Dave Gettleman has not been the most popular man in New York since he took over as the general manager of the Giants last year, but he is standing by the controversial moves he has made while trying to rebuild the team. In particular, he clearly feels he had no choice but to trade Odell Beckham Jr.
In an interview with Steve Politi of NJ.com, Gettleman spoke about how “teams win championships” and all players need to be on board with the organization’s philosophy. He added that his critics are missing the point of why he made certain trades this offseason.
“There’s more to it than just collecting talent.” Gettleman said. “There is a cultural thing to it that’s critical. I have not been on a team that’s gone to a Super Bowl that’s had a culture problem.”
Politi followed up by asking Gettleman if he had a culture problem in New York.
“Not anymore,” the GM said.
It’s hard to view that as anything other than a shot at Beckham. While the Giants also made some other big moves like trading star pass-rusher Olivier Vernon, Beckham is a polarizing figure who was openly critical of Eli Manning and the Giants’ coaching staff. Ownership essentially told him to shut up and play last year, and there have been numerous reports that Beckham became a headache in New York.
After he was traded to the Cleveland Browns, Beckham mocked the idea that he became a cancer with the Giants. Time will tell if the move works out, but Gettleman continues to preach patience. As long as ownership is willing to grant him that, it doesn’t really matter what the fans think of his approach.
More must-reads: