Giants legend wants Daniel Jones to make one big change

Retired quarterback and current CBS Sports NFL analyst Phil Simms earned Super Bowl XXI Most Valuable Player honors featuring for the New York Giants. 

Simms spoke during the network’s Super Bowl LVIII media availability on Tuesday about Giants signal-caller Daniel Jones, who seemingly is facing a make-or-break year regarding his future with the organization. 

"He definitely has starting NFL talent," Simms said about Jones, as shared by Tom Rock of Newsday. "That’s the one thing I’ll argue against as long as you want. I wish he’d yell at somebody sometimes. Is that OK? Not that that makes you a quarterback, but it tells me something about you too."

The former QB went on to joke that he sometimes wondered how he didn't get "punched" by former Giants center Bart Oates when things got heated on the sidelines during games. 

Simms isn't the first former player to offer such comments about Jones. When the Giants were struggling this past fall, one-time regular-season MVP and current CBS Sports personality Boomer Esiason said while referencing Jones that a QB1 "cannot be a flatliner and play in this league." 

Esiason also questioned Jones' "spirit" and "fight" roughly one month before the 2019 first-round draft pick suffered a torn ACL on Nov. 5. 

The Giants reportedly don't plan to use a high first-round draft choice this spring to acquire a quarterback but nevertheless could part ways with Jones as soon as next offseason. 

Simms noted that a signal-caller having "starting NFL talent" will only go so far as it pertains to Jones enjoying success beyond the road playoff win he notched with the Giants back in January 2023. 

"If you don’t have that you’re never going to have all the other stuff," Simms explained. "But it’s a good start. I think success gives you confidence and then you can turn into another guy. I think he has that chance. But like I said, it’s gonna be really rough. Why? The media. The fans. The national people who think they know. But I’ve watched him enough and I’ve seen him enough to see the top end." 

Simms was no stranger to receiving criticism from media members and fans across his first five seasons until he ultimately became a Giants legend. 

He encouraged Jones to "buckle up" and "show how tough you are" amid what will likely be the most difficult offseason to date of the 26-year-old's pro career.