While many believe that just rolls off of Jones’ back, he does hear it and he does see it.

Following a season of regression in 2023, which was capped off with a torn ACL, Jones is using the increasingly loud hate as motivation.

“Privately, all offseason long, he’s been telling people that he is as motivated as ever before — the negativity, the talk about drafting a quarterback with the sixth overall pick,” Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team said. “That lit a fire in a player like him and he wants to prove everybody wrong a year after getting that big contract.”

Currently, Jones is down in North Carolina running private workouts with a slew of his teammates — an annual event for Giants quarterbacks dating back to Eli Manning.

For Jones, it will give him an opportunity for more one-on-one sessions with his receivers and running backs after being held out of 11-on-11’s this spring.

“We have high expectations. We always do. You know, we’re going to get there by putting the work in every day and making sure we’re ready to go for the first day of training camp, and when we get into training camp, getting everything out of each practice and improving and growing together. We’ve got high expectations of what we can be as a team and what we can be as an offense,” Jones said during minicamp.

Jones also said the Giants have focused on creating more explosive downfield plays this offseason. If he and the skill position players can get that firing, maybe DJ will finally be able to quiet the noise coming in from outside the building.

The post Report: Giants’ Daniel Jones ‘as motivated as ever’ to prove doubters wrong first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

But no one is perfect and mistakes, which are subjective based on personal interpretation, are made.

Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News recently released his 2024 All-Overpaid Team and two members of the Giants were among those listed. But before you assume quarterback Daniel Jones is one of them, pump those brakes. He isn’t.

Deshaun Watson got the nod at quarterback, saving Jones from another all-too-common round of criticism.

So, which two Giants made the cut? First up was one of Schoen’s major offseason signings, guard Jon Runyan Jr.

Jon Runyan, Giants ($10 million)

The Giants also overspent inside in free agency for the fading former Packer.

It’s a tough sell to suggest the Giants overpaid for Runyan. The veteran’s contract is the going rate for starting guards and even if it is on the high side, it’s what the market has dictated, says an NFL executive.

“Runyan was a market deal even though it was expensive,” an executive from another team told The Athletic. “He’s not a $10 million player, but that’s what the market dictates.”

Next up for the Giants is veteran kicker Graham Gano.

Graham Gano, Giants ($5.5 million)

Gano has limited range and has started to become less reliable on field goals at 37.

“Limited range” is a curious criticism of Gano. Before his injury-riddled 2023 campaign, which he initially tried to play through, Gano was about as automatic as it came.

In 2022, Gano connected on 90.6% of his field goal attempts, including eight of nine from beyond 50 with a long of 57. Even last season, the veteran boomed one through from 57 yards out (he has a career-long of 63).

Iyer also notes that had Darren Waller not retired, he would have been listed as the most-overpaid tight end in the NFL. Instead, that honor went to Noah Fant (Seattle Seahawks).

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Waller informed the team that he’d be stepping away from the game over the weekend.

“The passion has slowly been fading. I’ve, you know, made the decision that I’ll be retiring from the NFL,” Waller said in a YouTube video. “Eternally grateful for the game of football. I wouldn’t be able to have this conversation or to think things through or be self-reflective if it wasn’t for an opportunity to save my life and go to rehab, which the NFL offered me.”

General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll put no pressure on Waller to make a decision but it was inevitable that one would be made ahead of this week’s mandatory minicamp.

“We have great respect for Darren as a person and player. We wish him nothing but the best,” the Giants said in a statement.

Waller’s retirement frees up approximately $11.6 million in cap space for the Giants as he was scheduled to make $10.5 million with a $14.1 million cap number. The move will now only cost the Giants $2.5 million in dead cap money this season (and $4.9 million in dead cap next season).

In addition to making Waller’s retirement official, the Giants also released running back Gary Brightwell off of injured reserve (IR) with an injury settlement.

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In 2023, three New York Giants made the cut — left tackle Andrew Thomas, nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, and running back Saquon Barkley.

With Barkley now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, they lose a name off that list. And after an injury-riddled season, Thomas, although given an “honorable mention,” was also knocked off the list.

There was an addition, however.

Two Giants made Prisco’s NFL Top 100 Players of 2024 list, beginning with the aforementioned Lawrence, who checked in at No. 19 overall.

He is a massive man in the middle of the New York defense who makes it tough to run inside. But he is also a power pass rusher inside who can really push the pocket, which makes him far more than just a one-dimensional run stuffer. (Last season: No. 34)

The argument could be made that Lawrence is still ranked entirely too low.

Next up for the Giants — their final entry on this list — is newcomer Brian Burns, who was acquired in an offseason trade with the Carolina Panthers. He is ranked No. 96 overall, which is way down from a year ago.

He has 20 1/2 sacks the past two seasons, but this is a big year for him to prove he can be one of the league’s best. The Giants traded a lot to get him to pair with Kayvon Thibodeaux, so he has to produce. (Last season: No. 67)

In addition to Thomas, linebacker Bobby Okereke also earned an “honorable mention.”

For those wondering, Barkley was also left off the list but earned his own “honorable mention.”

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“He said that was one of the first things that Howie (Roseman) said to him on the phone as part of his sales pitch,” Franklin said of Barkley. “Not only the Philadelphia Eagles and that that but also the connection with Penn State and the fan base as well. So just a really cool opportunity.”

Had Eagles general manager Howie Roseman contacted Barkley during the two-day legal tampering period, it would have violated NFL protocol.

