Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The game against the Giants wasn't a fluke. Sam Darnold really is back on track.

The Jets' franchise quarterback had one of his finest games of the season on Sunday, shredding the awful Washington Redskins in a 34-17 win. He completed 19-of-30 passes for 293 yards with four touchdowns and an interception.

Granted, it was against the Redskins and they are a truly bad team. But the 22-year-old Darnold showed a lot of the things that made people think he was destined for greatness before he began to regress earlier this season. He made a lot of throws outside the pocket, which has always been his specialty. He showed patience and leadership in the pocket, and some fantastic throws.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The saddest thing about the current state of the Jets is that this was supposed to be the year they arrived. After nine years of waiting for a playoff game, after enduring three years of rebuilding under ex-GM Mike Maccagnan, it was all supposed to come together in 2019.

Not only didn't that happen, but now the Jets appear to be on the brink of a rebuilding project again.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The Giants haven't led the NFL in much recently, but they had a big lead in one category through the end of October. No team played rookies more often than they did. And they led in that category by about 500 total snaps.

That only counted rookies, like quarterback Daniel Jones, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, linebacker Oshane Ximines and corners Corey Ballentine and DeAndre Baker. It didn't count all their second-year pros like guard Will Hernandez, running back Saquon Barkley, defensive end B.J. Hill, linebacker Lorenzo Carter, and cornerbacks Grant Haley and now Sam Beal.

The point is, the Giants are young. Very, very young. And that might be the biggest reason to be optimistic about their future, and to believe that GM Dave Gettleman could have them on the right path.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

Christopher Johnson made official what was already pretty obvious, despite the knee-jerk screams to the contrary. He has no plans to fire Jets coach Adam Gase in the middle of his first season, nor will he fire him after the season either.

And despite the pain and the agony of yet another losing season, that is absolutely the right thing to do.

Consider this a moment of sanity: It simply would've been crazy to fire a coach for the second time in a calendar year. And it would've been insane to make Gase the scapegoat for the mess this season has become.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

It seems clear that something is not quite right with Saquon Barkley, who appears to be playing hurt. But on the day after his worst game in the NFL, Barkley was feeling "much better", according to Giants coach Pat Shurmur.

And the Giants have no plans at all to shut him down.

"Absolutely not," Shurmur said.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

Pat Shurmur was still the Giants head coach on Monday morning, which is how it will likely stay for at least the remainder of the season. And his assistant coaches will apparently remain on the job with him, too.

On the morning after what might have been the most humiliating loss of his Giants tenure, Shurmur said: "Having slept on it, no, I'm not going to make any coaching changes." He had said the same thing in the moments after the Giants' 34-27 loss to the Jets on Sunday afternoon, but that didn't stop speculation that he could change his mind -- or that ownership could change it for him.

A team source confirmed, though, that there were no immediate plans for ownership to either fire Shurmur or to force any staff shakeup in the wake of the Giants' 2-9 record -- at least until the end of the season.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - It did not take long into his post-game press conference for Pat Shurmur to get a question about his job security, and for the Giants coach to again insist that he's not concerned. The man who insisted this week that "I'm built for this" wasn't going to flinch, even after a hideous loss to the Jets.

"My concern is putting a team on the field that's going to win a football game," Shurmur said. "That's my concern."

Of course, what's really concerning is that he hasn't done that very much in his tenure with the Giants. And he couldn't have picked a worse time to have added on another loss.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The season has already been embarrassing for the Giants. On Sunday they managed to make it worse.

And that's a huge problem for Giants head coach Pat Shurmur and his coaching staff after the Giants lost to the awful Jets, 34-27. Things were bad enough, but a loss to the crosstown rivals is a humiliating defeat that is sure to enrage owner John Mara. Even worse: They've now got two weeks to stew about it, thanks to an ill-timed bye.

To this point, Shurmur wasn't really on a hot seat and his coaching staff wasn't in much danger. The Giants underwent an uncharacteristic, in-season change just two years ago and don't really have an appetite to do that again. GM Dave Gettleman also genuinely seems to like Shurmur as a coach, and according to a team source, has preached patience and believes the team is headed in the right direction.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The season has already been embarrassing for the Giants. On Sunday they managed to make it worse.

And that's a huge problem for Giants coach Pat Shurmur and his coaching staff after the Giants lost to the awful Jets, 34-27. Things were bad enough, but a loss to the crosstown rivals is a humiliating defeat that is sure to enrage owner John Mara. Even worse: They've now got two weeks to stew about it, thanks to an ill-timed bye.

