Most of the NFL world has moved on from one of the big media stories of recent days, involving the fallout from Elle Duncan’s comments about former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones.
The SportsCenter anchor appears ready to move on, too, although it seems she’s still getting blowback from fans.
So Saturday morning, Duncan took a clever yet obvious shot at those who have criticized her the past couple of days.
“It started flurrying this morning after a surprising amount of snow on my drive yesterday. I guess you could say I can’t seem to escape all these snowflakes,” Duncan posted on X.
It started flurrying this morning after a surprising amount of snow on my drive yesterday. I guess you could say I can’t seem to escape all these snowflakes.. pic.twitter.com/uKVffDvwMw
— Elle Duncan (@elleduncanESPN) November 23, 2024
Other than the obvious meteorological definition of “snowflake,” the term of course also refers to “a person who is easily offended, overly sensitive, or emotionally fragile” (via Dictionary.com). And many fans and at least one prominent Giants official were offended by Duncan’s remarks about Jones on Thursday’s 6 p.m. SportsCenter.
The struggling quarterback, who was recently benched, gave what some referred to as his “farewell speech” Thursday (the team released him after six seasons Friday). Duncan mocked Jones for saying he had written his thoughts down, saying “I’m sorry, you have to write this down? Didn’t you go to Duke?” She then said, “You guys think he had this saved in his notes since like 2020? In all seriousness, DJ, I could have saved you like 90 seconds. A rewrite: I’m sorry you paid me $108 million for one playoff win. And I look forward to reviving my career as Brock Purdy’s backup. The end.”
ESPN’s Elle Duncan on Daniel Jones’ farewell to Giants fans: “You guys think he had this saved in his notes since like 2020? In all seriousness, DJ, I could have saved you like 90 seconds. A rewrite: I’m sorry you paid me $108 million for one playoff win. And I look forward to… pic.twitter.com/CF8Ix8M9M9
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 22, 2024
Pat Hanlon, senior vice president of communications for the Giants, immediately called out Duncan on X: “That an ESPN personality would mock Daniel Jones’ statement today is mind boggling. Given what has happened at that company over past few years, tone deaf.”
That an #ESPN personality would mock Daniel Jones’ statement today is mind boggling. Given what has happened at that company over past few years, tone deaf.
— pat hanlon (@giantspathanlon) November 22, 2024
Duncan revealed on First Take Friday that she’d heard from many angry fans. Yet she defended her comments. And FT colleague Stephen A. Smith blasted the Giants for complaining, telling them to“shut the hell up,” and calling the team “awful” and “pathetic.”
Stephen A. Smith weighs in: “The New York Giants, respectfully, shut the hell up. Y’all are awful as an organization… y’all are sorry! Y’all are pathetic! The only reason why you get away with it is because the Jets have been worse… and you’ve got the nerve to sit up there… pic.twitter.com/tvvaQp4Skc
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 22, 2024
These stories usually have a lifespan of a day or two. Duncan’s post about not being able to “escape all these snowflakes” seems to indicate she’s still getting blowback.
[Elle Duncan]