New York Giants CEO John Mara told reporters on Tuesday that rookie quarterback Daniel Jones is “everything we thought he would be,” but at the same time said he hopes Eli Manning has a great year and “Daniel never sees the field.”
Mara was on hand at the team’s training camp session (the last one open to the public) to announce the Giants’ partnership with Investors Bank and stopped to speak with the growing throng of Giants reporters.
“That would be an ideal world. We’d like to see that,” a smiling Mara continued. “Again, at the end the day it’s going to be the decision by the head coach when or if Daniel ends up playing this year.”
Asked if he’d be pleased if Jones doesn’t play a snap this season, Mara was upbeat.
“I’d be very happy about that. It means that we’re having a great year and Eli’s having a great year,” he said.
Mara has been more than patient with the progress of his team, which has experienced five losing seasons over the past six years and has seen its share of controversy and bad press along with several high level departures.
“You don’t like to see all that talent go out the door, but let’s face it, we had one winning season in 2016 and the other five or six years have not been so good,” Mara said.
The good news is that Mara has increased faith in general manager Dave Gettleman after two sound drafts.
Mara also revealed that his seven year-old grandson asked him if Odell Beckham Jr. could still be his favorite player even though he is no longer with the Giants. Mara said he could. It’s hard to say no to grandkids.
