Defenses of Giants QB Daniel Jones continue after 49ers' jabs

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones continues to receive support from teammates and other individuals after he found himself on the receiving end of physical and verbal shots during and after the 30-12 loss at the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 21. 

"There is going to be a story somehow, some way," star running back Saquon Barkley told ESPN's Jordan Raanan for a piece published Monday. "He's the quarterback of the New York Giants. It's tough when it comes to the media side of it. The way that he is, anyone who knows Daniel closely or is just able to observe him from the outside, the type of person he is, his work ethic, it's built him for the moment."

As has been the case throughout pockets of his career, Jones' pass protection betrayed him throughout the defeat against San Francisco that featured the 26-year-old completing 22-of-32 passes for just 137 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. In post-game comments shared by Michael Silver of The San Francisco Chronicle, 49ers players ripped Jones for not wanting "to throw the ball" in the Week 3 matchup, and some blasted the Giants for signing the 2019 first-round draft pick in March to a four-year contract worth up to $160M. 

Jones was in the final year of his rookie deal when he guided the Giants to a playoff win at the Minnesota Vikings in January. Teammates such as wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins and backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor defended Jones ahead of this past weekend, and receiver Sterling Shepard insisted the fifth-year pro has not lost anybody inside Big Blue's locker room ahead of the "Monday Night Football" game between 1-2 New York and the 2-1 Seattle Seahawks held at MetLife Stadium. 

"Nobody in here gives a s--- about all the outside stuff or what the outside thinks because they don't know what it's like to be in this position," Shepard said about Jones. "It doesn't make no sense to listen to that stuff."

According to ESPN stats, Jones entered Monday ranked 26th in the NFL among qualified players with a 44.5 adjusted QBR and seventh among quarterbacks with 107 rushing yards this season. He tossed two touchdown passes and four interceptions over his first three games. 

"He doesn't need to apologize that he had his best year in a time when they needed to redo [his contract]," former NFL quarterback and current analyst Tim Hasselbeck said about Jones. "That is not your fault. You don't need to apologize for that. There is no question [the money] is part of [the criticism], but I would also argue for him to play the way he did last year, not everyone can do that."

Reporters and insiders routinely mention the Giants theoretically could move on from Jones' contract as soon as after the 2024 season. He'll need to keep such chatter out of his mind as he attempts to prove doubters wrong for a second consecutive campaign.