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Giants Still Waiting on Pat Shurmur; Dave Gettleman Meets with Eli Manning
Steve Spagnuolo and Eli Manning – © USA TODAY Sports
GIANTS STILL WAITING ON PAT SHURMUR…
It is widely assumed among national and local sports media that the New York Giants and Minnesota Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur have tentatively agreed that Shurmur will become the 18th head coach of the New York Giants. The New York Post is reporting that both sides came to an agreement on January 15th, five days after Shurmur interviewed with the team. The hold-up right now is the Minnesota Vikings are still in the playoffs. If the Vikings are eliminated by the Eagles in Sunday's NFC Championship Game, a formal announcement could be made soon. If not, the announcement will have to wait until after the Super Bowl, which we be held on February 4th.
On Thursday, Shurmur was asked about his interview with the Giants. "I thought it was a really good conversation and I felt we connected on a lot of levels,'' said Shurmur. "I walked away saying — and I knew this going into it — that's an iconic franchise. I walked away feeling that same amount of respect for them. When I think of them, I just have great respect for what they've accomplished. They've won through the years, the players, the Lombardi Trophies, it's iconic in a lot of ways. I know when I was with the Eagles and we got on the bus and rode up the parkway I was looking forward to competing against them. That's a little piece of me."
In recent years, the 52-year old Shurmur has served as Philadelphia Eagles quarterback coach (2002-2008), St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator (2009-2010), Cleveland Browns head coach (2011-2012), Eagles offensive coordinator (2013-2015), and Vikings tight ends coach (2016). Shurmur was promoted to Vikings offensive coordinator in 2017. He also served as interim head coach for the Eagles in 2015 and interim offensive coordinator for the Vikings in 2016.
The New York Post is reporting/speculating the following:
A second interview with Shurmur should merely be considered a "stamp of approval." A source told The Post, "If you have a second interview very rarely is that not to get the job. It's done, unless something horrible happens."
The Giants were the first choice for Shurmur. "He was always infatuated by the Giants because the Giants are the Giants,'' said a source. Selling points were the team's ownership, roster, quarterback situation, and 2018 draft position.
Shurmur supposedly thinks Eli Manning can still play and having the #2 pick in the draft to possibly spend on a quarterback is also attractive.
Steve Spagnuolo, who served as the team's interim head coach for the final quarter of the season, may be retained as defensive coordinator by Shurmur. Both worked together in Philadelphia and St. Louis.
The Giants were disappointed that they lost Defensive Line Coach Patrick Graham to the Green Bay Packers.
DAVE GETTLEMAN MEETS WITH ELI MANNING…
The New York Post and Newsday are reporting that Dave Gettleman met with quarterback Eli Manning for the first time last Friday in Gettleman's new role as general manager of the New York Giants.
"Yes, it was a great meeting,'' Gettleman told The Post on Thursday. "There's only three guys who are still here from when I left. Eli, Zak DeOssie and JPP (Jason Pierre-Paul)… We had a great conversation and everything went well.''
When asked about the results of the meeting, Gettleman responded, "I don't want to go there."
Manning has two years and $22 million in base salary and $11 million in bonuses left on his current contract. His 2018 cap hit is currently scheduled to be $22.2 million. Manning also has a no-trade clause in his contract.
MIKE SOLARI SIGNS WITH THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS…
New York Giants Offensive Line Coach Mike Solari has joined the coaching staff of the Seattle Seahawks. Solari is the sixth Giants coach to depart this offseason, including Offensive Coordinator Mike Sullivan, Quarterbacks Coach Frank Cignetti, Jr., Wide Receivers Coach Adam Henry, Tight Ends Coach Kevin M. Gilbride, and Defensive Line Coach Patrick Graham.
EVAN ENGRAM AND DALVIN TOMLINSON HONORED…
New York Giants tight end Evan Engram and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson have been voted to the Pro Football Writers' "All-Rookie Team." Engram and Tomlinson were selected in the 1st and 2nd rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Giants, respectively.
Pat Shurmur's coaching style? Think Andy Reid by Paul Schwartz of The New York Post
An inside look at expected Giants coach Pat Shurmur's tenure in Cleveland from Browns insider by Dan Duggan for NJ.com
Vikings players can't say enough good things about Pat Shurmur by Mark Cannizzaro of The New York Post
What Pat Shurmur would mean for the Giants' quarterback position by Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com
What Carl Banks learned about Pat Shurmur as college teammates by Paul Schwartz of The New York Post
News and Notes Tagged with: Dalvin Tomlinson, Eli Manning, Evan Engram, Mike Solari, Pat Shurmur, Patrick Graham, Steve Spagnuolo
Reports – Giants Down to Matt Patricia, Josh McDaniels, Pat Shurmur
Matt Patricia – © USA TODAY Sports
REPORT – GIANTS DOWN TO MATT PATRICIA, JOSH MCDANIELS, PAT SHURMUR…
The New York Post and Newsday are reporting that the New York Giants have narrowed their head coaching search down to New England Patriots Defensive Coordinator Matt Patricia, New England Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels, and Minnesota Vikings Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur. The current teams for all three candidates are still in the playoffs. The Giants cannot hire any of these coaches until their season is done.
The Daily News and ESPN are reporting that Patricia is the front-runner for the position.
All three candidates are being seriously pursued by other teams. It has been long reported that the Detroit Lions are serious contenders for Patricia's services. The Indianapolis Colts are believed to be front-runners for McDaniels. Shurmur has drawn interest from the Lions and Arizona Cardinals, with the Cardinals believed to be leading contenders for him.
The Giants interviewed three other candidates who apparently are no longer in contention. They include New York Giants Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Carolina Panthers Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks, and Denver Broncos Running Backs Coach Eric Studesville.
The 43-year old Patricia has spent his entire professional coaching career with the Patriots (starting in 2004) and has been New England's defensive coordinator since 2012.
The 41-year old McDaniels not only has served as the Patriots' offensive coordinator and quarterback coach (2006-2008, 2012-2017) in recent years but he also was the head coach of the Denver Broncos (2009-2010) where he compiled an 11-17 (.393) record.
In recent years, the 52-year old Shurmur has served as Philadelphia Eagles quarterback coach (2002-2008), St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator (2009-2010), Cleveland Browns head coach (2011-2012), Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator (2013-2015), and Vikings tight ends coach (2016). Shurmur was promoted to Vikings offensive coordinator in 2017. He also served as interim head coach for the Eagles in 2015.
ADAM HENRY SIGNS WITH THE CLEVELAND BROWNS…
New York Giants Wide Receivers Coach Adam Henry has joined the coaching staff of the Cleveland Browns. Henry is the fourth Giants coach to depart this offseason, including Offensive Coordinator Mike Sullivan, Quarterbacks Coach Frank Cignetti, Jr., and Defensive Line Coach Patrick Graham.
Could a position change be in Giants' Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie's future? by Dan Duggan for NJ.com
News and Notes Tagged with: Adam Henry, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Eric Studesville, Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia, Pat Shurmur, Steve Spagnuolo, Steve Wilks
Giants Complete Scheduled Interviews; NYG Coaches Moving On
Steve Wilks – © USA TODAY Sports
GIANTS HEAD COACHING SEARCH UPDATE…
The New York Giants have officially announced that team President/CEO John Mara, General Manager Dave Gettleman, and Assistant General Manager Kevin Abrams have interviewed the following head coaching candidates:
New York Giants Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo (on January 3)
New England Patriots Defensive Coordinator Matt Patricia (on January 5)
New England Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels (on January 5)
Minnesota Vikings Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur (on January 6)
Carolina Panthers Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks (on January 9)
Denver Broncos Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Eric Studesville (on January 10)
Team Chairman/Executive Vice President Steve Tisch was also present for the interview with Wilks.
As of today, no other interviews are known to have been scheduled.
The 43-year old Patricia has spent his entire professional coaching career with the Patriots (starting in 2004) and has been New England's defensive coordinator since 2012. The Detroit Lions are said to be front runners for Patricia's services, although SI.com is reporting that Patricia favors the Giants.
