In the aftermath of the Giants’ overtime win Sunday, the interaction “meant the world” to J.J. McCarthy.
asserted
interaction → meant → McCarthy
But general manager Joe Schoen being “fired up” and telling McCarthy “we believe in you,” as McCarthy recalled, was a bit ironic, too.
asserted
McCarthy → fire → you
Two years ago, the Giants had the chance to draft McCarthy at No. 6 overall, but they had apparent skepticism about his mental makeup and ability to handle the market, according to The Post’s Paul Schwartz.
uncertain
they → have → Schwartz
In the present, though, Big Blue now believes in McCarthy enough to let him run the offense for a Giants team entering the bye at 4-2-1, sitting atop the NFC East and staring down a legit chance at cracking the postseason tournament.
asserted
him → believe → tournament
tRY IT NOWMcCarthy aced his first impression with an NFL-record 243 yards across an 11-minute span against the Saints before following that up with the thriller in Houston.
asserted
NOWMcCarthy → try → Houston
“What I would say is when we’re going through the process, the process is so thorough that — or our process I feel like is thorough — that it may not be for today,” Schoen said of what changed.
uncertain
what → say → today
“Maybe it’s not for this year’s draft, but down the road you may be able to make a move like what we made because of the research we did on J.J.
“
uncertain
we → ’ → J.J.
There’s some people you rule out because they don’t fit, and maybe you wouldn’t trade for that player, but because of the work we had done on J.J. in the predraft process, we felt comfortable with who the kid was, and we liked the film that we saw from Minnesota.”
asserted
we → ’ → Minnesota
The obvious link to McCarthy runs through the Harbaugh family, with John coaching the Giants and his brother, Jim, the coach of Michigan when McCarthy won a national championship there.
asserted
McCarthy → run → championship
But to get to the Giants in exchange for a fifth-round pick, McCarthy missed the entire 2024 season while injured, then tumbled down the Vikings depth chart.
asserted
McCarthy → get → chart
He managed just 1,632 passing yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions across 10 games last year, but through nearly five quarters with the Giants, McCarthy is at 495 yards, one touchdown, one interception, one near-comeback and one thrilling win on the road.
asserted
McCarthy → manage → road
This will all get interesting for the Giants in the offseason if McCarthy continues to match the hype that his initial performances generated.
asserted
performances → get → that
Jaxson Dart, positioned as the potential franchise quarterback before his injury, is still on crutches after his surgery but “still thinks if we make the playoffs that he’s going to be able to come back,” Schoen said with a laugh.
asserted
Schoen → position → laugh
Jameis Winston was signed to a two-year, $13 million extension before the season.
asserted
Winston → sign → season
And McCarthy has one year remaining on his rookie deal, as well as a fifth-year team option for 2028, too.
asserted
McCarthy → have → 2028
“It’s a really good room, I would say,” Schoen said.
asserted
Schoen → ’ → ?
“It’s probably one of the stronger ones in the league. …
asserted
It → ’ → league
It’s a good position to be in.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
And hopefully J.J. and Jameis can stay healthy throughout the rest of this year, and J.J. can continue to play at a high level.
asserted
J.J. → stay → level
That’ll all come into focus over the weeks and months that follow.
asserted
that → come → weeks
But after a whirlwind of a month, McCarthy’s life has started to settle into place, too.
asserted
life → start → place
His wife, Katya, and his son, Rome, are coming to the area Thursday and staying for good.
asserted
wife → come → area
McCarthy said he hasn’t seen them in a month.
asserted
he → say → month
His brother-in-law’s girlfriend is running in the New York City Marathon, and he said he’ll be able to enjoy New York City while preparing to make sure the Giants offense becomes his “formal language” for when they return from the bye week with two games in five days against the Eagles and Commanders.
asserted
they → run → Eagles
And in just a month’s time, the Giants’ belief in him has continued to mount — a stark U-turn from the message they sent with their draft decision two years ago.
asserted
they → continue → decision
“That’s all you could ask for,” McCarthy said when asked about the Giants’ belief in him now.
uncertain
McCarthy → ’ → him
“Obviously, one that believes in himself needs no convincing of others, but it feels really good when the people that are around you and supporting you really, truly have that belief in you for sure.”
asserted
that → believe → you
The Aporia
