Giants Senior VP/Communications Pat Hanlon in a "flurry of Tweets" on Wednesday issued a number of "sarcastic responses to fans complaining about the team's lack of activity during the NFL's whirlwind free agency period," according to Chris Chase of YAHOO SPORTS. Hanlon offered more than 25 Twitter posts regarding the team's offseason. A Giants fan under the Twitter handle of wrote, "Giants off-season can be summed up w/ one word: Debacle." Hanlon replied, "Thanks Lombardi. Cause I know you know." asked, "can you say definitively the Giants are better than last year," to which Hanlon replied, "Can you say we're worse, knucklehead?" Additionally, wrote, "All teams need to rebuild at one point, I'm not going to panic until the season begins." Hanlon: "Re-build my ass! I got your re-build. Chase wrote, "I'm all for Hanlon's methods but can't help to think that maybe it's not the best public relations strategy" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/11). In N.Y., Michael O'Keeffe notes while "most professional sports team spokesmen work hard to be as bland as possible," Hanlon "unabashedly uses social media to cheer for Big Blue and lash out at critics." In response to an interview request about the Twitter posts, Hanlon in an e-mail Thursday said, "I'm glad there was some entertainment value there, that certainly was part of the intent. But I really have no interest in discussing them any further" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/12).
STRATEGIC MOVE: ESPN’s Michael Wilbon said Hanlon is "not just some spokesman," and he is "not doing this without some strategy in New York, knowing exactly what he’s doing." Wilbon: "He’s a New Yorker. What do you want him to do, say, ‘We beg to differ?’” Wilbon called this a "brilliant strategy” ("PTI," ESPN, 8/11). Denver Post columnist Woody Paige said, “The Giants have been considered in New York the staid franchise. The Jets are the team that is outspoken. The Giants are just responding to that and he’s out in front of it. I think it’s a great move by the Giants.” Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw: “It’s a great job by Pat Hanlon. ... Like seeing what he wrote." But L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke said, “I can’t believe the dignified, gracious Mara family would want anybody on their team cursing the fans, ripping fans, calling fans out" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 8/11).