The 41-year old McDaniels not only has served as the Patriots' offensive coordinator and quarterback coach (2006-2008, 2012-2017) in recent years but he also was the head coach of the Denver Broncos (2009-2010) where he compiled an 11-17 (.393) record. The Indianapolis Colts are also interested in McDaniels.
In recent years, the 52-year old Shurmur has served as Philadelphia Eagles quarterback coach (2002-2008), St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator (2009-2010), Cleveland Browns head coach (2011-2012), Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator (2013-2015), and Vikings tight ends coach (2016). Shurmur was promoted to Vikings offensive coordinator in 2017. He also served as interim head coach for the Eagles in 2015. Shurmur has drawn interest from the Lions and Arizona Cardinals.
The 48-year old Wilks has served as as a defensive backs coach with the Washington Redskins (2005), Chicago Bears (2006-2008), San Diego Chargers (2009-2011), and Panthers (2012-2016). He was also named an assistant head coach of the Panthers in 2016 and promoted to defensive coordinator in 2017. Wilks was scheduled to interview with the Cardinals on Wednesday and the Colts on Thursday.
The 50-year old Studesville served as the Giants' running back coach under Head Coach Jim Fassel (2001-2003) before going on to hold the same position with the Buffalo Bills (2004-2009) and Broncos (2010-2017). Studesville also served as interim head coach of the Broncos for four games in 2010 and became an assistant head coach in 2017.
GIANTS COACHES MOVING ON…
Members of Ben McAdoo's coaching staff have begun moving on to new jobs:
Denver Broncos have hired Giants Offensive Coordinator Mike Sullivan as their quarterbacks coach.
Green Bay Packers have hired Giants Quarterbacks Coach Frank Cignetti, Jr. as their quarterbacks coach.
Green Bay Packers are interviewing Giants Defensive Line Coach Patrick Graham.
GIANTS SIGN THREE MORE TO RESERVE/FUTURES CONTRACTS…
The New York Giants have signed running back Jalen Simmons, offensive tackle Laurence Gibson, and linebacker Thurston Armbrister to reserve/futures contracts.
Simmons was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Carolina Panthers after the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent the 2016 on the Practice Squad of the Panthers and spent time in 2017 on the Practice Squads of the Panthers and San Diego Chargers. Simmons is a short, stocky running back who lacks ideal speed, but he plays with a low center of gravity and good vision.
Gibson was originally drafted in the 7th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He has spent time with the Cowboys (2015), Chiefs (2015), Falcons (2016), Bears (2016), Giants (2016), Texans (2016-2017), and Browns (2017). The Giants signed him to their Practice Squad in September 2016 and cut him a few months later in December. He has yet to play in a regular-season game. Gibson is a very athletic lineman with good height and long arms. A better testing athlete than football player so far, Gibson needs to play with more strength and power.
Armbrister was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars after the 2015 NFL Draft. He has spent time with the Jaguars (2015) and Detroit Lions (2016-2017). Armbrister has played in 30 regular-season games with five starts, and has accumulated 38 tackles and one pass defense. He did not play in a regular-season game in 2017. Armbrister lacks ideal size and athleticism, but he is a good run defender with fine intangibles.
Pros and cons of all known Giants coaching candidates by Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com
Nick Saban-to-Giants speculation begins: 'There's a job he covets. It just happens to be open' by John Healy of The Daily News
News and Notes Tagged with: Eric Studesville, Frank Cignetti, Jalen Simmons, Josh McDaniels, Laurence Gibson, Matt Patricia, Mike Sullivan, Nick Saban, Pat Shurmur, Patrick Graham, Steve Spagnuolo, Steve Wilks, Thurston Armbrister
Pat Shurmur – © USA TODAY Sports
ESPN is reporting that the Giants will likely interview Carolina Panthers Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks on Monday. The Giants are also expected to interview Denver Broncos Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Eric Studesville soon as his previously-scheduled interview was postponed due to weather. The Giants have requested to interview Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz, but there is no word on any scheduled meeting.
The 43-year old Patricia has spent his entire professional coaching career with the Patriots (starting in 2004) and has been New England's defensive coordinator since 2012. Some media reports indicate that Patricia is the favorite to land the head coaching job with the Detroit Lions.
The 48-year old Wilks has served as as a defensive backs coach with the Washington Redskins (2005), Chicago Bears (2006-2008), San Diego Chargers (2009-2011), and Panthers (2012-2016). He was also named an assistant head coach of the Panthers in 2016 and promoted to defensive coordinator in 2017.
The 51-year old Schwartz has served as the defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans (2001-2008), head coach of the Detroit Lions (2009-2013), defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills (2014), and defensive coordinator of the Eagles (2016-2017) in recent years. He was 29–51 (.363) in the regular season and 0-1 in the post-season as Detroit's head coach.
NY POST INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL MANAGER DAVE GETTLEMAN…
Dave Gettleman talks Giants rebuild, GM influences and QB issue by Steve Serby of The New York Post
Bill Belichick 'sees an opening' to coach Giants and might take it amid Patriots drama: source by Gary Myers of The Daily News
Fights, suspensions, benchings illustrate dysfunction of Giants' season by Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com
Giants in position of power with Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen in draft by Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com
News and Notes Tagged with: Bill Belichick, Dave Gettleman, Eric Studesville, Jim Schwartz, Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia, Pat Shurmur, Steve Spagnuolo, Steve Wilks
Giants Begin Interviewing Head Coaching Candidates
Josh McDaniels – © USA TODAY Sports
ESPN is reporting that the New York Giants have scheduled to interview the following head coaching candidates:
New York Giants Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo on Wednesday
Denver Broncos Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Eric Studesville* on Thursday
New England Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels on Friday
New England Patriots Defensive Coordinator Matt Patricia on Friday or Saturday
Minnesota Vikings Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur on Saturday
Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz this weekend
Carolina Panthers Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks early next week
*Note: Studesville's interview has been postponed until next week due to inclement weather.
How one hire made icons of Giants past believe again by Paul Schwartz of The New York Post
Landon Collins blames an entire unit for Giants' disaster by Greg Joyce of The New York Post
Eli Apple meets with new Giants GM Dave Gettleman by Tom Rock of Newsday
News and Notes Tagged with: Dave Gettleman, Eric Studesville, Jim Schwartz, Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia, Pat Shurmur, Steve Spagnuolo, Steve Wilks
Giants Interested in Jim Schwartz; Giants 18 – Redskins 10
Jim Schwartz – © USA TODAY Sports
REPORT: GIANTS INTERESTED IN JIM SCHWARTZ…
ESPN is reporting that Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz is one of the front runners – and may be the favorite – for the New York Giants' head coaching vacancy. Schwartz is expected to interview with the Giants next week.
Meanwhile, The Daily News is reporting that the Giants top head coaching candidates, in order of preference, are Josh McDaniels (New England Patriots offensive coordinator), Matt Patricia (New England Patriots defensive coordinator), Bill O'Brien (head coach of the Houston Texans), Pat Shurmur (Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator), and Schwartz.
REPORT: DAVE GETTLEMAN WILL RUN THE DRAFT…
The Daily News is reporting that New York Giants General Manager Dave Gettleman will not immediately replace recently-fired Vice President of Player Evaluation Marc Ross and that Gettleman will run the 2018 NFL Draft for the Giants instead. Ross had run the team's drafts under recently-fired General Manager Jerry Reese since 2007.
The Daily News is also reporting that Gettleman is not currently planning any other changes to the front office structure of the Giants. That would suggest that Assistant General Manager Kevin Abrams, who had served as interim general manager after Reese was fired, will be retained as the team's salary cap expert.
GIANTS WILL PICK SECOND IN THE 2018 NFL DRAFT…
Even though the New York Giants won on Sunday, they will still pick second in the 2018 NFL Draft due to the Indianapolis Colts defeating the Houston Texans 22-13. The Cleveland Browns currently have the first pick.
