E-GIANTS
Dave Klein was the Giants' beat writer
for The Star-Ledger from 1961 to 1995.
He is the author of 26 books and he is one of
only four sportswriters to have covered all the Super Bowls.
Dave has allowed TEAM GIANTS to reprint some of his articles.

WITH A TEAM FULL OF REESE'S PIECES IT REALLY IS JERRY'S BODY OF WORK

By Dave Klein
It was with an almost amused point of view all season that one listened to Giant fans criticizing general manager Jerry Reese, head coach Tom Coughlin and the two coordinators, Kevin Gilbride (offense) and Perry Fewell (defense).

In the end, all it proved was that coaches are generally only as good as the players they have, and that Reese did a more astute job than anyone was ready to admit.

But he did, and it must be frightening to realize that every move you make and every step you take is going to be scrutinized by some of the most vociferous critics in the game - Giant fans.

So now that the Giants have arrived at their fourth Super Bowl in four years, we must assume that Coughlin did a great job as the head coach and Gilbride actually knew what he was doing while Fewell had the right ideas and concepts and just needed some of the bodies to return with a modicum of health.

But what of Reese? He took the heat all year, from well before the start of the season - and make no mistake, he is in charge of the personnel. Ownership, as embodied in the co-owners, John Mara and Steve Tisch, don't have the hands-on, day-to-day expertise. Coughlin is way too busy, even busier than most head coaches because he simply won't allow anything to trickle through his hands and into the decision-making process of anyone else.

Reese has a budget (don't we all?) but if he really wants something he gets it. Conversely, he has the authority to turn thumbs-down on players, too, and under his watch such veterans as Shaun O'Hara, Richie Seubert, Madison Hedgecock, Gerris Wilkinson, Adam Koets, Bryan Kehl, Sinorice Moss, Guy Whimper, Derek Hagan and a few others, all with varying degrees of experience and value, have been released. Some were reasonably high draft picks (so what?); if they didn't show enough ability, don't let the door hit you in the rear end. Drafting and player evaluation has never been an exact science.

Similarly, he has the authority to refuse a negotiated contract. He rejected demands from the agents of wide receiver Steve Smith, tight end Kevin Boss and defensive tackle Barry Cofield, among others, because they were simply too expensive or too risky, or both.

Then one must evaluate his draft selections, and don't be fooled, he makes them all. He has lots of help, of course, but when the time comes to make the announcement, it's his choice.

So let's just view his draft record - only including players he drafted and didn't advise and/or coerce former general manager Ernie Accorsi (he did a lot of them).

Starters (can we call them Reese's Pieces?) include defensive tackle Linval Joseph, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, safety Kenny Phillips, wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, fullback Henry Hynoski and running back Ahmad Bradshaw.

Reserves, many of whom have played significant roles, include Brandon Jacobs, Mitch Petrus, Travis Beckum, Ramses Barden, Da'Rel Scott, Prince Amukamara, Jake Ballard, Greg Jones, Mark Herzlich, Jacquian Williams, Bear Pascoe, Spencer Paysinger and Jerrel Jernigan.

And let's not forget those he signed as veteran free agents, including David Baas, Antrel Rolle, Michael Boley, Steve Weatherford and Chris Canty. All were Reese's decisions - not to mention wide receiver Victor Cruz, who was undrafted after playing at the University of Massachusetts, deep in Bill Belichick country. Belichick, it is said, refuses to discuss Cruz, and there is an unconfirmed rumor that "someone in the scouting department" has lost his job because of that oversight.

So have you forgotten Cofield, Smith and Boss already? Sure you have.

The first round draft choice of Pierre-Paul as the 15th overall selection in the spring of 2010, serves as a classic study in conviction, confidence and risk-taking. The kid, just 23 years old now, is a 6-5, 280-pound a freak of nature, athletically speaking, who played only one year of college football - at the University of South Florida, hardly a venue that has attracted NFL scouts over the years.

But he has become perhaps the best defensive end in the league - or at least in the top five, and certainly the youngest. "If that kid had played at a major college," said one scout, "he would have been a top five selection. As it turned out, many of us thought Jerry had pulled the trigger too soon."

Well, maybe not. JPP has the quickest move at the snap of anyone in the league with the possible exception of a somewhat older (he's 30) Osi Umenyiora. Oh, right. Osi plays for the Giants, too.

Reese wasn't the Giants' first choice to replaced Accorsi when he retired after the 2007 season. Team president John Mara and chairman Steve Tisch, along with Mara's brother Chris, vice-president of Player Evaluation conducted an internal search - Reese was already in the front office as Director of Player Personnel.

But he got the job - and went through a few uncomfortable weeks before it became official - and became only the third African-American to assume that position in the NFL. The first two were Ozzie Newsome in Baltimore and Rick Smith in Houston (both are still in place).

"I had worked with Ernie [Accorsi] primarily on the draft and personnel," Reese says, "and when it came time to make a selection, we kind of did it together."

He was instrumental in the massive trade with San Diego that brought quarterback Eli Manning to the team, and had a sizeable share of responsibility in all subsequent selections.

"It's never something you can be sure of," he says. "Each player must prove you right on so many levels. But you do all the research you can and then you try to make the best choice." He would not go into the difference between "best available athlete" or "drafting for need" and didn't sound comfortable making that differentiation.

"Every draft is different, every year provides new opportunities and challenges and you never know from year to year how it's going to work out," he added. "People always ask if this is going to be a good draft. My answer is that yes, it will be for some teams."

So far, Reese has had good drafts and has never been the general manager of a team that played at .500 or worse. When the Giants opened the playoffs after the 2007 season, eight of the players who took the field in Tampa Bay were rookies.

Reese's Pieces, indeed.

Check out Dave's website at E-GIANTS where you can subscribe to his newsletters which run much more frequently than what is available here.
- Team Giants

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