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Giants GM has clear message on Daniel Jones contract

Posted on by angelo

Daniel Jones on the sidelines

East Rutherford, NJ, Oct. 22, 2023. Giants’ Daniel Jones on the sidelines in the second half. Photo credit: Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

The New York Giants lost Saquon Barkley to a division rival this offseason after playing hardball in contract negotiations with the star running back, and general manager Joe Schoen says there was a very simple reason for that.

On the latest episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” which aired Tuesday night, Schoen discussed the decision not to renew Barkley’s contract in a staff meeting. The general manager pointed out that quarterback Daniels Jones is playing on a four-year, $160 million deal.

“You’re paying this guy $40 million. It’s not to get him to pass the ball to a $12 million guard,” Schoen said, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.

Barkley signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, with $26 million guaranteed. The Giants reportedly offered roughly the same amount per year, though they were unwilling to guarantee as much.

Schoen’s remark may have seemed like a challenge to Jones, but Schoen insisted he still believes in Jones. He also talked about the Giants’ struggles with their offensive line and said that even Patrick Mahomes couldn’t have won games under the circumstances Jones faced.


Warning, the clip contains swear words:





Jones is due $35.5 million guaranteed this season. That huge amount is probably the main reason the Giants are giving him another chance to prove he can win games in the NFL. Some reports indicate the team doesn’t have confidence in Jones, but Schoen at least makes it sound like he doesn’t think so.

Most teams choose not to spend a lot of money on running backs, and the rising cost of a starting quarterback is a big reason why. Many other executives would agree with what Schoen says.