Giants’ Dave Gettleman holds year-end press conference: 10 takeaways

By Agnes E. Utt 6 years ago

New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman took the podium on Wednesday morning for his year-end press conference, which came on the heels of co-owner John Mara formally announcing the GM’s return.

Mara indicated that no real consideration had been given to replacing Gettleman, which could be felt when the GM stepped up to the plate. He sounded like a man who was still very much in control.

Here are a few takeaways from Gettleman’s final presser of the season.

2018 personnel moves were not stellar

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One thing Gettleman did admit was that his personnel moves in 2018 were not stellar. He did not specifically address any one player, draftee or decision, but acknowledged the team had to recover and learn from those mistakes.

Gettleman, like Mara said before him, believes that the past two years have been much more productive and that the arrow is pointing up.

Uncertain cap space

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Gettleman knows the Giants must hit another homerun in free agency this coming offseason, but there is a built-in hiccup. Because of COVID-19, its impact on the 2020 and the structure of one-year agreement between the NFL and NFLPA, the future of the salary cap is uncertain. Until a solid figure is established, the Giants (and all other teams) are working blind.

Happy with the culture shift

Joe Judge
Joe Judge

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Joe Judge remarked on it during his final press conference of the season, John Mara touched on it during his Zoom call and then Gettleman capped it off: the culture in East Rutherford has changed. Top to bottom, Gettleman feels like a solid cultural foundation has been established and it can mean only good things for the Giants moving forward.

Complete confidence in Daniel Jones

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Again, John Mara, Joe Judge and Dave Gettleman were in lock-step when it came to quarterback Daniel Jones. Gettleman is completely sold on Jones being a long-term franchise quarterback for the Giants and believes he will lead them to the promised land. And while the GM did acknowledge some of Jones’ early-career shortcomings, he expects nothing but positive things from the 23-year-old.

COVID-19 took a mental toll

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Dave Gettleman is nearing the age of 70 and recently waged war against cancer, so the COVID-19 pandemic obviously took a mental toll on him as it did all others. The good news? Gettleman is healthy as a horse.

Gettleman also revealed that Ronnie Barnes had the foresight to know the pandemic was going to drastically alter things, which allowed the Giants to begin preparations and move to a virtual setting long before the NFL changed protocols.

Concern over Jason Garrett potentially leaving

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Despite a sub par season, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will not be fired. However, it is possible he lands a head coaching job which makes Gettleman “antsy.” The major concern Gettleman has is potentially forcing Daniel Jones into his third system in three years (and fourth in four years dating back to his final season at Duke). “The possibility of Jason leaving, of course it makes you a little antsy,” Gettleman said. “Just imagine anybody, any of you guys, having your fourth editor in four years. It’s the same thing. It’s no different. So we’ll adjust and adapt and do what we have to do. Obviously anything we do moving forward, Daniel is a big part of it and we’re certainly conscious of that piece.”

Need to find playmakers

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Gettleman acknowledged what everyone can see from the outside: the offense lacks playmakers. Although Gettleman did not clamp down on any one player, he made it clear that the team intends to add talent around Daniel Jones in 2021, which means there will be several moving pieces. “This is an important roster-building offseason for us,” Gettleman said. “We’ve got some solid pieces. We’ve built up the lines. We have to continue to get good players and part of it is getting playmakers. This is something, a goal of ours in the offseason.”

Willing to cry

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The Giants were unable to sign Leonard Williams to a long-term contract last season and that failure may cost them come March. However, Gettleman is okay with that trade-off because he always tells players he wants them to do so well that it makes him cry when it comes to negotiations.

Williams certainly isn’t the only one who has done that or will do that.

Confident in offensive line

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Despite the early struggles of the offensive line, Gettleman remains confident in the team’s O-line rebuild and the “hog mollies” he has on the team now. Specifically, Gettleman spoke about center Nick Gates, left tackle Andrew Thomas and others.

Decisions on several players are coming

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The Giants obviously have some tough decisions to make in the coming months, including what to do with veteran offensive tackle Nate Solder. Although Gettleman hasn’t spoken to Solder yet, he said decisions are coming on him and several other players.

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