[ad_1]
PHOENIX, Arizona – New York Giants co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch view Odell Beckham Jr.'s trade with the Cleveland Browns as one of the most difficult moves they have ever made. Mara even insisted that he gave his "hesitant approval" after thinking about it for a long drive between work and home.
The Giants have traded Beckham, who, they have repeated many times, is a transcendent talent, for a first round pick, a third round pick and Jabrill Peppers safely. This decision comes seven months after Beckham signed a five-year contract worth $ 98.5 million. The team has paid $ 21.5 million for 12 games in 2018 and a cap of $ 16 million in dead money this year.
Mara and Tisch conceded that these numbers made it even harder to pull the trigger.
"I will tell you that it was a reluctant endorsement on my part because I like Odell well. [Beckham Jr.] a lot, and I recognize his unique talent, said Mara. It's not easy to barter that player against another team. "
The property of the giants spoke of the sometimes useless drama that accompanied the wide receiver. But they felt Beckham's extra problems were "manageable" and both thought they had good relations with him. Everything was taken into account in the equation when making the blockbuster.
Still, Mara insisted that it was "not an easy decision" on an exchange led by general manager Dave Gettleman and coach Pat Shurmur.
Tisch added: "Not an easy decision at all."
Mara mentioned that the most difficult call that he had to make was directed at two of his grandsons, as he had to explain that he was exchanging their favorite player. They sobbed uncontrollably and Mara half joked, saying that one of them spoke to her several weeks later.
They will now have to watch Beckham, who has four receiving seasons of 1,000 yards in five years, stars for another franchise.
"It will not be easy, I will not lie to you, it will not be easy," said Mara. "I mean, he's a great player and I hope he's going to have a good career with the Browns." That makes it a little easier for him to not be at our home. conference."
But Mara talked about not letting sentimentality hinder football decisions. This is why he was offended by the idea that Eli Manning is still the quarterback of the team partly because of sentimentality.
"I've read that, and I have to tell you that it really puts me in the skin because it's absolutely nonsense," Mara said. "Do I feel a certain sentimentalism towards Eli? Of course that's so. Would I ever let him stop making a decision on football? Absolutely not, and I can not believe that some write that.
"I would never tell a coach or general manager that we have to keep this guy because we love him and that he has done so much for the franchise." Make a football decision based on his ability to play or not. "
Manning, 38, is in the final year of his contract in 2019. Mara and Tisch will wait to see how all this is going and intend to take it one year at a time with the legendary Giants quarterback to this stage of his career. career. But they think that Manning can always succeed.
"Yes," Mara said. "If we surround him with good people."
Mara seems confused by the fact that the giants keep Manning, negotiate Beckham and sign names like extended receiver Golden Tate and Antoine Bethea (two veterans over 30) have people who question their plan.
"I like this question.What is the plan? The plan is to build the team and make it better … I do not know why it's a problem with you or with them. fans, to be honest with you, "says Mara. "It's the plan."
Giants know that they still have holes. They have 12 choices in the next draft. They straddle the line of fire while seeking to compete now and build for the future.
"You try to do both," says Mara. "You're trying to build the team and stay as competitive as possible, we obviously have a lot of gaps to fill in. We think we have the capital to at least start solving this problem."
Tisch said that in six weeks, once the project is completed, some of these elements of the plan will be more obvious. It may mean that the Giants will form a quarterback who will be Manning's sixth-place successor.
Or maybe not.
"I'd love to get out of this draft with a quarterback," said Mara before saying that he was not going to insist, if the quarterbacks in this year's draft had bottom notes of the first round.
[ad_2]
Source link