Dave Gettleman is getting another year to prove he can turn the Giants around. Perhaps the “four computer folks” the team recently hired can help.
Speaking for the first time in five months — and one day after head coach Pat Shurmur was fired following a 9-23 tenure — Gettleman said he took his “share of culpability” but pledged improvement.
“It hasn’t been good enough,” Gettleman said Tuesday. “It’ll get better.”
After co-owner John Mara said Gettleman’s “batting average” needed to improve regarding free agents,” the general manager said he is “absolutely” on notice.
Gettleman highlighted his accomplishments as drafting Daniel Jones to be the quarterback of the future and setting the Giants up for “sustained success.” The latter appears to be the more tenuous proposition, with Gettleman insisting changes were being made behind the scenes even if the product has yet to improve.
On the surface, Gettleman has had plenty of questionable moves — from trading Odell Beckham Jr. after signing him to a big extension, to sending a third- and fifth-round pick to the Jets for pending free agent Leonard Williams, to bringing back Eli Manning at a high cap hit, only for him to be benched after two games.
Gettleman said “the juice was worth the squeeze” on Williams and claimed the defensive end “was in my office (Monday) and told me he wants to be here.”
As for bringing back Manning, Gettleman said his benching had more to do with Jones’ rapid development.
“We didn’t know he would come that fast,” Gettleman said. “At the end of the day, it was time. … We’re fine with it.”