Detractors of the Dave Gettleman hire are slowly disappearing, as the new Big Blue general manager is headed on a snowy quest to speed up the New York Giants’ rebuild.
Children across the tri-state area are probably pleased that New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman is in charge of the New York Giants, not their school districts.
A “bomb cyclone”, which sounds like a name given to an Odell Beckham Jr. catch rather than an icy weather phenomenon, has blanketed the Northeast in snow and freezing rain, putting schools and businesses out of commission. That’s not stopping Gettleman and Giants brass, however, from continuing their search for the 20th head coach in team history.
As snow continued to fall, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported that the Giants’ leadership would be making a snowy trek to Massachusetts to interview two of the most sought-after candidates in the coaching blitz.
With airports closed and the snow a major issue, Giants brass likely to drive to NE for interview w/Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 4, 2018
While the precipitation has at least postponed a meeting with another candidate, former Denver Broncos running back coach Eric Studesville (who served in the same capacity with the Giants from 2001-03), Gettleman, who has not spoken publicly since his introductory press conference on December 29, isn’t letting the storm put a halt to the seemingly non-stop pace he’s been on since taking office.
In the process, Gettleman continues to vindicate his own speedy hire.
Upon the announcement of Gettleman, formerly in the Giants’ player personnel department for over a decade, as Jerry Reese’s successor, many Giants fans took to social media to voice their displeasure, the words “retread” and “disappointment” matched with his name, while others pined for current ESPN analyst Louis Riddick to take the job. In just under a week’s time, though, Gettleman has already become a symbol of hope to the New York faithful.
It began in his opening presser when Gettleman bluntly declared that the offensive line needed a reboot.
“We’ve got to fix the O-line, let’s be honest. Let’s not kid each other,” Gettleman memorably said. “Big men allow you to compete and that’s what we’ve got to fix.”
One day later, starting lineman Bobby Hart was let go, as was Vice President of Player Evaluation Marc Ross, hours before the Giants kicked off the new era with an 18-10 win over the Washington Redskins in their season finale.
With the speed of the Gettleman hire, a process that took a mere 24 days, the Giants are very much active as the NFL playoffs begin, even if no postseason games will be played in their immediate future. There’s a captain in the cockpit, ready to add a right man that will lead the team into a potentially prosperous future.
New York fans are many things, but patient is not one of them. Entering the 2017 season with dreams of Super Bowl LII, the Giants ended the calendar year looking at potentially the biggest rebuild in their franchise’s history. The quick Gettleman hire, combined with the returnee’s instantaneous action, is a message to the paying customers that this rebuild won’t be a Cleveland-esque drag.
But hopefully not too fast; the roads are going to be really icy.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffMags5490
