Sports
Don’t Quit on Daniel Jones Quite Yet
Don’t write off Daniel Jones yet.
In today’s society, where we prefer our cocoa made instantly, Jones may be a reminder that some things need time to develop. Not everything happens overnight.
With the Giants facing a dreaded 0-3 start, Jones turned in one of his better performances on Sunday, completing 70.59% of his passes (24 of 34) for 236 yards and two TDs in a 21-15 victory over the Browns.
Jones’ best drive was a 14-play, 93-yard scoring drive in the second quarter, capped with a 3-yard TD pass to rookie Malik Nabers. That score put the Giants in front, and they held on the rest of the way.
In a “prove-it” year for Jones, it marked his second straight game with a passer rating of at least 100. The last time he had back-to-back games with 100-plus passer ratings was Oct. 9 and Oct. 16, 2022.
“He was locked in, and he’s been that way,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said. “We’re going to need it from him this week (against the Cowboys on Thursday)—a short week. A lot of work to do.”
Jones has never had a stretch in his career with three straight 100-plus passer rating games. Considering Jones is 1-7 in his career vs. the Cowboys, odds aren’t in his favor to do it Thursday. But it feels like Jones is turning a corner in his sixth season, especially playing behind the best offensive line he’s had.
As Jones said when asked about the improved O-line this week, “Yeah, it gives you a lot of confidence to be able to see the field and find the open guy, get the ball out of my hands, all those things. I have a lot of confidence in those guys.”
The Giants showed some confidence in Jones this offseason, too, opting to use the sixth overall pick on Nabers instead of a quarterback. And, it’s hard to blame Jones solely for just one playoff appearance so far in his career, as he’s played for three different head coaches (Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge, Daboll) and four different offensive coordinators (Mike Shula, Jason Garrett, Freddie Kitchens and Mike Kafka).
Sometimes it just takes getting into the right system and developing. Sam Darnold is an example of that, as the Vikings are off to a 3-0 start. Darnold, the third overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Jets, flamed out in New York but finally has things going in the right direction on his fourth team in seven years.
Seattle’s Geno Smith and Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield are other quarterbacks who have found success by moving on to different systems.
And, even though it’s difficult for fans to endure the growing pains, sometimes quarterbacks need time and experience before reaching their potential. Alex Smith, a former No. 1 overall quarterback drafted by the 49ers, didn’t make his first Pro Bowl until his eighth season in the league and then went on to win a couple of AFC West titles with the Chiefs later in his career.
Hall of Famer Steve Young is another late bloomer who made his first Pro Bowl in his eighth season and won two MVP awards in his age 31 and 33 seasons.
At the end of the day, the Giants’ best bet is to keep riding with Jones. It can’t be overstated: sometimes it just takes time, and finding the “next big thing” in the draft is even more of a roll of the dice.
Just look at a few of the names from the last few years who many felt would be on the path to stardom by now: Bryce Young, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields. It’s a much safer bet for the Giants to bank on Jones’ continued improvement.
So, is Daniel Jones the right QB for the Giants? He has the rest of the season to prove it.
Sports
Max Holloway would 'love' Conor McGregor rematch; no contract offer yet
Aug 17, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Max Holloway (left) throws a punch at Conor McGregor (right) during a UFC featherweight match at the TD Garden. McGregor won after three rounds by judges decision. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images Max Holloway is working out in preparation for a fight that might never occur, but as he sees it, there’s really no other choice.
“I mean, it’s just, it sucks,” Hollway said in an interview with Paramount+. “I would just like to get one back.”
The former UFC featherweight champion is in training camp for a potential rematch with double title winner Conor McGregor in Las Vegas this July at UFC 329, but without a signed contract in hand.
The uncertainty is due in part to questions over when or if McGregor wants to step back into the Octagon, especially considering the Irishman hasn’t fought since July 2021. McGregor was rumored to be on the card scheduled for the White House this summer, but his purported opponent, Michael Chandler, instead will oppose Mauricio Ruffy.
Still, Holloway is expressing unfailing interest in trying to secure a deal to face off against McGregor again. The two squared off in 2013 and McGregor won by unanimous decision, though McGregor left the match with a torn ACL.
“My head space is good, it’s straight,” Holloway said. “I kinda know when I fight. We kinda know where we want to fight, why we want to fight, so just getting in the gym, getting there, getting it done.
“It’s a huge fight. Anything with Conor McGregor is huge, but having history with the dude, being able to get one back would be cool.”
Holloway is eager to erase the poor impression left by a one-sided loss to Charles Oliveira last time out, a March 7 unanimous-decision defeat that cost him the symbolic BMF title that rests with the UFC’s “baddest” competitor.
