Sure, Daniel Jones got paid and that four-year, $160 million contract makes him, unequivocally, the Giants’ franchise quarterback, at the very least for the near term.
Jones is also something else, right now, today: He is the other quarterback in town, a designation thrust upon him the moment Aaron Rodgers arrived as Jets savior after a trade with the Packers.
Jones, as is his wont, brushed off any notion of a pecking order.
It is there, though, even if Jones does not acknowledge it.
“I mean, I feel like DJ’s kind of been counted out the majority of his life,” Saquon Barkley told The Post this week. “He was a walk-on quarterback for Duke, and to get drafted to the New York Giants, everyone thinks he’s not going to be worth a thing, at all. I think he’s silenced all those critics.
“I don’t want to speak for DJ but he’s gonna come in every single day with the same mindset, be the leader that we need. You can see his swagger has grown a little bit more after being involved in the system, understanding the system even better.”
Now hold on there.
Daniel Jones and swagger linked together?
This requires further investigation.
Barkley knew what this sounded like and he smiled. He and Jones are good friends, entering their fifth season as teammates.
Anyone theorizing that Barkley, following his contract negotiation frustrations with the Giants, might be jealous of Jones’ money severely underestimated Barkley’s loyalty.
Barkley realized mentioning swagger and his mostly laconic (at least in public) quarterback was going to prompt follow-up questions.
What does Daniel Jones swagger look like?
“I think it will show, you will see,” Barkley said. “You’ll see when we’re playing games, it’s just the nature of it. I think [wide receiver] Darius Slayton talked about it, we went from [Pat] Shurmur to [Joe] Judge to Dabes [Brian Daboll], there’s really no consistency.
“You get to be under a system for another year, have all the coaches basically come back, that just helps your confidence grow. When your confidence grows you get that swagger.”
Jones has admitted — grudgingly — that he has been more vocal this summer.
Part of that is his enhanced command of the offense in Year 2 under Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka.
Familiarity leads to self-assurance.
Part of that is also Jones feeling secure about his place in the organization now that the financial commitment was made to him.
Whatever the reason, Jones is louder now.
“Yeah, I’d agree with that,” Kafka said. “I think he’s voicing his opinions. That’s a good thing because that means he’s more comfortable with not only just the offense, but just with the guys around him. So, I think that’s all a plus.”
Jones might possess the perfect temperament for what is required of him, as far as his role sharing a market with Rodgers, a mega-star who commands mega-attention.
Jones has said, “I don’t put a whole lot of thought into that” and there is every reason to believe he is telling the truth.
He rarely seems bothered by anything going on outside the walls of the team facility.
Jones, in terms of hype, cannot outshine Rodgers and the Giants are currently in the backseat when it comes to what is driving the football storylines in and around the region encompassing MetLife Stadium.
The Jets, with Rodgers, are the “it” team. The Giants? More like the “what if” team at this point.
“That’s not what really matters,” Barkley said. “What matters is going out there and winning football games. I was a Jets fan growing up so I can see why there’s a lot of buzz going on, having a guy like Aaron Rodgers, the caliber of player that he is, the type of talent he is. They got a good thing going over there. It’s gonna be fun when we get to play ’em in October.
“Can’t get too caught up in that. Whether you’re hyped as a team or you get no love and no one expects you to be in the playoffs, like we were last year, the only thing that matters is coming to work every single day, believing in the system, having that trust that we have in each other as players, as teammates, as brothers and if we continue to have that mindset it doesn’t matter what everyone says or the hype they don’t bring to us or the hype they bring to us if we go out there and take care of business.”
Barkley traded jerseys with Rodgers last season after the Giants defeated the Packers in London.
There was also a jersey swap after the Packers beat the Giants during the 2019 season.
Jones and Barkley do not swap jerseys. They are teammates.
“I’m excited for DJ,” Barkley said. “He’s gonna have a great year. He’s worked really hard. I just want to be a teammate to help him make his job a little easier.”