Per league rules, teams are permitted to enter into negotiations with agents and representatives of pending free agents during the two-day legal tampering period. However, teams cannot speak to players directly unless those players are self-represented.

Shortly after Franklin’s comments, which he later walked back, the NFL opened a review of the Eagles’ signing of Barkley.

On Thursday, the league determined that the Eagles had not violated tampering rules and released the following statement:

After a thorough review of the Philadelphia Eagles signing of Saquon Barkley, the NFL today informed the club that the investigation did not discover sufficient evidence to support a finding that the Anti-Tampering Policy was violated.

In coming to this conclusion, the league reviewed phone logs, text messages and other documents related to Philadelphia’s free agency strategy and decision to sign Barkley. The NFL also interviewed several members of the organization, including Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni, as well as Barkley and Penn State head coach James Franklin. As with every review, should new evidence be uncovered, the league may reopen the investigation.

Had the Eagles violated tampering rules, they would have been fined and/or docked future draft picks.

Philadelphia signed Barkley to a three-year, $37.75 million deal with $26 million guaranteed.

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Art Stapleton of USA TODAY was the first to report the upcoming transaction.

Giants expected to sign Jacob Saylors now that UFL season is over and he was released from his contract, per sources. https://t.co/GX3gzTb2EI

— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) June 18, 2024

Saylors, who initially joined the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent out of ETSU in 2023, spent much of his rookie season on the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons. He was placed on injured reserve (IR) on November 20 and then waived due to injury on January 2.

After being waived by the Falcons, Saylors signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks of a newly-merged UFL (XFL, USFL).

In nine games this season, Saylors rushed for 461 yards, second-most in the league, and scored five touchdowns while averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He added 23 receptions for 152 yards and three touchdowns through the air.

Saylors split carries with and ultimately out-performed former Giants running back Wayne Gallman en route to being named to the 2024 All-UFL Team.

The Giants currently have 91 men on their roster, one under an exemption. A corresponding roster move will have to occur before Saylors’s signing is made official.

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Cota, 24, went undrafted in 2023 out of Oregon.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder who began his college career at UCLA, spent time on the practice squads of the Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, and Houston Texans last season.

In late January, the Giants signed Cota to a reserve/futures contract but he was unlikely to make the final 53-man roster. He was more likely vying for a spot on the practice squad.

Cota will become eligible for an injury settlement, at which point he can be waived off of IR and will be free to sign with another team.

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Despite head coach Brian Daboll expressing optimism that Jones could play on Sunday, and DJ sharing similar sentiments, the news was anything but positive.

Jones was unable to practice because his neck was “more sore” than the day prior. Compounding matters, multiple other players also missed practice due to injury, including offensive linemen Andrew Thomas, Matt Peart and John Michael Schmitz, wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, tight end Darren Waller and linebacker Azeez Ojulari.

In total, the Giants were able to field just six offensive linemen from their 53-man roster during Wednesday’s practice.

The Giants’ full Wednesday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: QB Daniel Jones (neck), LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring), OL John Michael Schmitz (shoulder), OL Matt Peart (shoulder), LB Azeez Ojulari (ankle), LB Micah McFadden (ankle), TE Darren Waller (groin), WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee/rest)

Limited participant: DB Deonte Banks (ankle), RB Saquon Barkley (ankle), RB Gary Brightwell (ankle), DB Cor’Dale Flott (ankle), OL Shane Lemieux (groin), OL Marcus McKethan (knee)

Full participant: N/A

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What changed over that span is unclear, but there is no deal imminent between the Giants and Barr.

The #Giants hosted FA LB Anthony Barr today, source said, but no deal is imminent. He also recently visited the #Saints.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 17, 2023

Josina Anderson of CBS Sports was the first to report that Barr intended to visit the Giants. That came prior to Schoen’s statement on McFadden and Beavers.

Earlier this week, defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said McFadden was currently leading Beavers in the battle to earn a starting job alongside Bobby Okereke. However, he also suggested that he’d be open to more bodies at the position if Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll wanted to go in that direction.

“I’m open to adding anybody that Joe and Dabes think that we need,” Martindale said.

The 31-year-old Barr was a first-round pick (No. 9 overall) of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2014 NFL draft. He spent the first eight seasons of his career in the Twin Cities before spending 2022 with the Dallas Cowboys.

Barr, a four-time Pro Bowler, has appeared in 112 career games (108 starts) and recorded 553 tackles (370 solo, 41 for a loss), eight forced fumbles, 48 QB hits, 18.5 sacks, one safety, 32 passes defensed, five interceptions and one defensive touchdown.

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The practices, which were agreed upon by Giants head coach Brian Daboll and Lions head coach Dan Campbell, a former Giant himself, were scripted but provided plenty of opportunity for competition.

“I think it’s kind of the next step for training camp when you practice against another team. I think there is competitive juices, the coaches have it, the players have it, but we are going to try to practice the right way against a really good team. I think the program that the Lions have and what Dan and Brad have been able to do has really been outstanding so it will be a good test for us,” Daboll said prior to practice.

“I love practicing against another team during training camp. Again, it’s different looks, it’s different matchups. It’s a very competitive two days of practice that I am looking forward to.”

Campbell was equally as excited and likely left the field on Tuesday feeling more optimistic than Daboll given the results.

The post Giants, Lions wrap up joint practice No. 1: News, notes and quotes first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.