NEW YORK GIANTS 18 – WASHINGTON REDSKINS 10…
The New York Giants ended their historically-dreadful 2017 season with a rare win, defeating the Washington Redskins 18-10. With the victory, the Giants finished the season 3-13. It was also Steve Spagnuolo's first victory as interim head coach.
With a hodgepodge offensive line of right tackle Adam Bisnowaty, right guard Jon Halapio, center Brett Jones, left guard John Jerry, and left tackle Chad Wheeler, the Giants rushed for 260 yards against the Redskins. Jerry suffered a concussion in the 1st quarter and was replaced early by John Greco.
The Giants out-gained the Redskins in first downs (17 to 10), total net yards (381 to 197), and net yards rushing (260 to 61). Neither team passed for over 140 net yards. The Giants also won the critical turnover battle 3-to-1.
Most of the game's excitement came within the first seven minutes. On the second offensive snap of the game, running back Orleans Darkwa broke off a 75-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked. Then on Washington's third offensive snap, linebacker Kelvin Sheppard intercepted quarterback Kirk Cousins at the Redskins 31-yard line and returned the ball 12 yards to the 19-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Eli Manning hit wide receiver Hunter Sharp for a 16-yard score. The two-point conversion attempt failed and the Giants were up 12-0.
Washington went three-and-out on their second possession, but the Giants gave the ball right back when Manning's pass intended for running back Wayne Gallman was intercepted and returned to the NYG 20-yard line. Two plays later, Cousins scrambled into the end zone from 12 yards out to cut the score to 12-7 midway through the 1st quarter. Neither team would reach the end zone again.
The Giants responded with a 9-play, 70-yard drive that set up a successful 23-yard field goal by place kicker Aldrick Rosas. The Giants now led 15-7. The only points generated in the 2nd quarter came late when Brad Wing's punt was returned 29 yards to the Giants' 31-yard line with four seconds to go before halftime. On the half's final play, Washington kicked a 49-yard field goal to make the score Giants 15 – Redskins 10.
Counting the four punts in the 2nd quarter and three in the 3rd quarter, the Giants punted the ball away seven times in a row in the game. The Giants finally extended their lead to 18-10 after a 10-play, 52-yard drive resulted in a 29-yard field goal early in the 4th quarter.
Meanwhile, the even more anemic Redskins had their seven second-half possessions result in a missed field goal, four punts, and two interceptions – one by cornerback Ross Cockrell and a second by Sheppard late that salted the game away.
Manning finished the game 10-of-28 for 132 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. His leading receiver was tight end Rhett Ellison, who had five catches for 63 yards. Darkwa rushed for 154 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Gallman chipped in with 89 yards on 15 carries.
Defensively, Sheppard (two) and Cockrell (one) had all three of the Giants turnovers on interceptions. Cockrell was also credited with four pass defenses. The Giants also had three sacks with defensive end Olivier Vernon (1.5), defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (0.5), and linebacker Devon Kennard (1.0) all getting to the quarterback.
Video highlights/lowlights are available at Giants.com.
.@Aquafina All Access: Go inside the #NYGiants locker room after the win and watch Spags' message to the team! #GiantsPride pic.twitter.com/F7OKAEX66E
— New York Giants (@Giants) December 31, 2017
GIANTS 2018 OPPONENTS SET…
The New York Giants will play the following teams during the 2018 NFL regular season:
INACTIVE LIST AND INJURY REPORT…
Inactive for the game were wide receiver Sterling Shepard (neck), tight end Evan Engram (rib), offensive tackle Ereck Flowers (groin), defensive end Avery Moss (hip), quarterback Geno Smith, offensive guard Damien Mama, and linebacker Akeem Ayers.
Offensive guard John Jerry (concussion) and defensive tackle Jay Bromley (ankle) left the game and did not return.
Wide receiver Roger Lewis told reporters after the game that he will be having ankle surgery.
POST-GAME REACTION…
Transcripts and video clips of post-game media sessions with Interim Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo and the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:
Interim Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo (Video)
QB Eli Manning (Video)
Running Back Orleans Darkwa (Video)
DE Jason Pierre-Paul (Video)
DT Damon Harrison
LB Devon Kennard
CB Ross Cockrell (Video)
POST-GAME NOTES…
The New York Giants' 13 losses are a franchise record. The three victories are the team's fewest since 1983.
The Giants finished 2-6 in MetLife Stadium, their fewest home victories since they were 1-7 in 2003.
The Giants finished 1-5 in NFC East games and 1-11 in games vs. NFC opponents.
The Giants scored 246 points, their lowest total since they scored 243 in 2003.
Running back Orleans Darkwa's 75-yard touchdown run was the Giants' longest run from scrimmage since November 16, 2008, when Ahmad Bradshaw ran for 77 yards vs. Baltimore (but did not score) and Darkwa's score was the Giants' longest touchdown run since Bradshaw's 88-yarder in Buffalo on December 23, 2007.
Darkwa averaged 7.7 yards per carry in the game. The last Giants' back to average at least that many yards on at least 20 carries was Tiki Barber on December 30, 2006.
The Giants scored two touchdowns in the first 2:42 of a game for the first time since the 1970 merger.
Wide receiver Hunter Sharp is the 50th different receiver to catch a regular-season touchdown pass from quarterback Eli Manning.
Manning played in his 216th regular-season game. He shares the franchise record with Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson is the first Giants' rookie defensive lineman to start 16 games since Barry Cofield in 2006.
Interim Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo and select players will address the media on Monday.
News and Notes Tagged with: 2017 New York Giants, Bill O'Brien, Damon Harrison, Dave Gettleman, Devon Kennard, Eli Manning, Jason Pierre-Paul, Jim Schwartz, Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia, Orleans Darkwa, Pat Shurmur, Ross Cockrell, Steve Spagnuolo, Washington Redskins
Dave Gettleman's Introductory Press Conference
Dave Gettleman – © USA TODAY Sports
Dave Gettleman was officially introduced as the new general manager of the New York Giants at a press conference on Friday at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Opening Remarks by Team President/CEO John Mara (Video)
Thank you all for being here today. I'm very pleased to be here to introduce Dave Gettleman as the new general manager of the New York Giants. Dave is obviously someone who is very well known to us. As you know, he spent 15 years here in our pro personnel department and during that period he made quite an impression on all of us. I've said before that his knowledge of the personnel in the National Football League is second to none. I think he has excellent evaluation skills. He's a great communicator. He's got strong leadership qualities and, most importantly, he's a man of integrity. Dave has been with four different NFL organizations. He's had a lot of success with each one of them and he's had some great mentors throughout his career.
Given the state of our team at the moment and with all of the difficult and important decisions that we have facing us, we believed it was important to bring in somebody who had experience as a general manager, somebody with a proven track record. We followed very closely what Dave did in Carolina, and after conducting these interviews and doing our research and after much discussion, the three of us – myself, Steve Tisch and Ernie Accorsi – had a conviction that Dave was the right man for the job.
I want to acknowledge and thank Ernie for his help and guidance throughout this process, and now it is my great pleasure to introduce the new general manager of the New York Giants, Dave Gettleman.
Remarks by General Manager Dave Gettleman (Video)
Good morning. Happy holidays to everybody. I hope Santa made a visit or you got a Hanukkah visit. Whichever one that was. Wish you all a wonderful New Year. To begin with, I'd like to thank the Mara family, the Tisch family, Ernie (Accorsi) for helping me attain the position that, up until now, I had only dreamed about.
As most of you know, I'm from Boston. I'm a bit older, which some of you have made a point of writing and hurt my feelings, but be that as it may. When I was growing up in the '50s and really became enamored with the NFL, in Boston, you got to remember the Patriots weren't even a thought yet. So, sitting and watching those 10-inch black and whites – I watched the New York Football Giants, and the Cleveland Browns were the other team that we got. To be standing here today as the general manager of the New York Football Giants is a moment that does not escape me, and as a family, we feel truly blessed.
