Parcells may be "long shot" on Giants GM list
Giants will need to at least fill GM position
By ERNIE PALLADINO
THE JOURNAL NEWS
There is only one certainty for the Giants' 2006 season: At the end, there will be change at the top.
How much change depends on how the Giants finish. They know already they're losing 64-year-old general manager Ernie Accorsi to retirement. The uncertainty lies with coach Tom Coughlin and whether he'll be extended, fired, or simply left to serve out the final year of his contract.
But little of the Coughlin decision will have anything to do with the team's injury situation. Even if the Giants buckle under the current deluge of sprains, strains, and broken bones, some in the front office believe the coach will be extended past 2007, the final year of a four-year, $12 million contract.
Some are quick to point out that they're not always delighted with the negative publicity or player discomfort generated by Coughlin's strict ways. But the fact that he went to the playoffs last year and kept the team from falling apart during the turbulence of this year's 1-2 start far outweighs the bad.
Giants president John Mara refused to comment about his coach.
"I don't want to get into any discussions about that," Mara said yesterday.
That's understandable, and very much in keeping with the Giants' standard operating procedure. For one thing, they are 6-3, still very much alive for a playoff spot despite having three starters on or headed for injured reserve and six others with significant injuries. So there really is no reason to believe Coughlin's job is in jeopardy unless he loses the team between now and decision time.
Besides that, Mara learned long ago from his patient father, Wellington, that making decisions on a coach's future is best left for after the week-to-week emotional roller coaster of the season.
There is also the lame-duck factor. Like most teams, the Giants have always been loath to let a coach go into his final season without an extension. Players don't exactly fight for guys they know will be gone at the end of the season.
So in all likelihood, Coughlin will get an extension. And if the injuries continue to pile up and wreck the season, the coach won't pay the price.
As for Accorsi, the Giants will move quickly to fill his position. Chances are, they'll have a new general manager well before the NFL scouting combine begins Feb. 21.
They already have some names in mind. Jerry Reese, the Giants' director of player personnel, is regarded as one of the more astute evaluators of college football talent in the league. He has long been considered the odds-on favorite to succeed Accorsi if ownership stays in-house. And Reese only a couple of years ago rejected an offer to move in order to keep his place in line.
He'll have competition from inside and outside the organization, however. Director of pro personnel Dave Gettleman is also believed an in-house consideration, as is assistant general manager Kevin Abrams.
The Giants would probably love to make a play for Bill Belichick's talent gatherer in New England, Scott Pioli. But Pioli received an extension just before the 2005 training camp started. Even if they allowed the Giants to talk to him, the Patriots would probably demand extraordinary compensation to sign away former coach Bill Parcells' son-in-law.
Speaking of Parcells, his name is believed to be on the list, too, but he's a long shot. Long a victim of the coaching bug, Parcells could get the itch to get back on the sideline at any moment. And putting him into a rigid system where the general manager gets the players and then lets the coach coach them may not prove a good fit for a controlling fellow like Parcells.
Former Steelers and Bills GM Tom Donahoe and former Redskins and Texans GM Charlie Casserly might also be considered.
Mara, who talked Accorsi into staying for one more season last year, is believed to have had several conversations with him about putting off retirement for another season. But Accorsi has repeatedly declined the invitation.
So there will be change at the top after the season.
It's just a matter of how much change.
Notes: The Giants tried out former Bengals wide receiver Peter Warrick yesterday, but he left without a contract. ... According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Mathias Kiwanuka's interception against the Bears was the first by a Giants rookie defensive lineman in the Super Bowl era. Ambiguity about players' positions before then made it impossible for Elias to come up with a broader judgment. ... The Giants are the only team with three interceptions by defensive linemen, with defensive tackle Fred Robbins having two.
Here's a potential short list of candidates to fill the Giants' general-manager vacancy after Ernie Accorsi retires at season's end. The candidates are divided into those already working for the Giants and those outside the organization.
Inside candidates
Jerry Reese, 42: The former defensive back and coaching assistant for the University of Tennessee-Martin has served as the Giants' director of player personnel for the past four years. He is considered one of the most astute evaluators of college talent in the league.
Dave Gettleman, 55: The director of pro personnel since 1999, Gettleman has been in the NFL for 21 years and has helped put together rosters for four Super Bowl teams (Buffalo in 1990 and '91, Denver in '97, and the Giants in 2000).
Kevin Abrams, 34: After serving three years as the Giants' salary-cap expert, Abrams was promoted five years ago to assistant general manager. He has been the primary negotiator for player contracts and the salary-cap manager under Accorsi.
Outside candidates
Scott Pioli, 41: Given that he's built three Super Bowl winners in New England since he arrived there in 2000 with Bill Belichick, he'd be a natural selection. But the Patriots will fight like heck to keep him.
Tom Donahoe, 58: He battled Bill Cowher for power and built playoff teams while in Pittsburgh before he went to Buffalo in 2001 as president and general manager. The Bills had five non-playoff seasons before they fired him after last season. He still gets a lot of respect around the league despite some questionable personnel decisions.
Charlie Casserly, 57: Highly respected around the league for what he did in a 23-year career with the Redskins before he became senior vice president and general manager of the Texans. His decision to pass over Reggie Bush for Mario Williams at the top of this year's draft tarnished his rep, as did his resignation under fire two weeks later.
Bill Parcells, 65: A real long shot because of an uncertain coaching future and the likely possibility this hard-headed coach might not get along with a strong-willed subordinate like Tom Coughlin.
