Count this former Giant as a true admirer of Daniel Jones.
Former New York Giants wide receiver Golden Tate appeared on the June 3 episode of “NFL Total Access” and had only positive things to say about his former quarterback and team. “I enjoyed DJ [Daniel Jones] and I think he has all the tools to be successful for a long time,” he said.
The former Pro Bowler lauded Jones’ skillset and said the team could be “special” if it remained healthy. One interesting takeaway was a comment about how the Giants could get the most out of Jones. “They just need to let him loose,” Tate said. “I feel like when I was there we got caught up trying to tell him what decisions to make instead of letting him play ball”
Tate’s tenure with the Giants was a rocky one, to say the least. In November 2020, he was benched after his yelling “Throw me the ball!” after a completion could be heard on the telecast. He subsequently apologized to his teammates. Also that month, Tate’s wife, Elise, took aim at the team for his diminished role in the offense. In March 2021, the team released him.
Tate, 33, has not played since his 2020 campaign with the Giants, where he started 14 games in two seasons and made 84 catches for 1,064 yards and eight touchdowns. His tumultuous 2020 season saw a sharp decline in usage, with just four starts and two touchdowns.
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Golf Star Shouts Out Giants Superstar
Saquon Barkley is headed toward a major year as he looks to play an entire season for the first time since his rookie campaign in 2018. Barkley, 25, recently made comments that should encourage his fans, stating that this is the first time in a while that he’s trusting his knee and feeling confident. Barkley’s appeal stretches to other fans in other sports, with four-time golf major winner Brooks Koepka being the latest.
Barkley, who subsequently retweeted Koepka’s post, had 593 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 13 games last season. He missed time with an ankle injury and was later placed on COVID protocol. Barkley has been unable to replicate his 2018 season, when he led the league with 2,028 yards from scrimmage and 15 total touchdowns and won the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Jihad Ward Making Good First Impression
Linebacker Jihad Ward is off to a great start as he prepares for his first season with the Giants. The six-year veteran, who arrived from the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason, has been lauded by head coach Brian Daboll.
“He’s got a great personality, energetic,” Daboll said. “I love the way he practices. He’s always running to the ball. I’d say he helps out. … He’s great with guys like Kayvon [Thibodeaux] and those young guys in his room.”
Ward, for his part, seems to be taking the mentor role with Thibodeaux head-on. When asked about the rookie, the 28-year-old said he would “Make sure he’s studied the playbook and stuff like that, because I don’t want him to play slow. I don’t want any of my guys to play slow. That goes for all positions. But him, he’ll be ready. He’ll definitely be ready, and I can’t wait.”
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Former Giants Receiver on Daniel Jones: ‘Let Him Loose’