Obviously, I want to thank my family – Joanne; Aaron and Melissa, who are here right now; Sam; and Ana for all their support. Without them, I certainly wouldn't be standing here. Like I said, I truly feel blessed by the Lord.
In terms of building a team, my philosophy – I have a saying that I learned from – you're going to look at me like I'm nuts – "All in the Family", Archie Bunker – every man is my equal in that I may learn from him, and I've thought about that since the '60s when I first heard it. I've been with four different organizations and I've learned from one heck of a cast of NFL people. Bill Polian, Marv Levy, Bob Ferguson, Mike Shanahan, Ernie Accorsi, Jerry Reese. If you take those names and look at all the Super Bowls they've been to and then the ones that they've won, I certainly have had a heck of a group of teachers.
In terms of my managerial style, I believe in communication. I believe in collaboration. I believe in brutal honesty. There's a management concept that says you're not going to get to the right answer unless you ask the right question. We will do that. It will be done. I truly believe in collaboration. The more minds you can wrap around an issue and work at it, the better your answer is going to be and that's something I believe in strongly. I think the biggest mistake general managers make is when they close their doors and just decide things on their own. So, I believe in that. I believe in communication. Everybody will know where they stand with me. Everybody will know what I expect and we'll be moving forward. I'm going to invoke an old Tuna saying – don't talk about the pain, just show me the baby. So, that's the way it's going to operate.
In terms of team building, I'm old fashioned. Offense scores points, defense wins championships. There's been six matchups, I believe, in the Super Bowl of No. 1 offenses versus No. 1 defenses and the defenses have won five of the six. So, I truly believe in that. I'm going to say this right now, style of offense has changed; obviously there's that college influence, so obviously the style of defense has changed to a certain degree. But, at the end of the day, it's the same three things you had to do in '35 that you got to do now in 2018. You got to run the ball. You got to stop the run. You got to pressure the passer. Everywhere I've been and with the great teams that I've been associated with – those were three very big staples. Another philosophy about team building, Tom said it to me. Tom Coughlin said it to me my first year, his first when he came in here. He said big men allow you to compete, and that's really just so true. The o-line and the d-line, I believe in the hog mollies. We've had some great groups here, had great groups everywhere I've been, and we're going to get back to that. They do allow you to compete.
In terms of building the entire roster, you're going to use every avenue. You're going to build through the draft. You're going to use trades, waiver wire transactions. You're going to use every avenue necessary. It's just the way of the world. Building quality depth is critical. Is critical. Everybody plays today. Everybody. You start. You get your first cut down to 53. You got 63 guys on that field. I promise you, all 63 are going to have a varsity suit before the season is over unless you are stupid lucky, so you have to build quality depth. It's critical.
I'm almost done.
The other thing that's really important is culture. Football is the ultimate team game. You throw 11 guys out there on offense, one guy makes a mistake, you're second and 15. You throw 11 guys out there on defense, one guy makes a mistake, the official is doing this (touchdown signal). It's the ultimate team game. Culture is critical. These guys have to know when they step on the field that the guy right, the guy left, the guy behind, the guy in front has got their back and we're going to build that kind of a culture. In '15, one of the greatest things I've ever had a player say to me. We had traded for Jared Allen in, I think, it was the second week in October. We traded for Jared. By this time, Jared had been around about 12-13 years. After two weeks, he came up to me. He said, 'Dave, I've been in this league a long time. I have never been in a locker room like this.' He said, 'It's a pleasure to come to work. Everybody is in this together and I've never seen this before.' The proof was in the pudding. That team won a lot of games, so culture is critical.
Finally guys, I've been hired to win and the only promise I can make is I'm going to do everything in my power to lead this organization back to where it belongs. That's my goal. That's my intention. It's going to get done.
Q: What is your relationship with Eli Manning and how do you view handling the quarterback situation going forward?
A: There's only three guys on this team that were here when I left. It's Eli, JPP (Jason Pierre-Paul) and Zak DeOssie and I know a couple other guys that are here now. One of them – Robert Thomas. In regards to Eli, the bottom line is I'm an inveterate film watcher. That's what I do, OK? I haven't had access to tape and I'm not avoiding the question, but obviously you got to look at the film. You got to see what's cooking, and listen, Eli has won a lot of games. He's a great competitor. He's very intelligent and he and I are going to talk and if what I saw (against) Philadelphia was not a mirage, and I don't believe it was, then we'll just keep moving.
Q: Can you explain what happened at Carolina and even if you don't, what did you learn as far as the general manager's job?
A: OK, that's a fair question. As far as what happened there, give Mr. (Jerry) Richardson a call. As far as what I learned there, No. 1, I learned about how critical culture was. I learned that. I learned that winning in the NFL on Sunday's is hard. I don't care how good you are. It's hard and like I said before, it's the ultimate team game, so I learned how critical the locker room is. The locker room culture. So, I learned that. I had things that were reinforced to me about, like I said before in my opener, rushing the passer, stopping the run, running the ball. I learned some of those things. Another thing I learned – it is critical that the makeup of your coaching staff is you have quality teachers as well as quality tacticians. The player that we're getting from college. When I first got in the league 30 years ago, basically when you drafted a player, you were just taking a little polish and rubbing him up and getting him good. Now, it's different now. Those college rules are very different in terms of we're not getting as polished a player. We're getting younger players. In Carolina, drafted two guys who were 20 years old. So, you're getting that and as a general manager, I learned that I'm walking a tight rope. I'm walking a tight rope. I got ownership right here that wants to have a sustainability, wants to obviously win games and my responsibility is for the sustainable success. On the other hand, I got coaches that their butts are on the line every Sunday. They got to win. So, you've got to walk that fine line with both groups and you have to understand that the coaching staff needs to be teachers, they need to be sound tacticians, they have to know how to develop players. When we were in Carolina, we had practice squad guys taking reps with the ones. I banged on Ron (Rivera) all the time because those practice squad guys are going to play now. They're going to be on your varsity. It's only a matter of time. That old saying, you're only one breath away from going from backup to starter. You're only one hit away from being a practice squad guy to being on the 46. So, I learned that. The other thing I really learned – it's my responsibility to protect this franchise. That's my job. There's a variety of ways that I have to protect it. I learned that in Carolina. It's my job. I have no issue doing it. I'll make the tough decisions and I'll stand by them and we'll see what happens.
Q: What did you learn as far as dealing with agents or players that you didn't have to do as a personnel guy?
A: It's really kind of interesting. You talk to players – it's funny – when players first come into your building as young kids and you talk to them about becoming a pro and you've got a finite career and you talk about those things and they develop and then all of the sudden, they're ready to hit their, you know, they want the big contract and they throw it right back in your face. 'Well, Dave, I got a finite career, Jack, I got to make it now.' So, you get that. At the end of the day, that's something I got to do. You got to manage a (salary) cap. But, really and truly before that, it's what players don't want to hear. They don't want to hear the value you put on them because it hurts their feelings. They're sad. This is a big boy league. You got to put your big boy pants on now. Nobody feels sorry for you. Nobody cares about your injuries. Nobody cares what you make, what you don't make. So, I've learned that you have to be consistent. You got to be fair and if the player is upset, so be it. So be it.
Q: What is your feeling on why this team is 2-13?
A: That's a really hard question to answer because think about it this way – let's just think about it this way. You guys cover the Giants. You cover the league. You're looking at all the teams. So, somebody does something and you're going 'what?' You're giving them one of those. The fact of the matter is, teams make decisions based on the information they have at hand at that time. Shame on me to open up my big mouth when I don't have all the information. When I don't have all the information. In time I will and then I might be able to share my opinion. But, if you don't have all the information, if you weren't in the room, don't feel the emotion of what's going on, don't understand what's really going on, it is not fair of me to make any judgements or have any opinion on it.
Q: What kind of qualities are you looking for in a head coach?