To this point, Shurmur wasn't really on a hot seat and his coaching staff wasn't in much danger. The Giants underwent an uncharacteristic, in-season change just two years ago and don't really have an appetite to do that again. GM Dave Gettleman also genuinely seems to like Shurmur as a coach, and according to a team source has preached patience and believes the team is headed in the right direction.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

There is a Quarterback Revolution going on in the NFL, with one generation taking the baton from the last. The days of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers and Eli Manning are either over already, or will be soon.

And the new kids are already on the block.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

There is a Quarterback Revolution going on in the NFL, with one generation taking the baton from the last. The days of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers and Eli Manning are either over already, or will be soon.

And the new kids are already on the block.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The Giants and Jets are a combined 3-14, one year after going a combined 9-23, one year after going a combined 8-24. That's a 20-61 record over the last 2 ½ seasons, for a "winning" percentage of .246.

So no, the Giants and Jets don't match up particularly well with the rest of the professional football world right now. But how do they match up with each other?

In advance of their big showdown on Sunday at the Meadowlands, let's take a look:

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The Giants and Jets are a combined 3-14, one year after going a combined 9-23, one year after going a combined 8-24. That's a 20-61 record over the last 2 ½ seasons, for a "winning" percentage of .246.

So no, the Giants and Jets don't match up particularly well with the rest of the professional football world right now. But how do they match up with each other?

In advance of their big showdown on Sunday at the Meadowlands, let's take a look:

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

Every NFL player knows the risks they take when they step on a football field. They know their body will eventually break down, and later in life they will be in pain. They rarely express any fear of their fate, or the future agony that comes with it.

Except when the body part in question is their brain.

"If you tell me I've got to get a hip replacement in 10 years, alright, fine, I'll deal with that in 10 years," Giants receiver Golden Tate said on Wednesday. "But if you tell me, 'Hey, there's a chance you might not be able to remember a lot of your career, or your childhood, or your children's childhood? That's scary, man. It gives me chills."

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - If there was one consistent knock on Daniel Jones coming out of college, it was his penchant for turning the ball over -- including too many fumbles.

That has become his biggest problem so far in the NFL.

He added three more turnovers to his season total in a 37-18 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night. He now has eight interceptions and 10 fumbles (eight lost) in his eight games (and seven starts). Both of his first two turnovers led to Cowboys field goals on Monday night, not to mention huge momentum swings. The third was returned for a garbage time touchdown that padded the final score.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The Jets' fanbase is furious, if not outright disgusted. The frustration is building inside the Jets organization, too. They are now 1-7 in what they thought would be their first playoff season in nearly a decade, and they just lost to a team that might very well be trying to lose.

Given all those extremes, it's impossible to say for sure that Adam Gase won't be one-and-done as the Jets' head coach. When the losses pile up, fans revolt, and the wheels begin to come off, anything is possible.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

There are a lot of reasons why this season has gone off the rails for the Jets, and a lot of excuses that Adam Gase could easily use to explain it.

But really, there's no excuse for this.

The Jets just lost a game, by a significant amount, to the worst team in the NFL -- or what was the worst team in the NFL -- and a team that many people around the league seriously believe are trying to lose so they can the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. The Jets' 26-18 loss in Miami has to rank right up there as one of the worst losses in franchise history.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

Jamal Adams is furious and standing his ground. He's "hurt" that the Jets "shopped" him, and doesn't care that they said that's not what they did. He won't commit to a long-term future in New York. He'll only say he's happy to be with the Jets "right now."

Adams admitted that he needs to "cool down" and there's always the chance that he will. He will talk to Jets GM Joe Douglas at some point, and maybe that will be enough. But right now, one day after the NFL trading deadline and his near-deal to the Dallas Cowboys, it's hard to imagine this relationship getting much better.

It's also hard to imagine Adams being on the field with the Jets on Opening Day next year.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Le'Veon Bell and Jamal Adams were on the trading block on Tuesday, and both could have been dealt if the price was right. Was a deal unlikely? Yes. But it was certainly possible. And it might be possible again in the offseason, too.

But the best-case scenario for the Jets in the offseason is exactly what happened on Tuesday, when both Bell and Adams learned they'd still be wearing Jets green. Because those two, along with quarterback Sam Darnold, are the three players the Jets should build around.

They can't dump them for future draft picks and subject their weary fan base to another rebuilding project again.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Joe Douglas had a pretty uneventful trading deadline day. After all, he didn't do anything. His big move - the Leonard Williams trade - came the day before.