By ERNIE PALLADINO
THE JOURNAL NEWS
There is only one certainty for the Giants' 2006 season: At the end, there will be change at the top.
How much change depends on how the Giants finish. They know already they're losing 64-year-old general manager Ernie Accorsi to retirement. The uncertainty lies with coach Tom Coughlin and whether he'll be extended, fired, or simply left to serve out the final year of his contract.
But little of the Coughlin decision will have anything to do with the team's injury situation. Even if the Giants buckle under the current deluge of sprains, strains, and broken bones, some in the front office believe the coach will be extended past 2007, the final year of a four-year, $12 million contract.
Some are quick to point out that they're not always delighted with the negative publicity or player discomfort generated by Coughlin's strict ways. But the fact that he went to the playoffs last year and kept the team from falling apart during the turbulence of this year's 1-2 start far outweighs the bad.
Giants president John Mara refused to comment about his coach.
"I don't want to get into any discussions about that," Mara said yesterday.
That's understandable, and very much in keeping with the Giants' standard operating procedure. For one thing, they are 6-3, still very much alive for a playoff spot despite having three starters on or headed for injured reserve and six others with significant injuries. So there really is no reason to believe Coughlin's job is in jeopardy unless he loses the team between now and decision time.
Besides that, Mara learned long ago from his patient father, Wellington, that making decisions on a coach's future is best left for after the week-to-week emotional roller coaster of the season.
There is also the lame-duck factor. Like most teams, the Giants have always been loath to let a coach go into his final season without an extension. Players don't exactly fight for guys they know will be gone at the end of the season.
So in all likelihood, Coughlin will get an extension. And if the injuries continue to pile up and wreck the season, the coach won't pay the price.
As for Accorsi, the Giants will move quickly to fill his position. Chances are, they'll have a new general manager well before the NFL scouting combine begins Feb. 21.
They already have some names in mind. Jerry Reese, the Giants' director of player personnel, is regarded as one of the more astute evaluators of college football talent in the league. He has long been considered the odds-on favorite to succeed Accorsi if ownership stays in-house. And Reese only a couple of years ago rejected an offer to move in order to keep his place in line.
He'll have competition from inside and outside the organization, however. Director of pro personnel Dave Gettleman is also believed an in-house consideration, as is assistant general manager Kevin Abrams.
The Giants would probably love to make a play for Bill Belichick's talent gatherer in New England, Scott Pioli. But Pioli received an extension just before the 2005 training camp started. Even if they allowed the Giants to talk to him, the Patriots would probably demand extraordinary compensation to sign away former coach Bill Parcells' son-in-law.
Speaking of Parcells, his name is believed to be on the list, too, but he's a long shot. Long a victim of the coaching bug, Parcells could get the itch to get back on the sideline at any moment. And putting him into a rigid system where the general manager gets the players and then lets the coach coach them may not prove a good fit for a controlling fellow like Parcells.
Former Steelers and Bills GM Tom Donahoe and former Redskins and Texans GM Charlie Casserly might also be considered.
Mara, who talked Accorsi into staying for one more season last year, is believed to have had several conversations with him about putting off retirement for another season. But Accorsi has repeatedly declined the invitation.
So there will be change at the top after the season.
It's just a matter of how much change.
Notes: The Giants tried out former Bengals wide receiver Peter Warrick yesterday, but he left without a contract. ... According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Mathias Kiwanuka's interception against the Bears was the first by a Giants rookie defensive lineman in the Super Bowl era. Ambiguity about players' positions before then made it impossible for Elias to come up with a broader judgment. ... The Giants are the only team with three interceptions by defensive linemen, with defensive tackle Fred Robbins having two.
Here's a potential short list of candidates to fill the Giants' general-manager vacancy after Ernie Accorsi retires at season's end. The candidates are divided into those already working for the Giants and those outside the organization.
Inside candidates
Jerry Reese, 42: The former defensive back and coaching assistant for the University of Tennessee-Martin has served as the Giants' director of player personnel for the past four years. He is considered one of the most astute evaluators of college talent in the league.
Dave Gettleman, 55: The director of pro personnel since 1999, Gettleman has been in the NFL for 21 years and has helped put together rosters for four Super Bowl teams (Buffalo in 1990 and '91, Denver in '97, and the Giants in 2000).
Kevin Abrams, 34: After serving three years as the Giants' salary-cap expert, Abrams was promoted five years ago to assistant general manager. He has been the primary negotiator for player contracts and the salary-cap manager under Accorsi.
Outside candidates
Scott Pioli, 41: Given that he's built three Super Bowl winners in New England since he arrived there in 2000 with Bill Belichick, he'd be a natural selection. But the Patriots will fight like heck to keep him.
Tom Donahoe, 58: He battled Bill Cowher for power and built playoff teams while in Pittsburgh before he went to Buffalo in 2001 as president and general manager. The Bills had five non-playoff seasons before they fired him after last season. He still gets a lot of respect around the league despite some questionable personnel decisions.
Charlie Casserly, 57: Highly respected around the league for what he did in a 23-year career with the Redskins before he became senior vice president and general manager of the Texans. His decision to pass over Reggie Bush for Mario Williams at the top of this year's draft tarnished his rep, as did his resignation under fire two weeks later.
Bill Parcells, 65: A real long shot because of an uncertain coaching future and the likely possibility this hard-headed coach might not get along with a strong-willed subordinate like Tom Coughlin.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:54 PM
<< Home