A: I really believe that the head coaching job is a CEO position. It really is. You look at the great head coaches and I'll tell you right now, there ain't a dumb one in the group. There's not a dumb one in the group. They're all leaders. They all know how to lead men. And, that's what you need. You need intelligence. You need leadership and on the assumption that you hire an intelligent guy, you're going to have a guy with vision. Those are critical components you're looking for. There's a million pieces to it because it is, you know, you think about a head coach. You think of all the things he's got to juggle. I mean, there's a ton of stuff going on. I'm sure that they all once a week probably say, 'Gosh, I wish I could be the offensive coordinator.' Whatever it is. Just pick the position he loves to coach. 'Man, I'd just love to get with my linebackers. Just for a week.' It's a load. It's a load. You got to be able to handle that load.
Q: Is this a care-taker position you're taking or are you looking 10 years down the road?
A: My plan is to come in here every day and kick ass. That's my plan, OK? And I'm going to keep doing it until they either take my key card or the Lord calls me home.
Q: Do you have a sequence of what jobs you want to do starting right now?
A: John (Mara) and I are going to sit down and talk this afternoon. Don't cry a violin. I drove 10 hours last night and got up here at 10 o'clock at night and let me tell you something – 14 degrees. I mean, I only came from 34, so it wasn't like a big, huge, but you know, it was a little breezy when I got my fanny out of the car. The bottom line is, there's a whole laundry list of things. Have I prioritized them? Not yet. But, obviously, there's things to do.
Q: Did you watch Eli Manning's tape from the Philadelphia game?
A: No. I didn't get the tape. I actually – that was one of the few games I was able to see from start to finish.
Q: Just to clarify, as of now, you intend to move forward with Eli Manning as the starting quarterback next year?
A: Well, as of now, yeah.
Q: You have the No. 2 pick potentially in the draft.
A: I'll address that right now. Let me tell you something. I don't care what position it is. You can never have too many great players at one position. I mean, you think about us – we got (Michael) Strahan and Osi (Umenyiora) and we're drafting (Justin) Tuck and we're drafting (Mathias) Kiwanuka and people are looking at us like we have brain damage. You can never have too many great players at one position. So, I'll get into that much, much later, but let's see where we end up and which pick we have and we'll go from there.
Q: What are your thoughts on Odell Beckham Jr. and his long term future? You talked a bit about contracts.
A: Well, No. 1, who doesn't want a lot of money? Anybody in here not want a lot of money? Everybody wants a lot of money, guys. OK? I don't know Odell. I never met him. I'm looking forward to it. Obviously, he's an extremely talented kid and makes stuff happen. We'll have that, what's that song? 'Getting to know you, getting to know you.' We'll do that and we'll get to know each other and we'll go from there. He's rehabbing an injury and we'll get to know each other and we'll go from there. He's rehabbing an injury. I haven't had an opportunity to talk to Ronnie (Barnes) about how far along he is. So, we'll see.
Q: You were here for the situation with Josh Norman and Odell Beckham a few years ago. Does that give you a different perspective on Odell that you watched him melt down for three hours against your team?
A: It's really funny. I'm going to give you an analogy. When we look at players, when you look at players, obviously, you see things on film. You see things on tape. For example, I'm going to talk about a defensive back. So, people will say he can't cover man. So, I look at him and say, 'OK, tell me why.' Don't just make a blanket statement. Tell me why. I want to know why. I want you to break it down. Well, as far as – I have no idea what was going on in Odell's head in that game. I have no idea why all that happened. So, I would want to sit down with Odell and say, 'Why?' The bottom line is shame on me if I have any preconceived notions about guys as people because there's no way in God's green earth. I don't know these guys. Shame on me if I do. Everybody is going to get a fair shake. Believe it.
Q: As the new general manager, would you like to see Davis Webb play on Sunday to get some sort of idea of who he is in a game or does that not matter to you?
A: It's Friday. We're playing Sunday. I don't mean to be a smartass. It's Friday. We play the game on Sunday. What these guys decided, they decided. It is what it is. It is what it is.
Q: Do you feel that changes are needed in this front office or are you OK with the status quo?
A: It's one of those deals – I'm in a different situation than I was when I got to Carolina. When I got to Carolina, I knew a couple of scouts a little bit. I knew nobody. Let me back up. Cheese and crackers. My first year in the league, I'm working for the Bills. I hope you're laughing with me not at me. I'm working for the Bills and I'm an intern and Hank Bullough was the head coach. It was '86, I believe, and midseason Hank gets fired, Marv (Levy) comes in. Marv Levy. Marv comes in and at the end of the season, he let the entire staff go. That's his prerogative. That's absolutely his prerogative. There were three really good coaches on that staff. Three quality teachers, guys, fundamentalists. Guys that could really flat coach. He didn't even talk to them about staying. So, the point I'm trying to make is I promised that if I was ever the king that everybody would get an opportunity. Again, I haven't been here for five years. People change. I'm not the same guy I was five years ago and my wife is very thankful for that, by the way, and people change. So, let me get in here. Let me get to work. Let me talk. Let me find out what's cooking and then we'll make decisions as we go.
Q: Giants fans are furious about this season.
A: I thought you were going to say they're furious about me. I'd say, 'Well, gosh I just got here.'
Q: How quickly do you think you can turn this team around?
A: First of all, you can't make promises, right? Number one, there are some really good players on this roster. It's funny, when I was in Carolina, I'm a first time GM, the first three weeks were a blur. So finally Friday of my third week, I get my clicker in my hand, and I have the DTs, and I watched film for two weeks, my eyes were bleeding. They finished the season fairly strong and in my estimation, it wasn't fool's gold. So I have to look at this team, look at the players on this team with that same eye. I've got to figure it out. We've got to all sit down together, personnel department, and figure it out. And I know from watching, there are some quality players on this roster. We've got to fix the o-line, let's be honest. Let's not kid each other. I told you at the top, big men allow you to compete and that's what we've got to fix.
Q: Does it only make sense to you to have Odell Beckham Jr. be a part of the solution here, knowing his talent level?
A: It makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? Ernie [Accorsi] taught me something a long time ago: don't quit on talent. Don't quit on talent. Two years ago, my last year, we were just decimated on the o-line down in Carolina. So, we ended up signing Ryan Wendell, who had played for the Patriots for seven years. We don't make the playoffs, so baggy day, I grab Ryan and say, 'Ryan, when are you out of here,' and he's a west coast guy and he said to me, 'Dave, I'm here until tomorrow afternoon.' I said, 'Would you mind having lunch with me tomorrow?' So, Ryan came in. And I said, 'Ryan, listen, I'm not interested in inside gossip, backstories, I really don't care, but I want you to talk to me about the process there.' And he looked at me and he said, 'Dave, at the end of the season last year we beat the Chargers and we beat Washington in that Monday Night game down there.' And Ryan said, 'Dave, those are New England Patriot wins. That's what it looked like.' And I said, 'Okay, so tell me the steps.' He said, 'The one thing that we all know from the moment we walk in the door is we are expected to be pros today.' There's two kinds of players in this league, folks. There are guys that play professional football and there are professional football players. And the professional football players are the guys we want. I don't want guys that want to win. I want guys that hate to lose. That's the professional football player. That's what you want. So, it's important.
Q: Have you had any communication with your predecessor, Jerry Reese, and what ways do your philosophies overlap and what ways are they different?
A: Well, again, I've been gone for five years. Jerry is a very classy guy and he's a dear friend and I hated what happened. He sent me a text yesterday that was just really special. But, we're different people. Maybe you couldn't get much more different [laughs]. So, listen, we taught each other. We worked together for a long time, we learned from each other, I learned from him just as much as he learned from me. I enjoyed working under him as my boss, my GM.
Q: What do you mean when you say you two couldn't be more different?
A: We're just different people, you know? You say potato, I say potahto. Jerry's as honorable and as ethical as anybody. But no, just a good man. He's a good man.
Q: Would you plan to give your head coach the authority to get rid of the entire staff?
