New York Giants head coach Joe Judge is not really a rah-rah sort of guy and has certainly shied away from heaping praise on second-year quarterback Daniel Jones this season, leading many to question whether or not a potential change is upcoming.
However, that line of thinking was doused on Wednesday afternoon when Judge threw his full weight behind Jones long-term. The first-year head coach said the 23-year-old has not only earned his respect, but vowed that the organization will build around Jones going forward.
“This guy’s definitely earned my respect. I kind of made it hard on him in a lot of ways, and he didn’t blink,” Judge said emphatically. “He has demonstrated toughness, leadership and knowledge. Daniel Jones is our quarterback.”
Judge’s commitment to Jones extends well beyond 2020. The coach shot down any notion that the team would move on from Jones or seek a potential successor, adding that he fully believes the organization can find success with the former first-round pick under center.
Do these statements mean there’s no chance the Giants draft a QB? Of course not. But Judge’s comments on Jones were a lot stronger than coach-speak.
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) December 23, 2020
This was not a throwaway line from Joe Judge. Doesn't mean Giants won't draft a QB at some point in the future, even in the 2021 draft, but if Judge didn't want to make a statement to validate Jones for 2021, he wouldn't have done it. https://t.co/1GCUaWFgno
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) December 23, 2020
Competition is certainly a possibility, but that’s unlikely to come in the form of a first-round pick. Rather, Judge will seek to boost the talent around Jones in an effort to maximize his potential.
More to come…