That should've been the story, and it would've been the story, except for one important thing: Douglas made it clear that he was willing to listen to anyone about almost everyone. If the phone rang, he was going to answer it. If someone had an offer to make, he would listen, just in case it was an offer he couldn't refuse.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Joe Douglas had a pretty uneventful trading deadline day. After all, he didn't do anything. His big move - the Leonard Williams trade - came the day before.

That should've been the story, and it would've been the story, except for one important thing: Douglas made it clear that he was willing to listen to anyone about almost everyone. If the phone rang, he was going to answer it. If someone had an offer to make, he would listen, just in case it was an offer he couldn't refuse.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The Jets may have gotten a jump on the trading deadline by shipping Leonard Williams to the Giants on Monday. But it's clear now that was only the beginning.

The Jets were holding what sure looked like a firesale in the hours leading up to the trading deadline at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, with almost everyone on their roster up for grabs, according to multiple sources.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The Jets may have gotten a jump on the trading deadline by shipping Leonard Williams to the Giants on Monday. But it's clear now that was only the beginning.

The Jets were holding what sure looked like a firesale in the hours leading up to the trading deadline at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, with almost everyone on their roster up for grabs, according to multiple sources.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

When the Jets opened for business in recent weeks with an eye on the Tuesday trading deadline, one thing was immediately clear: There was more interest around the league in receiver Robby Anderson than defensive lineman Leonard Williams.

And many expect Anderson will be the next to go.

The speedy receiver has drawn interest from multiple teams, according to several NFL sources, and the Jets have made it clear they're willing to deal him for the right price. Exactly what that price is remains unclear, but most people believe that a third-round pick would do it. That's exactly what the Eagles gave up last year to get receiver Golden Tate from Detroit.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The Giants are 2-6, don't have much salary cap space remaining, and clearly are still in the midst of a rebuilding phase. So how does it make any sense that they'd trade two valuable draft picks to the Jets for an eight-game rental of the disappointing Leonard Williams?

The answer: It only makes sense if he's not really a rental.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The Jets didn't just hire Adam Gase as their head coach. They gave him all sorts of power when they later fired GM Mike Maccagnan and hired Gase's friend and top choice Joe Douglas as the replacement. He is, in many ways, the leading voice in the organization and perhaps the most trusted and influential one.

And it's all because of this one thing: The Jets believed he was the right guy to shepherd Sam Darnold into the future.

Sam Darnold may not have been seeing ghosts this time, but he had plenty of reasons to be scared.

The Jets' offensive line was atrocious, again, in the Jets' 29-15 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Darnold was constantly on the run, was sacked eight times, and they weren't much better in the running game where Le'Veon Bell barely had any room to run.

The result was another offensive disaster. The Jets scored on a 93-yard drive on their opening possession - their first opening-drive touchdown in 31 tries. The rest of the game they only had 120 more yards for a pathetic total of 213.

It's a mess.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Teams have been calling the Jets to see if defensive lineman Leonard Williams is available, and according to one league source, Jets GM Joe Douglas hasn't said "No."

Whether that means the Jets will trade the 24-year-old Williams remains to be seen, but for now the sense around the league is that Douglas is willing to listen to offers. So it's at least possible that before the trading deadline on Tuesday the Jets will finally deal the former sixth overall pick (2015).

"They seem a little more open to it than in the past," said one NFL source. "They always wanted to keep him before and give his talent a chance. But clearly they know time is running out."

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- People around the NFL are circling the Jets like vultures, believing their roster is ripe for the picking. They see talent there, even though it's collectively not working. And they see a GM in charge of a roster he didn't choose or build.

That's a formula that usually leads to a firesale, and that's what many around the NFL are expecting from the Jets between now and the NFL trading deadline on Tuesday afternoon. They have some very interesting pieces that may not have a long-term future in New York. The big prize is Leonard Williams, but someone could get a consolation prize like receiver Robby Anderson, too.

Who else could be traded? And will it really be a case of "Everything (almost) must go!"? Here's all the latest information on the Jets' trade possibilities, including sourced material, rumors and reports on the tradeable assets they have:

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- People around the NFL are circling the Jets like vultures, believing their roster is ripe for the picking. They see talent there, even though it's collectively not working. And they see a GM in charge of a roster he didn't choose or build.

That's a formula that usually leads to a firesale, and that's what many around the NFL are expecting from the Jets between now and the NFL trading deadline on Tuesday afternoon. They have some very interesting pieces that may not have a long-term future in New York. The big prize is Leonard Williams, but someone could get a consolation prize like receiver Robby Anderson, too.

