a few things. I’ve seen things. Does that mean I could play QB in Indy?
Seriously, what an outrageous reason to pick the 28-year-old over Richardson. This feels like more of an indictment of the third-year, former No. 4 overall pick than anything. Through two seasons, the former Florida Gator has completed 50.6% of his passes for 2,391 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. It’s hard to find a quarterback with worse numbers. Enter No. 17 (formerly No. 8).
Colts fans are already getting their own Danny Dimes experience... and it’s not even Week 1.
It started when the team surprisingly signed Jones to a one-year, $14 million deal. The idea was that the veteran would come in and compete with Richardson. Then Steichen called him an “ultimate pro,” which might be the most backhanded compliment out there. Next came the first unofficial depth chart, where fans got hit with the infamous “OR.” And now, Jones has officially been named the starter... because he’s played football before. Save some for the rest of us.
A head coach is never going to say he’s not feeling any of his quarterbacks. So Steichen did the next best thing: give the most vanilla answer possible and hope nobody asks follow-ups. If this is how the Colts are making decisions, don’t be shocked when they end up right where the Giants were.
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