Future Hall of Fame quarterback and current FOX Sports analyst Tom Brady commented on Daniel Jones' situation during Thursday afternoon's broadcast of the New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys game.
“I don't know how the whole situation unfolded, but to think that you're asking for a layoff from a team that's very committed to you is perhaps different to the way I would have handled it.” said Brady. via the New York Post.
That's easy for Brady to say. His career is virtually diametrically opposed to Jones'. Brady was a late pick who rose to stardom in a stable, competent organization that competed for championships.
Jones was a top draft pick who burned through three head coaches and multiple coordinators in six seasons. He struggled to stay healthy and carve out his niche as the team let him down at almost every turn.
When the Giants informed Jones that he would no longer play and would not just lose his starting job, he asked what he could do to help the team. At practice that day, he was seen playing on the scout team's secondary team. He was also willing to help the others in the quarterback room.
That would only last a few days as he realized his best course of action was an early exit. He requested his release and received it last Friday.
“I always felt like I wanted to earn the trust and respect of my teammates no matter the situation because I knew I was trying to do my best for the team because that was the most important thing,” Brady continued.
Jones had the trust and respect of the team. Many of his teammates publicly questioned the organization's treatment of him.
Unfortunately, Brady only saw how things turned out for Jones, skipping the six-year saga that turned him from promising rookie to impossible veteran.
“Different things just happen in the NFL,” Brady admitted.
But then he went back to what he would have done, which is irrelevant.
“Everyone makes individual decisions. I think we all face different challenges at certain points in our careers. “I faced them in college – some things didn’t go my way, but the people that mattered most to me were the guys in the locker room,” Brady said.
“I showed up every day – I didn’t care if they asked me to be the scout team safety and scout team quarterback, I did what I could to help the team win. “
Ah, but Brady was never in that situation as a pro. His career progressed gratifyingly in New England and then in Tampa. He was never booed, dismissed and ridiculed as incessantly as Jones.
Daniel Jones did leave the Giants, but only after they let him go.
