New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston has gone through many ups and downs throughout the first half of the season.
Winston went from being the backup that was thrusted into the starting role, but then was benched in favor of J.J. McCarthy following a poor performance against the New Orleans Saints. Winston has seen it all this season, and it’s only been less than two months since he signed a two-year, $13 million contract.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen explained the reasoning behind Winston’s
extension and defended the backup quarterback.
“You’re always going to want a vet that can help the young guys while the coaches are up game planning and the quarterbacks are doing film on their own. Downstairs in the meeting room, to have a vet and just to know how valuable Jameis is to Jaxson and how valuable he will be to J.J. as well,” Schoen said.
“To have the veteran presence in the room with the wisdom that Jameis has and can provide and the leadership, the multiplier effect that that will pay for those guys down the road is invaluable. So you’re always going to want a vet in the room anyways. And the way that Jameis had performed and along with the leadership, just the chemistry of that room and for the whole team, it just made sense. I’m glad we have him here.”
The backup quarterback role isn’t always about stepping into games and performing when the starter gets hurt. The backup quarterback provides a calming presence to the room and sets the tone. It’s a job Winston has grown in and improved at throughout his career. While the Giants may have wished he would have performed better on the field, they are more than pleased with his overall contributions to the locker room and organization.
“When you’re talking about a backup quarterback that also has leadership, that can lead not only that room, but the team. Can he go 2-2 in a four-game stretch? He went 2-1-1. And like I said, he’s led us in games where we’ve had leads in the fourth quarter or at least a tie. So you’re in the game in the fourth quarter with him and with a backup quarterback, that’s what you’re looking at,” Schoen said.
Winston may not be the starter anymore, but his stint as the starter will have a large impact on how the Giants finish out the year. He may not have been perfect, but he kept the team afloat when they needed him and he’s doing what he needs to do now to be successful in his role. At the end of the day, that’s a pretty darn good backup quarterback.
