Daniel Jones has made the wrong kinds of headlines this season with the Giants, with the most recent the result of another poor game against the 49ers, when several San Francisco defensive players called out the quarterback — and the Giants — for the sizable contract he signed in the offseason.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw told the San Francisco Chronicle after the 49ers beat the Giants: “A lot of people who make all that money don’t even deserve it. I think they took a chance [when the Giants signed Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract]. I mean, he’s not bad. And if you ain’t got nothing better …”
There were other anonymous quotes calling the contract “a travesty” and “ridiculous.”
Jones said Thursday he was aware of the criticism.
“I saw it,” Jones said following practice. “I’m focused on what we’re doing here with these guys and trying to get back on track.”
Jones and the Giants have gotten off to a rough start since the team decided to commit to the 26-year-old, now in his fifth season.
The mild-mannered Jones hasn’t found himself in the middle of too many firestorms in his NFL career, but now that he has a big contract, he’s sure to attract more attention.
And he said Thursday the 49ers were entitled to their opinion.
“They won,’’ Jones said of San Francisco. “They’ve got good players on defense and they won. We’re focused on us and what we’re doing here.”
When it was noted that players don’t typically criticize contracts of their opponents, Jones said, “I don’t know. You’d have to ask them [why they did it].”
Asked if he thought the newfound spotlight came with the contract, Jones said, “I guess some people are like that, where they feel the need to do that. That’s fine. It’s part of it.”
Jones will get a chance to begin to turn around his season — which has been a colossal disappointment outside of the second half against the Cardinals — when the Giants host Seattle on Monday night at MetLife Stadium.
The Seahawks enter with the second-worst passing defense in the NFL in both yards per game and completions.
Matthew Stafford of the Rams, Jared Goff of the Lions and Andy Dalton of the Panthers have all thrown for over 300 yards against Seattle.
Jones eclipsed the 300-yard mark against Arizona (321), but passed for just 104 yards versus Dallas and 137 yards in the loss to San Francisco.
“They’ve faced some dynamic offenses and good passing attacks, with good schemes and players,” Jones said of the Seahawks. “There’s stuff to learn from there.”
Jones was also held to 5 yards on the ground against San Francisco after running for 102 yards over the first two games.
“I didn’t use my legs as much,’’ Jones said. “I’ve got to do a good job finding opportunities to do that when I can: Get outside the pocket, find a lane to step up and run.”
He added the 49ers were “tuned in to pursue [me], I think, when I got outside the pocket.”
The Seahawks will no doubt try a similar plan to make sure Jones doesn’t look like the $160 million man.