Another great Giants Piece by Arthur Staple-My comments at the end.
Reese facing challenges with Giants
After being named GM today, he'll have to fill quite a few holes
BY ARTHUR STAPLE
Newsday Staff Writer
January 16, 2007
Jerry Reese will be officially named Giants general manager this morning at a news conference. Had the Giants not stumbled to an 8-8 record with a 2-6 second half of the season and then lost to the Eagles in the playoffs nine days ago, Reese's appointment would have been made sooner.
But Giants president John Mara and treasurer Jonathan Tisch took their time evaluating the front office and coaching staff before deciding to stay the course. So they brought Tom Coughlin back for at least one more season as coach and will name Reese, 43, as Ernie Accorsi's successor, as the retiring Accorsi wanted it.
Reese started as a scout for the Giants in 1994 and worked his way up, from assistant director of pro personnel to director of player personnel, a job in which he oversaw the Giants' last four drafts. He is the third African-American general manager in the NFL, joining Baltimore's Ozzie Newsome and Houston's Rick Smith.
The priorities for Reese this offseason start with finding a running back to fill the void left by Tiki Barber's retirement. That will likely be accomplished through free agency -- the Packers' Ahman Green is a free agent and the Chargers' Michael Turner is a restricted free agent -- rather than with early draft picks in April. The Giants may seek a veteran to complement Brandon Jacobs.
The Giants also must decide whether to sign center Shaun O'Hara. He and kicker Jay Feely are the only significant players who would be unrestricted free agents. O'Hara's agent, Tony Agnone, negotiated with the team briefly during the season, but O'Hara didn't want the talks to drag on; plus, with Accorsi retiring, there was no GM to sign off on a long-term deal.
On defense, Reese may look to the draft to grow some talent. One player told Newsday that Coughlin tore Corey Webster apart at halftime of the Redskins game on Dec. 30, and Webster, the Giants' top pick (second round) in 2005, has not developed as the team had hoped, so another high pick on a cornerback may be needed.
The same is true at linebacker, where Carlos Emmons may have played his last game as a Giant and Brandon Short is unrestricted. The Giants took Gerris Wilkinson in the third round last season, but he was inactive for the playoff loss after a spotty season spent primarily on special teams.
My slant: Why do i think it's a smart move? he's been with the team 12 years. He smart, still young at 43, and he knows personnel. So he is only the 3rd minority GM in Pro football. but this is the best thing for the team on so many levels.
Even with the turmoil at the end of the season, this is a no -brainer.
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