Despite all of the interest from other teams in Jameis Winston, it does not appear that the veteran New York Giants quarterback is going anywhere.
“I appreciate people that are interested, but Jameis is a New York Giant,” assistant general manager Brandon Brown said on Tuesday. “He wants to be here and he wants to be here for the long haul. Teammates love him, his preparation process, whether it’s the off-field things that he does in terms of community relations, Bible study, things in the locker
room, galvanizing the group together.
“He’s been comic relief, but he’s also been a really good example of how to be a pro in handling your business in terms of prehab, rehab, postgame care. So, I’m happy he’s here, and he’s going to continue to do those things.”
So, whether he is QB2 or QB3 this season, it would seem Winston is staying put.
‘Excited’ for Jalin Hyatt
Brown believes the third-year wide receiver could have a productive season.
“He’s put in the work. The biggest thing that’s evident with him is getting his weight up,” Brown said. “I think the relationship with him and (quarterback) Russ (Wilson) is really going to be an opportunity to unlock him. When you look at what Jalin can do just in terms of if you’re playing single high coverage and he’s got the ability to take the top off and keep the secondary honest, Russ’s ability to throw the deep ball as evident in the last preseason game, that’s a connection they’ve been working on.
“He’s working. He never has gotten down on himself. He knows it’s a constant grind and he knows the talent he has. He’s just frustrated, and he knows what we put into him in terms of trading up and he wants to put a return on that investment.”
‘Heightened accountability measures’
In speaking about third-year cornerback Deonte Banks, whose effort was questioned at times in 2024, Brown said that “Dabs (head coach Brian Daboll) heightened the accountability measures for that room, and we expect return.”
Was that a shot at former defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson and his assistant, Mike Treier? Henderson, who said last year he campaigned for the drafting of Banks in 2023, and Treier were fired after last season. In their place are secondary coach Marquand Manuel and cornerbacks coach Jeff Burris.
“You have to practice the way you play,” Brown said. “It doesn’t matter where you were drafted. The best production is going to lead who plays, and Dabs has been very clear about that, and we wholeheartedly support that. Yes, we put investment in the guys, but the best players are going to play, and it’s not just going to be a game day thing. It’s how you prepare. It’s how you practice.”
Reading between the lines of that, it is clear that the Giants were not thrilled with Banks’ practice habits.
Learning about Jaxson Dart
“We put so much time into him in the pre-draft process, there really haven’t been any surprises. But I think the cool thing is seeing the way he preps in real time. I mean, he squeezes all the juice out of any type of methods,” Brown said. “Whether it’s creating voice notes for himself, finding little incremental times where we may be on the bus, and he’s creating voice notes for himself, and listening back to him on his headphones, always just trying to (find) time to get better.
“The little things, I didn’t know he was a yoga guy, and him and Jameis (Winston) do extra mobility things in the weight room late at night. We have a nightly walk-through at 6 p.m., and he’s in there at 7:30 p.m. with Jameis. The everyman aspect, that was expected. We knew the magnetic personality he had, his work ethic, but just the little wrinkles in terms of how that work ethic has materialized has been really cool to see.”
Roster depth, versatility
“When you talk about the roster, the biggest thing you can point to is the depth we have, the versatility we have,” Brown said. “Look at the offseason construction. There was an emphasis on rush and coverage. Rush and coverage is going to age well and lend to an identity. Whether it’s adding (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter), adding (defensive lineman) Chauncey Golston in free agency. We talked about adding Jevón Holland and Paulson Adebo, creating more turnovers on the back end along with getting after the quarterback.
“I just think what Russ has been able to do from a leadership standpoint on the offensive side of the ball, there’s been a young group that’s been able to mature with him. He can speak from having a championship pedigree, being in these high-pressure situations, and not just someone who’s talking about it, he’s lived it, and he’s bringing guys along. Along with, he’s playing for legacy, and at the same time too, he’s helping develop the young guys that are around him in all the other position rooms.”
