TAMPA — The story, of course, is as much about who he is replacing as how he performs. A year ago, Daniel Jones was living the perfect life of a BMOC, allowed to roam the Duke campus as a football hero and virtually unknown to the world beyond.
Now, he becomes the QB1 of the New York Giants.
Now, he replaces Eli Manning.
Now, the erstwhile Big Man On Campus is the Toast of the Big Town, an army of hungry Giants fans turning their eyes to him, hoping he can show at least a glimpse of tomorrow, of next year, of the next decade-and-a-half, when he trots onto the Raymond James Stadium field Sunday afternoon to make his starting debut for Big Blue.
BMOC to OMG, in one skinny year.
“Obviously it’s a unique circumstance,” Jones said earlier this week, “but I’m excited for the opportunity.”
In truth, it is unique for Jones, because he is replacing a two-time Super Bowl champion, an almost certain Hall of Famer, one of the most beloved players in franchise history who, by the way, also happens to own one of the iconic surnames in quarterbacking.
It is certainly different than what Eli himself faced on Nov. 21, 2004, when he completed 17 out of 37 passes for 162 yards, a touchdown and two picks in a 14-10 loss to the Falcons at old Giants Stadium. Manning was replacing a Hall of Fame quarterback, yes, but Kurt Warner’s best years lay behind him in St. Louis and ahead of him in Phoenix; he was a placeholder from the moment he signed on. Nobody lamented his absence.
It is certainly different than what Phil Simms faced on Sept, 30, 1979, when he completed 8 of 19 passes for 115 yards — also with one touchdown and two interceptions — in a 24-14 loss to the Saints at the Superdome in New Orleans (Archie Manning was the opposing QB that day). But Simms was replacing Joe Pisarcik (though Randy Dean had started the week prior), and wherever Manning exists on the Giants’ pantheon, Pisarcik is tucked all the way in the opposite corner.
It is certainly different than what Chuckin’ Charlie Conerly faced on Sept. 23, 1948, when he completed three passes — including touchdown heaves of 65 and 67 yards — in a 27-7 win over the old Boston Yanks at Fenway Park. But Conerly was replacing Paul Governali, who’d been at the helm when the Giants won a then-franchise-low two games in 1947.
If there is a Giants quarterbacking Rushmore, then that’s it: Conerly, Simms, Manning — and Y.A. Tittle, who was already a well-established star by the time he joined the Giants in 1961. The first three were kids, just like Jones, when they got the job, but they weren’t shrouded in someone else’s shadow. Maybe that doesn’t make the job easier. It certainly makes it different.
“We think Daniel is ready for this,” Giants coach Pat Shurmur said, “in all the ways necessary.”
Much is made about the other team in town’s inability to find a franchise-level quarterback in the half century since Joe Namath ruled the sport and ruled the city. But if the Giants have had more success over the years filling the job, they have also had their share of misses. At one time or another Earl Morrall, Craig Morton, Fran Tarkenton and Norm Snead — who all had successes elsewhere — fell short of expectations here.Dave Brown — once a Duke BMOC himself — helped expedite the end of Simms’ playing days, and never quite played to form. Randy Johnson had his moments. Kerry Collins led the Giants to a Super Bowl. Jeff Hostetler actually won a Super Bowl. But mostly, all of those names are like Warner — place-holders between the icons.
Now, it is Daniel Jones’ turn and it is Jones’ time, and across the next weeks and years we will see where his place will be. It starts Sunday. Where it leads will be one of the more fascinating of all journeys to follow along.