A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN
Shurmur introduced as coach and is lights out in approach
EASTRUTHERFORD, N.J. » Roughly 20 seconds into his introductory news conference as coach of the New York Giants, Pat Shurmur ran into his problem.
The lights went out in the auditorium where he was speaking.
Like everyone else in the packed room, the former offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings laughed, and then handled the situation without missing a beat.
“And we’re off,” Shurmur quipped. “We have to keep adjust- ing. Anyway, I was going to tell a joke, so I’ll stop.”
Speaking and answering questions for more than 25 minutes after being introduced by coowner John Mara, Shurmur was poised, funny and open, thanking his mother in Michigan for teaching him to be competitive, compassionate and not allowing anyone to tell him you can’t do something.
Shurmur faces a major task in taking over a team that went 3-13 after making the playoffs in 2016. The injury-ravaged Giants slipped so quickly that Ben McAdoo was
fired in early December after less than two years on the job.
“There’s a lot of work to be done,” Shurmur said. “There are changes that
need to be made.”
One thing that seemingly won’t change is the Giants’ starting quarterback. Shurmur is looking forward to working with Eli Manning and he believes the 37-year- old twotime Super Bowl winner still has years ahead of him.
The 52-year- old agrees with new general manager Dave Gettleman that winning starts up front, and he is determined to build a good offensive line to go along with a talented defensive line.
As the Giants struggled last season, there were rifts in the locker room. Three
players were suspended for a week for conduct detrimental to the organization.
Shurmur wants to get to know his players, particularly superstar receiver Odell Beckham Jr., joking it makes sense to throw him the ball. He added everyone will start with a clean sheet.