2019 NFL Draft: Dave Gettleman describes his Daniel Jones love in “full bloom”
Thursday night, general manager Dave Gettleman took to the podium to describe the moment his love for the Duke quarterback reached “full bloom”
Pro Football Focus Senior Analyst Scott Barrett tweeted a partial transcript from New York Giants General Manager Dave Gettleman’s press conference after the first round … and boy is it ever eye opening.
In the transcript (and subsequently the press conference), Gettleman describes the moment that he fell in love with Duke quarterback Daniel Jones, who the Giants surprisingly selected at No. 6 overall. Gettleman said he only had to watch Jones play for three series … in the Senior Bowl. He describes the conclusion of the third drive as being the moment at which his love came in to “full bloom.”
This is terrifying if you are a Giants fan. The vetting process should be much more extensive and at the very least, the actual watching of the player play should be a more rigorous process. The oft-maligned Gettleman is also quoted as saying numerous other things that come across as highly concerning.
Gettleman indicates the sixth overall pick could find himself sitting on the bench for three or more years. When pressed for why the team would choose to do that, rather than procuring talent to help their current quarterback, Eli Manning, succeed, Gettleman replies with (paraphrased) – life’s short. “Who knows? I may go out there in my car and get hit. You don’t know, Sal … that’s really the long and short of it.”
The Giants’ shot caller also went on to say that he scouted Dwayne Haskins in a Big 12 game last fall.
Ohio State plays in the Big Ten. It joined the conference in 1912.
This sort of shallow justification, obvious ignorance and apparent short-sightedness when it comes to using the franchise’s most important asset is concerning if you’re Giants owner John Mara, a member of Pat Shurmur’s coaching staff, or a fan of the Big Blue.
Reports have also indicated Jones’ relationship with former Manning (Peyton and Eli) quarterback coach and Duke head coach David Cutcliffe was a primary driving force New York drafting of the signal caller.
Gettleman has essentially bet his and Shurmur’s jobs on the development of Jones as a next face-of-the-franchise and eventual Eli Manning successor.