A pair of budding young radio hosts took early steps in following in their legendary parents' footsteps on Wednesday.
Sonny Carton and Colin Russo, the sons of FAN greats Craig Carton and Chris Russo, respectively, discussed the state of the quarterback position for New York's pro football teams during their debut on Big Apple airwaves.
The duo led off their first hour by dissecting the Giants and Jets, including the long-term prospects of quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold.
While neither host, who are both college students, was bullish on either Jones or Darnold, they both said it was too soon for the teams to move on from the former first-round draft picks.
"I've never been too sold on Jones," Russo said, "but there are people saying 'Oh Jones isn't the answer.' I mean this guy is a first-round pick and has played what, 20-something games? Really? Isn't that early to go after Jones?"
Russo, a student at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, looked the part in a red-plaid flannel shirt.
"He's still figuring it out, he's been banged up, and it's kind of hard to get a read on him. And also they lost Saquon Barkley, and he's getting hit. He got sacked on three straight plays last week. So, if you get sacked on three straight plays, you've got to figure it out."
Carton, rocking a University of Miami hoodie, agreed.
"The Giants and the Jets are both in a similar position in terms of quarterback," Carton said. "They just spent high draft picks on guys that are still young, and we still don't know what's going to happen with them. Neither team can really say they put a great supporting cast around them. Like you said, both teams have struggled with the o-line. The Giants' skill position players in the past have been a little better than the Jets', but like you said, I think Jones and Darnold still have time left to prove themselves.
The young broadcasters were in agreement that the regular-season finale against the Cowboys will not make or break his Giants career.
"I'm a little higher up on Darnold than I am on Daniel Jones," Carton said, "but I think he showed you last year when he can not turn over the ball, he's a good quarterback. He can put points on the board. He has the legs to run -- other than when he tripped and fell on his face. I think Jones is promising. At the end of the day, this game is not going to decide the future of Daniel Jones, and this game is going to be interesting."
"Oh he's getting another year, absolutely," Russo replied. "He's getting another year. For the Giants fans saying 'We're going to get a quarterback' -- no, sorry. He's coming back. Whether you like it or not. You've got to let him develop. He's a first-round pick. You've got to give him at least three years. Come on. Give him some time. These guys develop. There's been third-year jumps before. Think of Josh Allen. Think of Baker Mayfield. How was Baker Mayfield last year?"
"We know the impatience of New York fans," Carton said. "I'm impatient myself. I don't blame you. But at the end of the day, if you're going to draft a guy that high, you have to give him at least three years."
You can listen to the entire Carton & Russo debut program below!