RoanokeFan
03-22-2012, 07:40 PM
GIANTS' GM JERRY REESE HAS A HISTORY OF BELIEVING IN HIS DRAFT PICKS (http://www.giants101.com/2012/03/22/new-york-giants-general-manager-jerry-reese-has-a-history-of-believing-in-his-picks/)
"<a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with Jerry Reese" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/jerry-reese/" rel="tag nofollow">Jerry
Reese</a> delivered two world championships to the <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with New York Giants" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/new-york-giants/" rel="tag nofollow">New York
Giants</a> in his first five years as general manager through a series of bold
personnel moves that demonstrate a confidence in his players and himself.
While many wouldn’t characterize Reese’s sit and wait free agency approach as
bold, it’s hard to say that it didn’t take some mettle to sit quietly while
other teams in the division, notably the Philadelphia Eagles, were picking up
top-rated free agents left and right. So before fans start getting nervous over
seeing the Eagles trade for linebacker DeMeco Ryans , the Dallas Cowboys getting
Brandon Carr or the Washington Redskins signing Pierre Garcon, let’s take a
detailed look at how Reese builds success.</p>
While he had a major role with draft decisions since 2002 as the Giants’
Director of Pro Personnel, Reese didn’t take over the reins from Ernie Accorsi
until 2007. During that offseason, Reese gave fans a preview of the future. He
kept talent that he had already brought to the team, re-signing Derrick Ward,
Gibril Wilson, Chase Blackburn and Reggie Torbor; all players that would have
important roles on a Super Bowl-winning team.</p>
He signed three free agents to small contracts: LB Kawika Mitchell, QB
Anthony Wright and CD Michael Stone. Also, don’t forget, Reese stirred up a lot
of controversy by cutting Luke Petitgout when there was no clear left tackle
replacement (at the time) on the roster. Reese had the foresight and faith in
David Diehl’s prowess at multiple positions.</p>
2008: Did the Giants’ architect make any big splashes in the offseason fresh
off a Super Bowl win? Not unless you consider LB Danny Clark, SS Sammy Knight
and DE Renaldo Wynn as prize possessions on the market. Don’t forget David Carr
and Shane Olivea. Derrick Ward, Dave Tollefson, Jeff Feagles, and Lawrence Tynes
were all re-signed. This doesn’t sound like the makings of a team that would
earn the number one seed in the NFC.</p>
Reese departed from his usual strategy in 2009, signing Michael Boley, Chris
Canty and Rocky Bernard to big contracts. In 2010, the Giants shelled out big
bucks for Antrel Rolle as well. Besides these four, who all contributed heavily
to another championship masterpiece, Reese made (at the time) under-the-radar
moves like signing Deon Grant (2010) and Steve Weatherford (2011), re-signing
Kevin Boothe (2010) and signing Tony Ugoh (2011) off the street and Chase
Blackburn off his couch (2011).</p>
Players that left the Giants for bigger (some monster) contracts over the
five years: Visanthe Shiancoe (2007), Kawika Mitchell (2008), Gibril Wilson
(2008), Derrick Ward (2009), James Butler (2009), Fred Robbins (2010), Steve
Smith (2011), Kevin Boss (2011) and Barry Cofield (2011).</p>
So far in 2012, we can add Mario Manningham and Aaron Ross to the list of
players that Reese either couldn’t, or decided not to, re-sign. However, for
nearly every player that left a looming hole on the roster, Reese was able to
pluck young talent to fill, and improve, the vacant position.</p>
Kevin Boss for Shiancoe/Shockey. Jake Ballard for Boss. Ahmad Bradshaw for
Ward. Victor Cruz for Smith, etc. Reese has been able to take an anti-Redskins
approach by building through the NFL (http://www.giants101.com/tag/nfl/) Draft, using free agency to tweak a position here and
there and instead focus on building talent from within. While this is not news
to anyone, it is interesting to look back at the key decisions that the Giants’
GM has made over the last five years that has shaped two championship teams.</p>
Now in his sixth offseason as the Giants GM, Reese has done more of the same.
Sitting back, letting other teams grab the headlines in March as the Giants wait
to add the missing pieces in April. Keep this in mind the next time you get
antsy while the Giants appear “stagnant” compared to the rest of the division.