A: Through conversation. I mean, who knows? That's part of the process. There are good coaches on this staff, I'm telling you right now. And I certainly would encourage whoever becomes the next head coach to talk to these guys, absolutely. Philosophically, I wouldn't force a coach on a coach, I wouldn't force a player on a coach because it doesn't work out.
Q: What qualities are you looking for in a coach?
A: I don't mean to be a wise guy, [but] they asked it earlier. I'm looking for intelligence, I'm looking for vision, I'm looking for leadership.
Q: How difficult is it going to be to rebuild this offensive line?
A: Well, again, you can't put a timeframe on anything, you really can't. I'm not going to sit up here and tell you I'm going to fix it in two years because John is going to run me out of the building, okay? No, the bottom line is, you go to work. You go to work, it's that simple. You have no idea what's going to happen. You have no idea who's going to be available. People get cut all the time, you say, 'Whoa!' you know? The bottom line is, there are people available on the street that – the bad habit that people have is, well what's wrong with him? Wait a minute, don't look at the negative. What's right with him? Can he help us? Now let's see if we can dig around, find out why he got dumped. But no. you can't put a timetable on it. We're going to work our fannies off and we're going to get it fixed.
BOB PAPA INTERVIEW WITH DAVE GETTLEMAN…
The video of Bob Papa's exclusive interview with General Manager Dave Gettleman is available at Giants.com.
JOHN MARA'S POST-PRESS CONFERENCE REMARKS…
The following is the transcript of team President and CEO John Mara's post-introductory press conference remarks. The video is available at Giants.com.
Q: Are the head coaching interviews going to start right after Sunday at some time?
A: Yes. Expect us on Monday to start sending out the consent forms and start making contact. We want to get going on this right away.
Q: So teams with candidates who have byes, you can talk to them next week?
A: You can request permission and the team that they currently work for can tell you what day and where, but you can start asking for permission on Monday.
Q: What did you think of Dave's (Gettleman) answer to the question about as long as the Eagles game wasn't a fluke, he's okay with Eli Manning being the quarterback moving forward?
A: He had given me that answer in the interview as well and I think that's fine. Obviously he has to sit down and look at the tape and we're going to hire a coach and it's going to be a discussion going forward.
Q: Do you think the Eagles game was a mirage?
A: I think he can still play. I think he can still play at a high level, but at the end of the day, that's going to be a discussion among Dave, the new head coach and myself.
Q: How much were Eli and Odell's (Beckham) names brought up in the interviewing process?
A: Their names came up in the interview process, yes. Obviously, they are two important parts of this team so, yes, their names came up and I think we got pretty much the same answer from everybody on both of those guys. And really they've got to come in, look at the tape, talk to Eli, talk to Odell, and we'll make decisions going forward.
Q: When you went into this search for a GM, did you expect to go into January and talk to people from other teams?
A: You know, initially that had been our thought, but after going through all of these interviews and talking it through with Ernie (Accorsi) and Steve (Tisch), we just had a conviction that this was the right guy for us. Listen, I'm also conscious of the fact that come Monday or Tuesday, there are going to be a number of head coaches that get fired and there are going to be a lot of teams out there competing for the quality candidates that are out there. So being ready to do that starting Monday morning was something that we wanted to do, but I think once we reached the conviction about Dave, we felt like it was the right thing to do, make the decision now and then be ready to hit the road on Monday.
Q: Could you be doing an interview on Monday?
A: I guess conceivably we could be, but we'll be sending out the consent forms then, so in all likelihood it wouldn't take place on Monday.
Q: What kind of coach is necessary to help change the culture?
A: I think Dave outlined the qualities very well. You're looking for someone who has intelligence, but leadership qualities, too. Somebody that's going to be able to command the room when he stands up there in front of that team. And we don't have any preconceived notion about whether it has to be an offensive or a defensive coach. Ideally, it will be somebody with previous head coaching experience, but that doesn't have to be the case, either.
Q: Where are you with Eli Apple?
A: I think Dave said it well, too. You don't want to quit on talent. I think that's a discussion we'll have to have in the offseason. He's a young guy. I happen to like him personally. I'm obviously disturbed with what's happened this year. I thought he had a terrific training camp and I was really excited about him as a player coming into this season. So I think we have to figure out what's going on with him. But I'd like at the end of the day for him to be a part of this team's future, but I think that's going to have to be a discussion with whoever the next head coach is and with Dave as well.
Q: Will Ernie be part of the head coaching search?
A: Not officially. He's certainly there as a resource. I talk to him all the time, but he's not going to be there on the interviews.
Q: Do you feel confident that Odell is still a part of this team's future given everything that has happened over the last few months?
A: I still want him to be a part of this team in the future, but I think I've got to sit with Dave and the new head coach and figure out exactly what is going to happen there. But let's face it, players with his ability don't come along very often so, yes, I want him to be a part of this team's future. As to when we actually do the contract, I think that's up for discussion.
Q: Is it more likely now that you're going to have him play out his fifth-year option?
A: It's too early to say that.
Q: Many people misunderstood when you said wholesale changes because when Dave was announced as a candidate, that was not a wholesale change. How would you explain this?
A: Yeah, I'm not sure why there is such confusion about that. When was the last time we changed a general manager and a head coach in the same year? It was 1979 and there might be another change or two or three happening in the future. For me, that's pretty wholesale.
Q: I think people took that as we're going to go outside of our tree and bring in someone new.
A: I understand, but I think these constitute pretty significant changes, at least certainly in my lifetime. And people seem to forget that Dave has been out of the building for five years, so it wasn't just promoting someone from within.
Q: What is the one thing that you want to see fixed from this season?
A: There are so many things, it's hard to just identify one of them. Dave mentioned the offensive line. Obviously, that's an area we need to improve in. Our defense didn't play all that well, either. Nobody played all that well, to be honest with you, with a couple of exceptions. It's hard to pinpoint one thing. You're 2-13.You're 2-13 for a reason and it's usually not just one reason.
Q: Why did you guys abandon the plan to get Davis (Webb) some reps?
A: Well, there wasn't a plan to do that. It was something that I expressed quite a while ago, but once Steve (Spagnuolo) got appointed as the interim head coach, he believes, and I share that belief that Eli gives us the best chance to win right now and I don't like to tell head coaches who they should be playing.
Q: Do you feel like it was a missed opportunity not to get a look at Davis?
A: It would have been nice to get a look at him, but, again, I wasn't going to force that and we are where we are.
Q: In hindsight, was it a mistake to bench Eli if every candidate you interviewed had him in their plans?
A: I think we could have probably handled it better, but you can argue that a lot of different ways. From a pure football point of view, where we were as a team right then, getting a look at somebody else at quarterback was not the worst decision in the world. I think it could have been handled better and I take responsibility for that. I could have handled that better.
Q: Do you expect big results for the Giants in 2018?
A: I expect us to be a good team in 2018. You go from last to first or first to last, teams do that every year. And we do have some talent on this roster. We obviously have a lot of holes to fill as well, but I don't see any reason why we can't have a successful team next year.
Q: How extensive were your feelings about Eli during your interview with Dave?
A: That was certainly a significant part of the discussion, but it wasn't the most important thing that we discussed. I was interested in hearing what his philosophy was in building a team, what he had learned in Carolina, what he knew about our roster and what he thought we needed to do going forward and, obviously, who he had in mind for head coaching candidates, which I'm not going to go into for obvious reasons. Those things were important to me. His philosophy on Eli is let me sit down and look at the tape before I have a definitive answer for you on that. He had seen the Philadelphia game. Eli played very well in that game and he made the same statement to me that he made to you in there.
Q: Is that encouraging to you?
A: It was encouraging to me, yes.
Q: Do you have any necessary qualities on the kind of head coach you're looking for?
A: I think, obviously, it has to be somebody who has either had head coaching experience or at least has been a coordinator for a significant period of time because I think if you don't have that, the odds are really stacked against you. It's not impossible for you to succeed without that, but I think the more experience that that individual has as either a head coach or as a coordinator on either side of the ball, I think is very important.
