Hour 2: Is it Worth it to Play Jaxson Dart in the Preseason?

**Chris McMonigle** (0:00)
We are still waiting to find out what the Giants are going to do with their quarterback position. And more than that, just, you know, starters in general. And who's going to play tonight in the final game of the preseason that used to be week three. Week three used to be the... Man, this microphone. Week three.
You can't even touch it.

**Craig Carton** (0:21)
Oh, it's the worst. And then sometimes it'll just fall on you.

**Chris McMonigle** (0:24)
Yeah.

**Craig Carton** (0:26)
I pulled it out of the socket on Saturday by accident. My childhood.

**Chris McMonigle** (0:34)
What?

**SPEAKER_3** (0:35)
What does that mean?

**Chris McMonigle** (0:36)
That was extremely awkward. What do you mean your childhood?

**Craig Carton** (0:40)
Small house.

**Chris McMonigle** (0:41)
Oh. Sounded like... Well, God bless your parents. It's not a bad thing to know your parents love each other.
I'm assuming that's what you meant. They did it.

**SPEAKER_3** (0:53)
C-Mac's face when you said that was the funniest thing.

**Chris McMonigle** (0:57)
Your childhood? That was a bizarre one.
All right, let's move on. We're waiting to hear what the Giants are going to do. We know the Jets aren't going to play anybody. And with that news and first off, like I know Craig and I spent a lot of time on it yesterday. Everyone has. But Craig was big on both Geno Smith and Jaxson Dart playing. I have zero. Would I play Geno Smith a little bit? Sure. I guess I would. But Geno Smith and Jaxson Dart to me are not in the same boat. I treat them completely different when it comes to playing time in the preseason. Geno Smith is a veteran. Geno Smith has been in this league for a long time. Jet fans know it. He's played for multiple teams. He's been in multiple offenses. He is a veteran quarterback who knows what he needs to do, understands him and Frank Reich are going to be able to work together. Like he doesn't need to get out there. Would I would I do a little bit of it? Sure, I guess I would. But I have no issues with the Jets deciding on just, you know, watching Cade Clubbic play, which again, we'll see a little bit of him. I'm sure we'll see a lot of them. People are already all over the train of like, he's going to be the starting quarterback at some point this year. That would be bad news for the New York Jets. We'll get to that a little bit later as well. But I have no problem with the Jets decision to not play Gino. I have no problem with the Jets not to play starters. I'm going to find out whether or not it was a good decision when they play the Titans. But ultimately, especially Gino, he's a veteran quarterback. I have no need for him to lead the offense for a drive or two. And that's really what I want to get to with Jaxson Dart as well. Because I do feel different about Jaxson Dart. I think Jaxson Dart should play. And I'm hoping we get the word that he will play tonight. But here's what I'll say. And the one thing I don't think is worth it. And I heard Sean say this. I've heard others say this. They expect him to go out there just for a drive. I don't see the benefit in Jaxson Dart going out there against backup New York jet players and playing a series. I don't see the benefit of it.
And we talked about this yesterday. It's about feeling comfortable for week one. Craig constantly asked me, would you be comfortable if it's only 14 snaps? Would you be comfortable if you've already seen the entire preseason of Jaxson Dart? Would you be comfortable going into the cowboy game? Would I be more comfortable if you went out there and played a series against Jets backups? Would that make me more comfortable?
Like, to me, there's two options here. I think you go out there and you treat it like they used to treat this third game of the preseason and play him a significant amount. Play him into the second quarter for sure. Play him almost till half and maybe even bring him out for the beginning of the third quarter or you don't play him. But I see zero benefit in him going out there against backup players who probably won't be on the team. Won't be on the... they're not going to be good enough to be defensive players for the New York Jets.
And he's going to go out there and what? Take a couple snaps, hand a ball off and maybe throw two passes and then call it a day? What for? I'd rather have him not take the risk of going out there and playing at all if it's just for a series. So to me, and I'm curious how the Giants are going to handle it, I don't think they'll do that. I think they'll do exactly what I'm saying they shouldn't. He'll go out there and play one drive, get his feet wet, get a little bit of a taste so it's not five straight weeks without taking a snap and not getting out there, and they'll probably run him maybe one or two series, and that'll be the end of it, and I see no point in it. I want to play him and I want to play him. Let him go out there and really play. Now, again, it's against who it's against, but at least if you get out there and complete some passes and get multiple drives, and especially if it's a three and out, what are we doing? So I want to see them play him, but I want to see them give him legitimate run and play maybe the first half. If it's just to go out there and see if you can complete a couple passes against the backup Jets, I don't see a benefit in it. And I'm curious how the Giants can handle it. And here's the other thing, too. I just think the message that this coach has sent since he's become the Giants' head coach, it's about loving football. Right? That was the message. If you don't love football, this is not going to be the team for you. Then he goes out and he takes the team to West Virginia, remember the Titan style, takes them out to camp. Now, I know that camp is probably different than the five-star hotel and resort in West Virginia. But takes them out, separates them, and runs as tough a camp as not only in the NFL this season, but as tough a camp John Harbaugh has ever run in his entire career. Because we had Patrick Carton, the other day, and he told us, and he's been with John Harbaugh for a decade, and he told us he believes this has been the toughest camp that Harbaugh has ever run for him.