“You’re only as good as your last fight, they say, and we’re going to get everybody forgetting about that last fight as soon as possible,” Holloway said.
For McGregor, the biggest draw in the sport and the first athlete in the sport to hold two weight class titles simultaneously (featherweight and lightweight), it would mark a return from a devastating broken tibia and ensuing drug suspension that have sidelined “Notorious” for the better part of five years.
Holloway, a 34-year-old Honolulu native, projects as a heavy favorite over McGregor, 37, due to the latter’s long layoff.
–Field Level Media
Sports
CJ Abrams (5 RBIs), Nationals slam Twins
May 6, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (5) hits an RBI double against the Minnesota Twins during the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images CJ Abrams had three hits including a grand slam, Miles Mikolas pitched into the sixth inning and the host Washington Nationals routed the Minnesota Twins 15-2 on Wednesday night.
Brady House, Drew Millas and Jose Tena each had two hits including a home run for the Nationals, who collected 14 hits. Abrams also had two doubles and five RBIs, and James Wood and Jacob Young each had two hits.
Mikolas (1-3), signed as a free agent in the offseason, began the game with an 8.23 ERA. The right-hander pitched a season-high 5 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on three hits. Mikolas retired 16 of the 19 batters he faced to earn his first Washington win.
Three Washington pitchers held Minnesota to three hits. Matt Wallner had two hits including a home run for Minnesota, which had won two straight.
Twins starter Bailey Ober (3-2) went five-plus innings, allowing five runs on six hits.
Minnesota took a 1-0 lead in the third when Luke Keaschall doubled and scored on a Wallner single.
Washington did not get a baserunner against Ober until Wood singled leading off the fourth. Wood stole second with one out and Curtis Mead walked. Abrams followed with a double to score Wood.
Wallner homered off Mikolas in the fifth to put Twins up 2-1.
Young singled leading off the bottom half and Millas homered to center to give Washington a 3-2 lead.
In the sixth, back-to-back doubles by Abrams and House ended Ober’s night. Tena greeted reliever Andrew Morris with Washington’s third straight double to make it 5-2. With two outs, Nasim Nunez tripled to right and the lead was 6-2.
Daylen Lile walked leading off the bottom of the seventh and, with two outs, House homered to center to make it 8-2.
Young singled, Millas doubled and Wood singled them both home in the eighth. Washington loaded the bases and Abrams smacked a grand slam to right-center, the second of his career. Tena followed with a homer to make it 15-2.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Phillies' 4-run eighth fuels rally past Athletics
May 6, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis García (53) celebrates his home run with second baseman Edmundo Sosa (33) against the Athletics during the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Edmundo Sosa delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies rallied to notch a 6-3 victory over the visiting Athletics on Wednesday.
Brandon Marsh had three hits and an RBI for Philadelphia, which improved to 8-1 under interim manager Don Mattingly. Adolis Garcia homered for the Phillies while J.T. Realmuto, Garcia and Sosa each had two hits.
A’s left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who exited his last outing with hip soreness, gave up two runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and no walks in a crisp 75-pitch performance. Nick Kurtz finished with two hits and an RBI as he reached base for the 30th straight game.
In his third start since returning from a blood clot in his shoulder, Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings.
The Phillies trailed 3-2 in the eighth inning when Kyle Schwarber drew a leadoff walk against Jack Perkins (2-1). Bryce Harper reached on an error by second baseman Jeff McNeil that spoiled a potential double play, then Garcia singled to load the bases.
Sosa grounded his two-run single up the middle to give Philadelphia the lead. The Athletics brought in Hogan Harris for the platoon advantage against Brandon Marsh, but Marsh stroked an RBI single before Justin Crawford’s RBI groundout made it 6-3 as the Phillies’ four-run frame featured two unearned runs.
The A’s loaded the bases against Brad Keller with two outs in the ninth, but the veteran right-hander got Jacob Wilson on a grounder back to the mound to end it. Orion Kerkering (1-0) recorded the final out of the eighth.
Kurtz’s RBI single in the fifth made it 2-0, but Philadelphia got a run back in the bottom half as Marsh tripled and scored on a grounder by Felix Reyes. Tyler Soderstrom led off the sixth with a homer against Wheeler to make it 3-1.
The Phillies answered again, this time with Garcia’s solo homer in their half of the sixth.
Perkins pitched the seventh for the A’s, striking out a pair, before the right-hander ran into trouble in the eighth.
–Field Level Media
Max Holloway would 'love' Conor McGregor rematch; no contract offer yet
CJ Abrams (5 RBIs), Nationals slam Twins