Q: Do you want Spags to have a shot?
A: He will have a shot. I told him that when we made him the interim head coach and he will have a shot.
NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
Quarterback Geno Smith (not injury related), wide receiver Sterling Shepard (neck), wide receiver Tavarres King (concussion), tight end Evan Engram (rib), offensive tackle Ereck Flowers (groin), and offensive tackle Bobby Hart (ankle) did not practice on Friday. Shepard, King, and Engram have been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins. Flowers and Hart are officially "questionable."
Wide receiver Roger Lewis (ankle), defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (finger/back/ankle), and defensive end Avery Moss (hip) practiced on a limited basis. Pierre-Paul is officially "questionable" for the game while Lewis and Moss are unofficially "probable."
INTERIM HEAD COACH STEVE SPAGNUOLO…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with Interim Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:
Steve Spagnuolo Press Conference (Video)
Steve Spagnuolo Giants.com Q&A
You can't do much better than Dave Gettleman: ex-Giants GM by Steve Serby of The New York Post
The result might work, but this Giants process was bad by George Willis of The New York Post
Giants finally make a right move with Dave Gettleman hire by James Kratch for NJ.com
Agents' reactions to Giants' hiring of Dave Gettleman as GM range from 'great' to 'uninspiring' by Dan Duggan for NJ.com
Giants' Dalvin Tomlinson explains dealing with losing after winning at Alabama | 4 downs by Dan Duggan for NJ.com
Giants' Brandon Dixon tries to make the most of chance to play by Tom Rock of Newsday
There is no media availability to the New York Giants on Saturday. The Giants play the Washington Redskins on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium.
News and Notes Tagged with: Brandon Dixon, Dalvin Tomlinson, Dave Gettleman, John Mara, Steve Spagnuolo
New York Giants Hire Dave Gettleman as General Manager
The New York Giants announced on Thursday that they have hired Dave Gettleman as the team's general manager. Kevin Abrams had been serving as the Giants' interim general manager since Jerry Reese was fired on December 4th.
The 66-year old Gettleman was the Giants' pro personnel director (1999-2011) and senior pro personnel analyst (2012) before becoming the general manager of the Carolina Panthers (2013-2017). The Panthers fired Gettleman in July 2017.
The Giants only interviewed Gettleman and three other individuals for the position, including Giants' Vice President of Player Evaluation Marc Ross, former Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles Director of Pro Personnel Louis Riddick, and Abrams, who was the team's assistant general manager before serving as interim GM. Gettleman was interviewed by team President/CEO John Mara, Chairman/Executive Vice President Steve Tisch, and former general manager Ernie Accorsi last Wednesday. Accorsi served as a consultant to Mara and Tisch during the selection process.
"Given where we are as a team, we thought it was important to bring in someone with experience as a general manager and a proven track record," Mara and Tisch said in a written statement. "Dave's experience is unparalleled. He did an outstanding job as general manager in Carolina, and he was vital to our success during his tenure here. Dave is going to bring his own approach to our organization in how we draft and acquire players through free agency."
Gettleman will be introduced to the media on Friday at an 11:15AM news conference at Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
Wide receiver Sterling Shepard (neck), wide receiver Tavarres King (concussion), tight end Evan Engram (rib), and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (finger/back) did not practice on Thursday.
Wide receiver Roger Lewis (ankle), offensive tackle Ereck Flowers (groin), offensive tackle Bobby Hart (ankle), and defensive end Avery Moss (hip) practiced on a limited basis.
THE COACHES SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following coaches are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:
Offensive Coordinator Mike Sullivan (Video)
QB Geno Smith (Video)
WR Brandon Marshall (Video)
CB Ross Cockrell (Giants Insider Video)
Giants have failed Eli Manning, no matter what comes next by James Kratch for NJ.com
Eli Apple's suspension could save Giants millions by Paul Schwartz of The New York Post
Giants cornerback Eli Apple wasting his talent by Bob Glauber of Newsday
The New York Giants practice on Friday at 10:55AM. Interim Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo and select players will address the media after practice.
News and Notes Tagged with: Brandon Marshall, Dave Gettleman, Eli Apple, Eli Manning, Geno Smith, Mike Sullivan, Ross Cockrell, Steve Spagnuolo
Giants Suspend Eli Apple; B.J. Goodson Placed on IR
Eli Apple – © USA TODAY Sports
GIANTS SUSPEND ELI APPLE…
The New York Giants announced Wednesday afternoon that they have suspended cornerback Eli Apple for the final week of the team's season, including the season finale against the Washington Redskins on Sunday. Apple's season is officially over.
"We have suspended Eli for a pattern of behavior that is conduct detrimental to the team," said Interim General Manager Kevin Abrams.
Apple, the 10th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, has had a troubled year both off the field (family issues and conflict with teammates) and on the field (injuries and being benched by the Giants).
On Tuesday, safety Landon Collins took a harsh shot at Apple during his weekly interview with ESPN Radio. "There's only just one corner that… needs to grow, and we all know who that is," said Collins. "That would be the only person I would change out of our secondary group. Besides, the other two guys, (Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie) and (Janoris Jenkins), I love those two guys. They play hard. They love what they do. But that first pick… he's a cancer."
This was the continuation of an escalating feud between Collins and Apple that began two weeks ago when Collins originally defended Apple and said he had privately talked to Apple, offering him advice and counsel. Apple denied that Collins had done that, initiating a conflict inside the locker room (one press report saying Collins had to be restrained when confronting Apple) and publicly on Twitter. Last week on ESPN Radio, Collins said Apple needed to "grow up."
On Wednesday, Collins tweeted, "I met with Coach Spags and Eli this morning and I apologized for the things I said yesterday. I never stop supporting my brother/teammate Eli and the rest of my teammates as we move forward. Just want him to know I'm always here for him (100 percent)."
"Listen, I think Landon has already addressed what happened the other day," said Interim Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo after practice and before Apple was suspended. "Just real quickly – I love Landon. We had a quick conversation this morning and then I had a quick conversation with Eli (Apple) and then all three of us had a really good conversation and it was very productive and I'll just leave it at that. It's between them and they were really great. I'll just leave it alone."
For his part, Apple did not address the media on Wednesday other than to let them know he had to "take a shit" on his way to the bathroom. Shortly after that, Apple was suspended. The NFL Network is reporting that Apple' suspension was "due in part to his refusal to take the field with the scout team" and that "he then got into it with a coach."
Eli Apple's suspension today was due in part to his refusal to take the field with the scout team, source says. @RapSheet says he then got into it with a coach.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 27, 2017
GIANTS PLACE B.J. GOODSON ON INJURED RESERVE…
The New York Giants have placed linebacker B.J. Goodson on Injured Reserve with a high ankle sprain that has nagged him much of the season. Goodson missed two games in September with a shin injury, returned to the starting lineup in October, but then missed six of his next eight games with the ankle issue. In all, Goodson started seven games and finished 2017 with 53 tackles, two pass defenses, and one forced fumble.
To fill that roster vacancy, the team signed wide receiver Marquis Bundy from the Practice Squad. The 6'4", 215-pound Bundy was originally signed as a rookie free agent by the Arizona Cardinals after the 2016 NFL Draft. The Cardinals waived him in August 2017 and the Giants then signed him.
The Giants have also signed wide receiver Canaan Severin and defensive lineman Kristjan Sokoli to the Practice Squad.
The Giants signed the 6'2", 205-pound Severin in August 2017 and waived him before the season started in September. Severin was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent his rookie season on Injured Reserve with a shoulder injury. The Steelers waived him in August 2017.
Sokoli was originally drafted in the 6th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. The 6'5", 300-pound Sokoli has spent time with the Seahawks (2015), Indianapolis Colts (2016), and New Orleans Saints (2017). The Albanian-born player has played both on the offensive and defensive lines.
