Giants Country

Big Payday Hasn't Changed Giants QB Daniel Jones

Don't expect Daniel Jones to be walking around with a swag now that he's gotten paid.

Patricia Traina

Big Payday Hasn't Changed Giants QB Daniel Jones
Big Payday Hasn't Changed Giants QB Daniel Jones /
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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones might have gone from "Danny Dimes" to Danny Dollars," but his teammates say that he's still the same guy he's always been.

Jones, who cashed in on a four-year, $160 million contract earlier this year, is still very much a workaholic who, if one didn't know any better, was still vying for a new contract. 

"If you know anything about Daniel, that guy is the hardest worker no matter what the situation is," said receiver Sterling Shepard. "I expect him to have the mentality of, I'm going to show everybody why I deserve this money, and I mean, he's always approached the game and practiced day-to-day work with the right mindset. I'm looking forward to seeing him out there balling."

“Daniel is a grinder. He has good traits. I don’t even think he has swag to even begin," added defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, who, unlike Jones, admitted to having a swag. “He’s just Daniel."

Jones, who still comes in early to work and stays late, seemed somewhat surprised when asked if the contract put any pressure on him to prove his worthiness of such a payday. 

"I never really felt like I needed to show other people or whoever it is. I feel like I'm doing it because I want to do it, because I enjoy doing it, and I’m trying to be as good as I can be," he said. 

"That doesn't change regardless of what the contract situation is or whatever it may be. But I think we have a lot of guys with that kind of mindset who want to come in and work hard."

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That said, Jones understands where that perception is coming from.

"I think some people may see it that way. To me, it doesn't change anything I'm doing. Doesn't change my routine or how I'm going to go about my work or my business. That's the same.

"I'm trying to be as good as I can be, and that requires showing up every day and putting in the work."

Jones is not oblivious that critics still question if he'll ever be able to lead the Giants to the promised land. But just as he's always done since arriving in New York, he's blocked out that noise and isn't worried about what it might take to finally silence his critics.  

"Like I said, I'm not trying to prove it to anybody, anybody else, or anybody outside the building," he said. "I think it's about showing up and putting in the work every day." 

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for over three decades for various media outlets. She is the host of the Locked On Giants podcast and the author of "The Big 50: New York Giants: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants" (Triumph Books, September 2020). View Patricia's full bio.

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