He was aware of what would occur. And he left because he didn’t want any part of it.
It was formally announced on April 28, 2004. Kerry Collins, the Giants’ starting quarterback for 67 games in a row, was let go when he refused to take a pay cut to remain with the organization. Eli Manning was acquired from the Chargers by then-general manager Ernie Accorsi in an audacious and daring draft day transaction four days prior. The Giants’ strategy was to start Collins, a proven veteran, and move Manning, a rookie, up to the starting position when he was ready.
Collins, who was thirty-one, was not interested in taking on the job of backup quarterback.
“Unless the guy’s just an absolute, total flop, your days are numbered,’’ Collins told The Post from his home in Tennessee. “You draft somebody that high, everybody is clamoring to see him on the field and see what he can do. They’re counting down the days until you’re not in there anymore and the other guy is in. That’s just the way it is.’’
If the Giants select a quarterback late in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday night, that is not precisely how things will work out for Daniel Jones. Jones is uncuttable because his 2024 contract is guaranteed to bring him $36 million.
Jones is coming off knee surgery, thus general manager Joe Schoen has repeatedly stated that if he is healthy, Jones should start on Opening Day. However, the starting meter on Jones starts to wind down—click, tick, tick—and it will eventually expire if a highly anticipated rookie quarterback is there.12
If the Giants go in this direction, they had better be prepared for the maelstrom that follows.
There is nothing more distracting to a team than having two quarterbacks for one job. Wait until Jones looks rusty in a training camp practice or he misses an open receiver in the season opener, or — heaven forbid — throws the ball up for grabs for an interception. From the moment the Giants are off the clock after taking a quarterback at No. 6, Jones’ ownership of the starting job is on the clock. It is almost always an irrevocable decree: Your time is nearing an end.
Not that this would be really new or equitable. It is undeniable that Jones had five years to establish his worth and, due to a multitude of factors that were not entirely within his control, was unable to do so.
This scenario once benefited Jones, the No. 6 overall pick in 2019, as the switch was made after just two games in which Jones started and Manning did not. From that point on, it has been a DJ production, with Jones in the quarterback room with unambiguous backups. McCoy Colt. Michael Glennon. Jake Ingram. Tyler Taylor. DeVito Tommy. Everyone present for a break-glass emergency scenario.
Adding a first-round pick upsets that dynamic, even though the rookie starts out third on the depth chart behind Jones and current backup Drew Lock. Giving away draft assets always increases the urgency to get the child on the field, so if the Giants do trade up to grab their guy, it will all go crazy. Should that trade-up result in Drake Maye, Jones might as well look into his options for breaking his apartment agreement. Jones might be given a little more time by J.J. McCarthy.
There will be quarterback questions galore thrust at Brian Daboll and he will not enjoy the daily bombardment. Jones knows he will start but will not finish, and it will be a challenge for him to be upbeat. The rookie, even if he tries to downplay his presence, will be hounded because everyone realizes he is next in line. Teammates will grow tired of having to choose sides or provide analysis of a pageant stacked for the newcomer.
Collins took the Giants to a Super Bowl, but he had no chance to hold back the Eli Express. Kurt Warner, with a Super Bowl triumph on his résumé, was signed to do what Collins would not and lasted nine games before his plug was pulled.
After the Giants sent him packing, Collins played eight more seasons in the NFL. Manning was the MVP of two Super Bowl victories and his 16-year stay has him on the precipice of the Hall of Fame.
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