The Giants' decision to retain Senior VP & GM Dave Gettleman despite a 9-23 record over the last two seasons has been "met with plenty of skepticism among fans who believe" that he is "out of touch with today's NFL," according to Bob Glauber of NEWSDAY. Gettleman is now "very much in the line of fire as he seeks to rebuild the team." He "purposefully has kept himself out of public view throughout the season," and his "disappearing act ... came off as him hiding from responsibility for the product on the field." However, he "acknowledged he will rethink that strategy, because it certainly didn't do him any good on this occasion" (NEWSDAY, 1/1). In N.Y., Paul Schwartz noted during his end of year presser on Tuesday, Gettleman "admitted at times he felt 'guilty'" seeing recently fired coach Pat Shurmur "taking the heat in public week after week, but he did not step in as he maintains most of the general managers in the league speak once, if at all during the season." Still, the "lack of public accountability from Gettleman was glaring." Gettleman said, "I'm concerned about that, very much. That's why we're gonna address it" (N.Y. POST, 1/1).
PLAYING FROM BEHIND: On Long Island, Tom Rock wrote the Giants head into the new decade "trying to catch up to the previous one, sprinting to embrace analytics and data." Gettleman said he "met recently with a big analytics guy" and he will "learn from our mistakes." Gettleman: "We are committed to being forward-thinking, we are committed to being the best in every area, and we are making a determined effort to move that way. ... We've been ramping up the analytics and technology piece. That's where we're going." Rock wrote for an organization that has "always been slow to embrace change, it's a big step" and a "necessary one" (NEWSDAY, 1/1). In DC, Des Bieler noted Gettleman on Tuesday said that he was embracing analytics "as part of a front-office overhaul." Unfortunately for Gettleman, his "declaration that the Giants had hired 'four computer folks' drew its own mockery online" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/1).
LEFT MUCH TO BE DESIRED: In N.Y., Pat Leonard noted Gettleman "broke his 160-day silence on Tuesday and picked up right where he left off: skirting accountability and making the Giants look out of touch." His first press conference since July "did nothing to convince Pat Shurmur's potential replacements that the Giants are open to dramatically changing their ways" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/1). YAHOO SPORTS' Kimberley Martin wrote Gettleman's press conference "inspired little confidence in his decision-making or belief that he possesses enough humility to accept his shortcomings and the finesse to lead the Giants into a new age of sustainable success." Gettleman "needed to shoulder the blame for the team's win-loss record during his tenure." But in a "surreal display of delusion, Gettleman subtly tried to shift blame elsewhere" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/31). In N.Y., Steve Serby wrote under the header, "Dave Gettleman Took A Beating In His 12-Round Bout With Media" (N.Y. POST, 1/1). Also in N.Y., Charles McDonald wrote Gettleman's press conference was "pure comedy" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/1).
