Giants RG shares why Daniel Jones can 'have fun'

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones. Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Giants RG shares why Daniel Jones can finally 'have fun'

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 7/14/23

New York Giants right guard Mark Glowinski believes everyone will see an improved Daniel Jones at quarterback this fall.

"I think it's going to be even a better season now that he has … that little bit of sense of relief in the sense that he doesn't have to prove (anything) to anybody and now he can just go out there and have fun and kick a--," Glowinski said about Jones during an appearance on the "Ross Tucker Football Podcast," per Grant Gordon of the NFL's website. "And I think that's what was showing last year."

Jones entered the league as a first-round draft pick in 2019 and previously had Pat Shurmur and Joe Judge as head coaches before the Giants hired Brian Daboll in January 2022. Then-new general manager Joe Schoen declined the fifth-year option attached to Jones' rookie contract the subsequent spring, and the 26-year-old responded to that disappointment by guiding the Giants to a playoff berth and a road postseason win.

Daboll ultimately earned Coach of the Year honors, and Jones landed a four-year deal that could be worth up to $160M with $82M guaranteed. While Glowinski acknowledged Jones failed to settle early into his career due to learning multiple new offenses, the lineman suggested his QB1 overthought things early last season working under Daboll.

Daboll famously gave Jones an earful after an avoidable Week 1 interception:

Brian Daboll not happy with Daniel Jones pic.twitter.com/9BzGXtP63q
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) September 11, 2022

"So he is, you can tell early on in the season, that he had a little bit of tightness in him, where he wanted to make sure he was being right all the time," Glowinski added about Jones. "And I think, you know, for something simple for me, I would just tell him to try to stay loose and have as much fun out there. And I felt like every game that we were winning, he was opening up a little bit more and you would see a little bit more fire in him and more and more and that swagger was coming out. And there was a lot of fun that was being played last season."

A different type of drama hovers over the Giants this summer, as it's thought star running back Saquon Barkley could remain away from the club through at least all of August if he doesn't receive a long-term contract to his liking before Monday's deadline for teams to sign franchise-tagged players. Most believe Barkley won't sit regular-season games out come September, but Jones may have to serve as more of an outspoken leader during training camp if his fellow offensive captain isn't by his side for practices.

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