Daniel Jones, fresh off his emotional farewell to the New York Giants, found himself in the spotlight again-not for his statement about leaving the franchise, but for the reaction it sparked. As Jones delivered his goodbye speech, ESPN’s Elle Duncan seized the moment to deliver biting commentary. Mocking Jones for needing notes during his speech, she quipped, “Didn’t you go to Duke?”
That jab might have been tolerable on its own, but Duncan didn’t stop there. She added, “I could have saved you 90 seconds: ‘Sorry you paid me $180 million for one playoff win.'” The sting of her words was palpable, earning her a reputation as a trash-talking All-Star.
Unsurprisingly, Duncan’s remarks didn’t sit well with many in the football community. Former Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer took to social media to defend Jones, offering a candid yet measured response: “Good luck to Daniel. Hopefully, this is the last time we see this reporter.”
His message was simple but clear-he wasn’t here for Duncan’s courtside heckling. Many fans echoed Kramer’s sentiments, feeling Duncan crossed the line between critique and outright disrespect.
Fans rally behind Daniel Jones
But Duncan wasn’t backing down. Unapologetic and seemingly unfazed by the backlash, she doubled down on her stance, even firing back at the Giants and their fans. “Am I more disrespectful than the Giants making him a scout team safety?” she asked, referencing how Jones had been treated earlier in his career. Her point wasn’t entirely off-base-Jones has often been the scapegoat for a struggling franchise, enduring criticism both on and off the field.
Even Stephen A. Smith weighed in, shifting the focus to the Giants’ mishandling of their quarterback situation. Calling out the franchise with his trademark bluntness, Smith said, “The New York Giants, respectfully, shut the hell up. Y’all are sorry! Y’all are pathetic! The only reason why you get away with it is because the Jets have been worse!” His fiery rant reflected the frustration many feel toward the Giants’ management of Jones over the years.
The situation also brought to light the harsh treatment Jones has faced from fans. Earlier in the season, one fan on social media bluntly stated, “BRO JUST ACCEPT THE FACT HE IS TERRIBLE… He isn’t saving this franchise, and he isn’t saving this season.” Now, with Jones officially released after a lackluster season, some wonder why Duncan’s comments sparked such outrage when the criticism of Jones has been relentless all along.
