The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Giants hire Gettleman as general manager
Veteran executive built Panthers team that reached SB 50.
The New York Giants have hired former Carolina Panthers executive Dave Gettleman as their general manager. The Giants (2-13) announced the hiring of the 66-year-old Gettleman on Thursday and planned to introduce him at a news conference today.
Gettleman has a history with the Giants. He spent 15 seasons with the franchise before becoming Carolina’s general manager from 20132016, a span in which the Panthers played in the Super Bowl after the 2015 season. He was fired after the following season when Carolina missed the playoffs.
Jerry Reese held the job for 11 seasons before he was dismissed on Dec. 4 along with coach Ben McAdoo.
“Given where we are as a team, we thought it was important to bring in someone with experience as a general manager and a proven track record,” co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch said in a statement.
Gettleman’s first job will be to hire a coach. Interim coach and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who replaced McAdoo, has been promised an interview.
It would not be surprising for him to interview Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, whose unit has played a big part in helping Carolina (11-4) contend for the NFC South title heading into the final weekend.
In Gettleman’s four seasons as GM, Carolina was 40-23-1 and won three consecutive NFC South titles. In 2015, the Panthers finished an NFL-best 15-1 record and advanced to Super Bowl 50.
Patriots: New England’s deal with former Steelers star James Harrison raised eyebrows in Pittsburgh, where some of his former teammates voiced their displeasure with the circumstances surrounding his departure.
“He erased himself; he erased his own legacy here. Let’s be serious,” Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey said. “It’s crazy. He wanted that. It wasn’t like the team said, ‘We want to let go of James Harrison.’ James Harrison wanted that.”
Harrison had his first practice with New England on Wednesday and is expected to address reporters for the first time today. How much of an impact the 39-year-old can have with his new team remains to be seen. He has appeared in just five games and played 38 snaps this season, posting only one sack.
“We’ll see. I don’t know,” coach Bill Belichick said of his expectations for Harrison. “We’ll get out there this week and see how it goes.”
Browns: Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas says Cleveland’s coaching situation will have no bearing on his decision whether to keep playing.
Thomas played in just seven games this season before tearing his left triceps Oct. 22 and undergoing season-ending surgery. The 33-year-old put off his decision on continuing his career until the offseason.
Thomas remains supportive of coach Hue Jackson, who takes a 1-30 record with Cleveland into the season finale at Pittsburgh.
Saints: Placed pass rusher Hau’oli Kikaha (ankle) on injured reserve, ending his season. Kikaha, a second-round pick in 2015, finishes with four sacks.
Bills: Activated safety Colt Anderson after he missed the past 11 weeks with a broken forearm and released safety Trae Elston.
Jaguars: Received permission from the NFL and sponsors to remove tarps from four sections of seats and sell 3,501 more tickets to the franchise’s first home playoff game since 1999. The tickets go on sale this morning.