Giants bench struggling QB Jones

Daniel Jones’ tenure as the Giants starting quarterback is over. The Giants benched the struggling 27-year-old on Monday and coach Brian Daboll plans to start fan favorite Tommy DeVito against the Buccaneers this week in an attempt to end a five-game losing streak. Not only was Jones benched, Daboll said he will be the No. 3 quarterback for the final seven games, while fellow veteran Drew Lock remains the backup. “Obviously not playing the way any of us want to play, and that on all of us,” Daboll said. “But felt like this was a decision that we needed to make here to try to spark things, change things up.” Daboll and co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch will have other decisions to make as the Giants (2-8) appear headed for a second straight losing season. One will be Jones’ future — he has two years and $80 million left on his contract. Jones, who was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 draft, will stay with the team the rest of the season. Jones has eight touchdown passes and seven interceptions this season. He’s 3-13 in his last 16 starts and the Giants rank last in the league in scoring.

Lakers to honor Riley with statue

The Lakers will honor former coach Pat Riley with a statue outside their downtown arena. The team announced Monday that it ha commissioned a statue to stand in Star Plaza immortalizing the coach who won four championships with the “Showtime” Lakers of the 1980s. Riley also won championship rings with the Lakers as a player and an assistant coach. Riley, 79, has been part of the Heat as a coach and executive for the last three decades. He played for the Lakers from 1970 to 1975, and was a team broadcaster before becoming Paul Westhead’s assistant in 1979. He took over as head coach in 1981 and led the Lakers through one of the most dynamic eras for any team in NBA history. With Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar leading an exciting team with a groundbreaking offense, the Lakers went 533-194 in Riley’s tenure and added 102 playoff wins over nine seasons. Riley will become the eighth Lakers luminary to be honored with a statue in Star Plaza. The others are Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and broadcaster Chick Hearn.

Nadal’s status for Davis Cup is TBD

Rafael Nadal felt a hand on his left shoulder as he walked out of a conference room at a resort on Spain’s southern coast Monday following his first question-and-answer session with reporters since announcing this week’s Davis Cup Final 8 will be his last event before retirement. Nadal turned to see Carlos Alcaraz, his Spanish teammate and heir apparent, who wanted to whisper something. Nadal, 38, and Alcaraz, 21, might share a court one last time on Tuesday, when Spain faces the Netherlands in the quarterfinals at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena in Malaga. Then again, maybe they won’t both play Tuesday: Neither Nadal nor Spain’s captain, David Ferrer, would say Monday whether the 22-time Grand Slam champ will participate. “I’m not here to retire. I’m here to help the team win. It’s my last week in a team competition, and the most important thing is to help the team. The emotions will come later,” Nadal said. “I’m enjoying the week. I’m not putting too much attention to the retirement. It will be a big change in my life after this week.” —Associated Press