Giants general manager Dave Gettleman said Tuesday that even he is not satisfied with his job performance but insisted the franchise is taking steps toward sustained success.
Gettleman spoke at his year-end news conference a day after coach Pat Shurmur was fired following a 4-12 season. Some fans had called for Gettleman, too, to be relieved of his duties, but owners John Mara and Steve Tisch chose to bring back the GM for a third season.
"Every day is a job interview in this industry, and we accept that," Gettleman said. "So I understand the question of why was Pat dismissed and I was not. Just to be clear, there was substantive discussions between myself and ownership regarding my job performance and vision moving forward over the past few weeks. So John and Steve made their decisions, and here I stand.
"There are many reasons why the New York Football Giants are in the current state, and I take my share of culpability. As John said yesterday, I have had misses. However, given where we started in December of '17, we've made progress in many areas on and off the field that we are encouraged by and see as a sound foundation for the team to come."
Gettleman said he set two main goals when he took the job in December 2017. He wanted to find a franchise quarterback -- which he believes he did with Daniel Jones -- and he wanted to set up the team for sustained winning -- which can be a lengthy process.
"We have regenerated, we have rebooted, so to speak, and done a lot of things behind the scenes that needed to be done," he said. "John alluded to them yesterday. We've completely redone our scouting situation -- how we look at college personnel, how we look at pro personnel. We've hired four computer folks -- software -- and we are completely redoing our back end of college and pro scouting systems."
He added that the Giants have ramped up their use of analytics.
"That's where we're going," Gettleman said. "And I know that sometimes it's difficult, the instant gratification piece."
When asked to grade the job he's done overall, Gettleman conceded: "It hasn't be good enough. It'll get better."
LEONARD WILLIAMS TRADE
When asked why he traded two draft picks to the Jets in October for impending free agent defensive lineman Leonard Williams, Gettleman said the cost was worth being able to more closely evaluate Williams.
"We felt he could be a disruptive force inside, and he has been," Gettleman said.
Gettleman said Williams was in his office Monday and told the general manager "he wants to be here."
KEEPING ELI AROUND
Gettleman decided to bring back Eli Manning -- and his $23.2 million salary cap figure -- for 2019, and then the veteran quarterback was benched after just two weeks.
Does he regret that move now knowing he could have invested that money into other need areas?
The Giants GM explained: "We really believed in Daniel. We didn't know he'd come that fast."
LOOKING AHEAD TO OFFSEASON
The Giants are expected to have more than $60 million in salary-cap space available this offseason. Gettleman said he is planning to put about $20 million of that aside for contract extensions and potential in-season moves.
"You build the team through the draft," Gettleman said. " ... You address issues with free agency so you can set yourself up for the draft so you take the best player available."