Who else could be traded? And will it really be a case of "Everything (almost) must go!"? Here's all the latest information on the Jets' trade possibilities, including sourced material, rumors and reports on the tradeable assets they have:

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Giants had their firesale one year ago, so they don't have a lot left to trade right now. Still, with a season going nowhere and the trading deadline less than a week away, nothing with Giants GM Dave Gettleman can be ruled out.

They do still have some valuable assets (cornerback Janoris Jenkins), some possibly valuable pieces (left tackle Nate Solder) and some real wild cards (quarterback Eli Manning, tight end Evan Engram). With the Giants still a year, maybe two, away from finishing their rebuilding project, at the right price (almost) anything may go.

With the Jets at 1-5, GM Joe Douglas could potentially deal some big names in advance of the trade deadline.

SNY's Ralph Vacchiano recently wrote about the few big pieces he has to sell …

DL Leonard Williams

The Jets keep praising the 25-year-old despite his lack of production. "He really has played well," defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said on Friday. "He's graded out high each and every week."

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

In the middle of the disaster, with the walls coming down around his team, Adam Gase admitted he was worried about his young, franchise quarterback. This was the 16th start of Sam Darnold's career and, by far, the worst.

And Gase was worried that the beating might leave Darnold shell-shocked, that this nightmare could linger into next week and beyond.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

After his second interception of the game, with the Jets already trailing, 24-0, Sam Darnold was catching his breath on the sidelines, lamenting the blitzes that kept breaking through the offensive line. It was clear he was either rattled or, at the least, confused by what he was seeing.

That's when the ESPN mic caught him saying "I'm seeing ghosts."

That's not a good sign for a quarterback, but it's clear that's what was happening. He was under so much pressure in the pocket, forced to deal with pass rushers coming from everywhere, he couldn't get an accurate read on the coverage. He was seeing things that weren't there, and not seeing things that were there.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

Kelechi Osemele is expecting to be disciplined again by the Jets when he doesn't play in their game against the New England Patriots on Monday night.

The Jets set that up on Saturday when they officially listed the 30-year-old guard as "doubtful" for the game. That was a "strategic" decision, according to a source, to leave their disciplinary options open, even though he hasn't played or practiced since the first Jets-Patriots game on Sept. 21.

Osemele was already fined once, according to a team source, when he refused to practice as ordered on Saturday, calling it "conduct detrimental to the team." The Jets can fine Osemele up to one week's pay, or about $579,000. The actual amount of the fine, though, was undisclosed.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

Pat Shurmur hasn't distinguished himself as the Giants' head coach yet, losing far more games so far than he's won so far. And he's drawn plenty of criticism -- most of it deserved -- in his 23 games at the helm for more than a few head-scratching decisions.

He made another one on Sunday, late in the Giants' 27-21 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

But don't get too crazy. His brain freeze was not why the Giants' lost.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Daniel Jones was nearly picked off on his first pass of the game. Then he was picked off at the end of the Giants' first drive. Before he could catch his breath, the Giants were down 17-0. And in the end he was sacked eight times.

Give the Giants rookie quarterback this much credit: Despite all that, he never flinched. And that's certainly something, especially considering he was making just his fifth NFL start.

But Jones is going to need to do a lot more than that if the Giants are going to start to win.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Giants used six of their first eight picks in the last NFL draft on defensive players, and 10 of 16 from Dave Gettleman's first two drafts overall.

In the 2020 NFL draft, they're going to have to use more.

It is increasingly obvious that there's just not enough talent on that side of the ball for the Giants to truly be competitive in the NFL. Faced with a very beatable Arizona Cardinals team with a rookie quarterback at the helm and a driving rain in the second half, the Giants defense fell into a quick 17-0 hole and then couldn't hold it's ground much better in the second half.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

If the Jets want a fight, guard Kelechi Osemele is prepared to give them one.

The 30-year-old intends to file a grievance against the Jets over the fine he received on Saturday for refusing to practice, according to a source familiar with his plans. He has up to 50 days to inform the NFL Players Association and officially file his complaint, though he is expected to do so this week if his situation isn't resolved.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The showdown between Kelechi Osemele and the Jets heated up on Saturday when the guard refused to practice and the team, as promised, hit him with a fine.

The 30-year-old Osemele was unable to practice, according to his agent Andrew Kessler, because of the shoulder injury that is at the center of his dispute with the team. Osemele says doctors have told him he needs season-ending shoulder surgery, but the Jets disagree and ordered him to return to the field on Saturday.

