The media perception of New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is largely a negative one. Fan perception mimics that and it has even influenced the opinion of some NFL players themselves.
Outside of the building in East Rutherford, Jones is arguably a meme. Inside the building, however, reality differs greatly.
One thing has remained persistent for Jones throughout his six-year career: Anyone who interacts with him, sees his dedication, plays alongside him on the field, or coaches him has nothing but the utmost respect for the 27-year-old.
Multiple regimes have hitched their wagon to Jones, including the current one made up of general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. And a parade of current and former players routinely bat down the outside narrative.
You can now add running back Devin Singletary to that group.
“For me, I didn’t think anything,” Singletary said of his perception of Jones coming in. “I like to meet someone first before I make any assumptions. For me personally, he’s a dog. He comes to work every day. Definitely a playmaker. I feel like we’re going to have a lot of fun this year with him.”
What impressed Singletary the most is what impresses everyone who sees Jones firsthand. He has an unrelenting work ethic and dedication to his craft, the organization, and his teammates.
“Just the way he attacks every day. In practice, on the field, how he goes about his business. You know a dog when you see a dog,” Singletary added.
There was also that moment in joint practices with the Detroit Lions earlier in training camp when Jones dove into a pile to defend offensive lineman Greg Van Roten.
“I mean, that’s definitely one way,” Singletary said of what makes Jones a dog. “Of course, we don’t want him in that situation, but that’s definitely one example for sure.”
Jones has once again won over a new flock of Giants teammates. Now comes the more important part: Leading them to wins on the field.