When you draft like <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with Jerry Reese" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/jerry-reese/" rel="tag nofollow">Jerry
Reese</a>, you don’t need to spend like Dan Snyder."</p>
"<a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with Jerry Reese" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/jerry-reese/" rel="tag nofollow">Jerry
Reese</a> delivered two world championships to the <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with New York Giants" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/new-york-giants/" rel="tag nofollow">New York
Giants</a> in his first five years as general manager through a series of bold
personnel moves that demonstrate a confidence in his players and himself.
While many wouldn’t characterize Reese’s sit and wait free agency approach as
bold, it’s hard to say that it didn’t take some mettle to sit quietly while
other teams in the division, notably the Philadelphia Eagles, were picking up
top-rated free agents left and right. So before fans start getting nervous over
seeing the Eagles trade for linebacker DeMeco Ryans , the Dallas Cowboys getting
Brandon Carr or the Washington Redskins signing Pierre Garcon, let’s take a
detailed look at how Reese builds success.</p>
While he had a major role with draft decisions since 2002 as the Giants’
Director of Pro Personnel, Reese didn’t take over the reins from Ernie Accorsi
until 2007. During that offseason, Reese gave fans a preview of the future. He
kept talent that he had already brought to the team, re-signing Derrick Ward,
Gibril Wilson, Chase Blackburn and Reggie Torbor; all players that would have
important roles on a Super Bowl-winning team.</p>
He signed three free agents to small contracts: LB Kawika Mitchell, QB
Anthony Wright and CD Michael Stone. Also, don’t forget, Reese stirred up a lot
of controversy by cutting Luke Petitgout when there was no clear left tackle
replacement (at the time) on the roster. Reese had the foresight and faith in
David Diehl’s prowess at multiple positions.</p>
2008: Did the Giants’ architect make any big splashes in the offseason fresh
off a Super Bowl win? Not unless you consider LB Danny Clark, SS Sammy Knight
and DE Renaldo Wynn as prize possessions on the market. Don’t forget David Carr
and Shane Olivea. Derrick Ward, Dave Tollefson, Jeff Feagles, and Lawrence Tynes
were all re-signed. This doesn’t sound like the makings of a team that would
earn the number one seed in the NFC.</p>
Reese departed from his usual strategy in 2009, signing Michael Boley, Chris
Canty and Rocky Bernard to big contracts. In 2010, the Giants shelled out big
bucks for Antrel Rolle as well. Besides these four, who all contributed heavily
to another championship masterpiece, Reese made (at the time) under-the-radar
moves like signing Deon Grant (2010) and Steve Weatherford (2011), re-signing
Kevin Boothe (2010) and signing Tony Ugoh (2011) off the street and Chase
Blackburn off his couch (2011).</p>
Players that left the Giants for bigger (some monster) contracts over the
five years: Visanthe Shiancoe (2007), Kawika Mitchell (2008), Gibril Wilson
(2008), Derrick Ward (2009), James Butler (2009), Fred Robbins (2010), Steve
Smith (2011), Kevin Boss (2011) and Barry Cofield (2011).</p>
So far in 2012, we can add Mario Manningham and Aaron Ross to the list of
players that Reese either couldn’t, or decided not to, re-sign. However, for
nearly every player that left a looming hole on the roster, Reese was able to
pluck young talent to fill, and improve, the vacant position.</p>
Kevin Boss for Shiancoe/Shockey. Jake Ballard for Boss. Ahmad Bradshaw for
Ward. Victor Cruz for Smith, etc. Reese has been able to take an anti-Redskins
approach by building through the NFL (http://www.giants101.com/tag/nfl/) Draft, using free agency to tweak a position here and
there and instead focus on building talent from within. While this is not news
to anyone, it is interesting to look back at the key decisions that the Giants’
GM has made over the last five years that has shaped two championship teams.</p>
Now in his sixth offseason as the Giants GM, Reese has done more of the same.
Sitting back, letting other teams grab the headlines in March as the Giants wait
to add the missing pieces in April. Keep this in mind the next time you get
antsy while the Giants appear “stagnant” compared to the rest of the division.
When you draft like <a class="st_tag internal_tag" title="Posts tagged with Jerry Reese" href="http://www.giants101.com/tag/jerry-reese/" rel="tag nofollow">Jerry
Reese</a>, you don’t need to spend like Dan Snyder."</p>