When he didn't, he was fined an undisclosed amount, according to a source.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Giants began building for 2020 the moment they made the switch from Eli Manning to Daniel Jones at quarterback one month ago. They said all the right things about hoping to make a run for the playoffs, and that's not out of reach. But they know their real target for contention is now next year.

That makes the Oct. 29 trading deadline an interesting one for Giants GM Dave Gettleman. It's a chance to accumulate draft picks to continue the youth movement he began back in March if he decides to get rid of some veterans and their bloated contracts. Of course, right now they're only one game out of first place in the NFC East.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

Jets guard Kelechi Osemele said he's been told he needs season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. But the Jets disagree, and their feud could result in discipline if he's not back at practice on Saturday morning.

The strange dispute boiled over on Friday, three days after reports first surfaced -- and sources confirmed -- that the two-time Pro Bowler was headed for surgery. One day later, Jets coach Adam Gase declined to confirm that news, saying "We're going through our process right now."

It turns out the Jets' part of that "process" involved two doctors - their team doctor and one outside doctor - who not only said the 30-year-old wouldn't need surgery, but that he was cleared to play, according to a source. Those doctors also determined the injury was pre-existing, from before he arrived in New York, according to a source, and they believe Osemele can play through the injury -- as he has in the past -- and get it repaired at the end of the season.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The worst thing that happened to the Jets early in the season was losing franchise quarterback Sam Darnold.

Losing C.J. Mosley, though, was a pretty close second.

The impact of playing without Mosley for the last four-plus games maybe isn't as obvious as the impact of three games without Darnold, especially since the defense has managed to survive -- and sometimes even thrive -- in his absence. But the Jets don't underestimate how much their defensive captain means to them, and how huge it would be if he would somehow be able to get back in time for their Monday night game against the New England Patriots.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The Jets suddenly have a little life with the return of Sam Darnold and a big win over the Cowboys. They are feeling confident, the way they did way back in Week 1.

But it is all too little, too late?

Not necessarily, at least not if they can pull off an improbable win against the New England Patriots at the Meadowlands next Monday night in a game that is shaping up as the Jets' last stand for the 2019 season. Their odds are already long at 1-4, but their playoff path will look impossible if they fall to 1-5.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

Sam Darnold is back. And so is the Jets' offense.

In case anyone needed proof that the problem the last three weeks had been poor quarterback play, the 22-year-old Darnold showed how much a difference even a competent quarterback can make. And he was more than competent. He was outstanding. Playing for the first time since Week 1, he completed 23 of 32 passes for 338 yards with two touchdowns and an interception

It was enough to let the Jets hang on for their first win of the season -- 24-22 over the Dallas Cowboys.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The Jets may have a glimmer of hope now that Sam Darnold is back in the lineup, but they are still facing a stark and unfortunate reality. Since 1990, when the NFL playoffs expanded, only one team has started 0-4 and gone on to make the playoffs. And it hasn't happened since the San Diego Chargers did it in 1992.

That's why between now and the trading deadline on Oct. 29, many around the league believe the Jets' motto should be, and will be: "Sell!"

A lot can happen in the three games between now and that deadline, of course, but multiple league sources told SNY that they expect new Jets GM Joe Douglas to be extremely active in the next few weeks. One source used the word "firesale" to describe what he expects would happen thanks to the combination of a new GM, a team with an 0-4 record, and several expensive but talented players who may not fit in to his long-term plan.
 

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The fourth start of Eli Manning's career back in 2004 was an unmitigated disaster. He was lost that day against the Baltimore Ravens. He looked rattled, completing only four of his 18 passes. He threw two interceptions and was eventually benched.

On the train ride back to New Jersey that night, Manning had a long, heart-to-heart talk with offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, and the next day he met with Tom Coughlin to do the same. They figured out a way for him to get comfortable in the offense. They discussed the plays that worked best and the ones he liked to run.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - No one ever thought it was going to be easy for Giants rookie quarterback Daniel Jones.

OK, that's not true. A lot of people thought he was the elixir that was going to cure everything that ails the Giants. But the reality always was that once he was given Eli Manning's old job, the 2019 season became all about his growth and learning on the job. 

So consider his encounter with Tom Brady on Thursday night another difficult learning experience for the 22-year-old. He threw three interceptions and struggled most of the night, going 15 of 31 for 161 yards in a 35-14 loss to the defending Super Bowl champs.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

Sam Darnold was cleared for contact on Tuesday morning, which means he'll be ready to start on Sunday afternoon against the Dallas Cowboys.

That's obviously a really big deal for the 22-year-old Darnold.

It's also a pretty big deal for a lot of other people on the Jets.