Minicamps and OTAs have dominated headlines for weeks, but for most teams, that phase is over. It's now onto some well-deserved rest before training camp.
Quarterback questions have circled like vultures around the New York Giants' camp, because... duh. Out are Daniel Jones and Drew Lock and in are Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Jaxson Dart. And while that's going to continue to dominate headlines, that doesn't mean fans will just ignore how things are going for their former QBs, especially Jones.
Jones signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts to compete for the starting role with Anthony Richardson. And while Colts head coach Shane Steichen is doing his best to sell Jones’ offseason, fans can read between the lines.
"Very pleased with what we got right now. He’s been doing a helluva job," Steichen told reporters, according to CBS4 Indy. "Really smart football player. Learned the offense very quickly, making really good decisions out there through OTAs. Obviously, we want to carry that over to training camp, but he’s done a really good job. Great command in the huddle. Ultimate pro.’’
Shane Steichen tiptoes around Daniel Jones’ limitations in Colts camp
While the whole quote reads vague and noncommital — that's by design — it's the last two words that cement the safe and practically insulting compliment: Ultimate pro. Might read well on paper, but let's not kid ourselves, It praises Jones without suggesting he’s pushing Richardson or doing anything to rock the boat. It's coach speak.
The quote from Steichen becomes infinitely more interesting when factoring in what Joel A. Erickson of Indy Star said about Jones during minicamp. Erickson all but confirmed Jones is still struggling in the same areas with the Ponies that plagued him with the G-Men. Not exactly shocking.
Jones can't hit open receivers with his deep ball. Unfortunately, it's been the biggest thing holding him back since entering the league. He just needs to be able to make big plays. It's as simple as that. So, when Steichen feeds fans a hearty serving of word salad, hidden underneath all of it is a guy who's still not convinced Jones can do anything other than be a good teammate and locker-room presence... an ultimate pro, one might say.
Listen, being an "ultimate pro" is a good compliment. No one wants to be a bad pro. But Giants fans know this story all too well. Jones was no locker-room cancer. He was a guy who was severely limited as a quarterback. That's why New York let him go. Whether Jones or Richardson becomes the starter is now Indy's problem.
All Big Blue Nation has to worry about now is whether Jaxson Dart can put their Danny Dimes horror stories to bed.