Okay, so we’ll set the scene for you (a bit dramatically, too). Daniel Jones is fresh off his emotional goodbye to the Giants. Now, he is dropping a hearty statement about leaving the franchise. But instead of applause, what did he get? At least, ESPN’s Elle Duncan dribbles into the moment with a full-court press of snarky commentary. She mocked Jones for needing notes for his speech, saying, “Didn’t you go to Duke?” That would have been (somewhat) alright. But she kept going: “I could have saved you 90 seconds: ‘Sorry you paid me $180 million for one playoff win’.” Ouch. If trash-talking were a sport, Duncan might just be All-Star First Team.

So, you can gauge that this did not sit well among the football community. Enters the former Viking with a social media handle and some candidly true words (instead of an axe and a shield)… Legend QB Tommy Kramer didn’t hold back: “Good luck to Daniel. Hopefully, this is the last time we see this reporter.”

His words were simple. But the message was clear—he wasn’t here for Duncan’s courtside heckling of Jones. And honestly, neither were a lot of fans, who felt she crossed the line from critique to outright disrespect.

Now, while you’d expect some sort of remorse from Duncan after such a backlash, the reporter was unfazed. Built different? Maybe. She wasn’t about to let it go… Doubling down; she fired back at the Giants and their fans, pointing out the hypocrisy. “Am I more disrespectful than the Giants making him a scout team safety?” she asked, referencing how Jones was treated earlier in his career.

And she’s not entirely wrong—Jones has been the scapegoat for a struggling franchise, taking hits both on and off the field. Even Stephen A. Smith chimed in, calling out the Giants’ mishandling of their quarterback situation.

Stephen A. Smith called out the Giants for poor handling of Daniel Jones

Alright, let’s rewind to September, back when Daniel Jones couldn’t catch a break—even from his own fans. Remember the brutal takes on social media? One fan flat-out said, “BRO JUST ACCEPT THE FACT HE IS TERRIBLE… He isn’t saving this franchise, and he isn’t saving this season.” Harsh, right? And yet, here we are now, with Jones officially released by the Giants after a season featuring a 79.4 passer rating, 2,070 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. So why the sudden outrage over Elle Duncan’s comments? Big Blue, you wanted him gone. Isn’t this what you asked for?

That’s where Stephen A. Smith entered the chat, and he wasn’t holding back. He tore into the Giants organization while defending his ESPN colleague. “The New York Giants, respectfully, shut the hell up,” Smith said. “Y’all are sorry! Y’all are pathetic! The only reason why you get away with it is because the Jets have been worse!” His rant wasn’t exactly subtle. But it resonated with the frustration some feel toward the franchise’s handling of Jones.

Here’s the twist, though—Smith missed the point. The backlash wasn’t about defending the Giants; it was about defending Daniel Jones, the person. Sure, his numbers didn’t scream “franchise QB,” but he was respected in the locker room and adored by the community. Turning his farewell into a punchline felt more like a cheap shot than a sharp analysis. Duncan’s comments weren’t about the Giants’ failures; they were a public dunk on Jones during what should’ve been a dignified exit.

This whole situation is like when your team botches a final play—they had good intentions, but the execution? Ouch. Criticism of players is fair game, but there’s a fair line between analyzing performance and turning someone into the butt of the joke. So, what do you think did Duncan cross that line? Or was she fine in saying what she did?