GM interviews begin close to home

The Giants began their interview process for general manager, keeping things in-house by speaking Monday with Marc Ross, their vice president of player evaluation. He becomes the first candidate to interview for the vacancy created Dec. 4, when Jerry Reese was fired along with head coach Ben McAdoo.

Kevin Abrams, the interim general manager, also will get a formal interview, expected sometime this week. Dave Gettleman, a former Giants personnel executive, also will be interviewed, most likely this week as well.

With the interview of Ross, the Giants are in compliance with the Rooney Rule, a policy that stipulates a team must interview minority candidates for certain positions.

Ross, 44, would have to be considered a long shot. He interviewed with coowner John Mara and Ernie Accorsi, the former Giants general manager, who is serving as a consultant for the general manager search. It was not as if Ross needed to introduce himself to either man, as he has worked for the Giants for the past 11 years.

At this point, interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo said the quarterback depth chart ( Eli Manning, Geno Smith, Davis Webb, in that order) remains the same.

“We’ll talk about it,” Spagnuolo said. “As we stand here right now, yes.”

After getting a good look at the non-call in the end zone that left rookie tight end Evan Engram certain he was interfered with, Spagnuolo said one could “make an argument” for a penalty. He said on the coach’s game tape it “kind of looked like” Engram’s arm was held down by safety Corey Graham.

Spagnuolo said last week he wanted to see more of the younger defensive ends and give more rest to starters Olivier Vernon and Jason PierrePaul. That did not happen as Vernon played 65 snaps and JPP was on the field for 64 defensive snaps.

“It gets hard during the course of a game saying, ‘OK, 90 [Pierre-Paul] and 54 [Vernon], you come out,’ ” Spagnuolo said. “We’ll keep trying to do it.”