Earlier this week, New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart introduced President Donald Trump at a rally held at Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York. He led the crowd in a “Go Big Blue” chant and brought the president to the stage, while Trump called him a “future Hall of Famer.”
After Dart introduced Trump, he received some backlash, including a post from his Giants teammate Abdul Carter. Now, NFL analyst Craig Carton has something to say about it as well.
Jaxson Dart Introducing Donald Trump Brings Unwanted Attention
The WFAN Sports Radio host had a unique take on Dart associating with Trump. He was less upset about the politics and more concerned that the Giants quarterback is doing too much given his résumé.
“Jaxson Dart is going to have to learn how to say no at some point,” Carton said. “Because he is living the life of a guy that’s already accomplished a lot in the NFL.”
Dart is already being treated like a big name. He’s appearing at rallies, drawing praise from the president, and making news off the field. That’s fine when you’ve accomplished a lot on the field, but Dart hasn’t done much yet.
To be fair, his rookie season showed real promise. Dart ranked 18th in PFSN’s QB Impact Score last season. He threw for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions while also rushing for 487 yards and 9 scores on the ground.
Those are solid numbers. But he went 4-8 as a starter, and the Giants are still a team searching for an identity. There is a lot left to prove.
Carton’s real warning is about what happens when things go sideways on the field.
“I’m telling you, that is great…” he said. “But if you come out of the gate 1-3 and you got 7 picks and 2 touchdowns, it’s going to backfire on you, and the fans will turn on you very quickly.”
New York fans are passionate and they aren’t patient. The city will celebrate you loudly and turn on you just as fast.
Dart is getting a taste of the celebrity side of playing quarterback in New York. That part is fun. But if you don’t back it up on the field and the losses pile up, those same fans will grow frustrated.
Carton acknowledged that “it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to introduce a president at an event like that, so I’m not knocking the kid for doing it.”
But the bigger point still holds.
“He is acting like he has already accomplished something in the NFL,” Carton said. “The NFL will humble you in a New York City second if you’re not ready for it. And I’m just a little concerned that Jaxson Dart is now living the life of a superstar, and he hasn’t quite earned it just yet.”
Dart has the talent, as he showed last year. But in New York, showing promise just means heightened expectations. The only thing that quiets the noise is winning. Everything else is just noise.