DAVIS WEBB PROMOTED…
With one game left in the 2017 regular season, Davis Webb has replaced Geno Smith as Eli Manning's primary back-up at quarterback.
"Davis Webb will be the second quarterback going into this game," said Interim Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo. "Having said that, that's no reflection on Geno. Last week I told you all that we were going to try to get Davis Webb ready in case we could get him in the game. There's no guarantees that we will get him in the game, but he will be the number two on Sunday."
Wide receiver Sterling Shepard (neck0, wide receiver Tavarres King (concussion), tight end Evan Engram (rib), and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (finger) did not practice on Wednesday.
The transcript of Steve Spagnuolo's press conference on Wednesday is available in The Corner Forum while the video is available at Giants.com.
QB Davis Webb (Video)
TE Evan Engram
Josh McDaniels among likely favorites for the Giants' coaching job by Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com
Giants' lack of leadership is most troubling aspect of dismal season by Dan Duggan for NJ.com
Eli Manning doesn't want to just be a mentor by Paul Schwartz of The New York Post
Examining Giants' options with Eli Apple in 2018: Cut, trade, keep? by James Kratch for NJ.com
The New York Giants practice on Thursday at 11:35AM. Interim Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo, Offensive Coordinator Mike Sullivan, Special Teams Coordinator Tom Quinn, and select players will also address the media after practice.
News and Notes Tagged with: B.J. Goodson, Canaan Severin, Damon Harrison, Davis Webb, Eli Apple, Eli Manning, Evan Engram, Kristjan Sokoli, Landon Collins, Marquis Bundy, Steve Spagnuolo
Arizona Cardinals 23 – New York Giants 0
The New York Giants were embarrassed by the sub-.500 Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, being shut out 23-0. With the loss, the Giants fell to 2-13 on the season. No other team in the New York Giants' 93-year history has ever had 13 defeats. The Giants are also 0-11 against NFC opponents.
How bad was the Giants' offense?
12 first downs
1-of-14 on 3rd down
1-of-4 on 4th down
293 total net yards
43 net yards rushing
3 turnovers by the quarterback Eli Manning, including a fumble returned for touchdown
The Giants had 14 possessions. The results:
One missed 33-yard field goal
Six punts
Three turnovers on downs
Three turnovers
End of game after one play
New York's longest offensive "drive" was 45 yards and only two other possessions gained more than 30 yards.
The Giants' defense was more respectable, surrendering just 289 total net yards (74 rushing, 215 passing) and 19 first downs. Cornerback Ross Cockrell also picked off two passes in the second half. But the Cardinals' offense managed three scoring drives:
9 plays, 46yards for a field goal in the 1st quarter
9 plays, 79 yards for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter
11 plays, 75 yards for a touchdown to start the 3rd quarter
With cornerback Eli Apple benched, reserve corner Brandon Dixon had issues covering wideout Larry Fitzgerald, who caught nine passes for 119 yards and a touchdown.
Video lowlights are available at Giants.com.
Inactive for the game were wide receiver Tavarres King (concussion), linebacker B.J. Goodson (ankle), quarterback Davis Webb, wide receiver Kalif Raymond, offensive lineman Damien Mama, defensive end Avery Moss, and defensive end Romeo Okwara.
Tight end Evan Engram (ribs), safety Landon Collins (fractured forearm), and wide receiver Sterling Shepard (neck) all left the game with injuries and did not return.
Video clips of post-game media sessions with Interim Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo and the following players are available at Giants.com:
WR Sterling Shepard (Video)
S Landon Collins (Video)
Steve Spagnuolo on Giants stars, coaching icons and Bobby Orr by Steve Serby of The New York Post
Family strife at the root of Giants CB Eli Apple's tumultuous season by Dan Duggan for NJ.com
Giants teammates who know Davis Webb best say he has 'it' factor by Dan Duggan for NJ.com
One Giant has proven he's a big part of the future by Zach Braziller of The New York Post
Season always about more than trophy for Jason Pierre-Paul by George Willis of The New York Post
Josh Rosen prefers Giants over Browns, would hesitate to enter draft if Cleveland commits to him by Adam Schefter of ESPN.com
There is no media availability to the New York Giants on Monday and Tuesday. The team returns to practice on Wednesday in preparation for the season-finale against the Washington Redskins on Sunday.
News and Notes Tagged with: 2017 New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, Davis Webb, Eli Apple, Eli Manning, Jason Pierre-Paul, Landon Collins, Sterling Shepard, Steve Spagnuolo


text:
Home WORLD Why Prince Andrew got down to business in Toronto
Why Prince Andrew got down to business in Toronto
Hello, royal watchers. This is your biweekly dose of royal news and analysis. Reading this online? Sign up here to get this delivered to your inbox.
When Peter Whitby made his pitch to a well-connected business crowd in Toronto a few days ago, one goal was top of mind: Could he find someone to help get his startup, which produces an innovative air-filtration mask, to market in India, where air pollution is a serious problem?
Thanks to Prince Andrew, Whitby and the company he co-founded in Waterloo, Ont., may be on their way.
Not that the eighth in line to the throne personally hooked up O2 Canada with potential distributors half a world away. But the Duke of York's five-year-old [email protected] program to support entrepreneurs may have set the stage.
Peter Whitby wants to find a distribution partner in India for the air filtration masks his company makes. (Albert Leung/CBC)
"I've never participated in anything like that, and I've just met a director from BMO bank who's connecting me to someone in India — so it's clearly working," Whitby said in an interview after O2 Canada and another company were named the first winners of [email protected] in Canada.
[email protected] is in many ways an example of how the House of Windsor is trying to find relevance in a modern world. For a while now, members of the Royal Family have been establishing initiatives that aim to ease problems or improve conditions beyond palace walls — youth unemployment, environmental threats, mental health and so on.
That Andrew would focus on business is perhaps not that surprising, particularly given his past interest in the topic (although his time as the U.K. trade envoy courted considerable controversy). Andrew's current project focuses on supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, and creating international networks that startups can tap for support and mentorship.
Ben Sanders, CEO of Proof, will make a pitch for his Yukon-based company at a [email protected] event in London later this year. (Albert Leung/CBC)
"I think it's particularly incredible that the Royal Family is finding a new way to kind of reinvent themselves by supporting entrepreneurs, the latest technology," Ben Sanders, the other [email protected] winner named Tuesday night, said in an interview.
Sanders's Yukon-based startup, Proof, aims to help governments cut red tape by digitizing the approvals process. "We've already got support financially," Sanders said. "What [email protected] will help us with is making connections outside of Canada to governments around the world."
And that's what Andrew wants.
"You've seen this evening some of the really brilliant innovation and entrepreneurial activity that is going on in Canada," he told the crowd of 200 at the Art Gallery of Ontario. "Our job now is to take businesses, help them grow, and take some into the global market if that is what they would wish to do."
O2 Canada and Proof move on to the international [email protected] competition at St. James's Palace in London in December.
Their wins came after they and 22 other startups made their pitches to the business crowd that had been chosen by the program's host organization in Canada, the Rideau Hall Foundation, and BMO, which contributed $500,000 to the program.
Members of the audience at the [email protected] event in Toronto vote via their smartphones after hearing pitches from 24 Canadian startups and entrepreneurs. (Albert Leung/CBC)
"What excites us about [email protected] is that it's a platform that provides early stage businesses with a great degree of support and, potentially, international exposure," Catherine Roche, head of marketing and strategy for BMO Financial Group, said via email.
Still, can this kind of initiative really make a difference?
There isn't a lot of research on this so far, said Shari Hughson, director of the master of management innovation and entrepreneurship program in the Smith School of Business at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. But studies have found that it almost doubles the chances of an entrepreneur's success more than three years down the road. Of particular significance is developing a network.
"It is the network that is the most critical for entrepreneurs, because in order to gain capital, it is a relationship that needs to get built up," she said.
Prince Andrew watched as results came in electronically during audience voting at the [email protected] event in Toronto. (Albert Leung/CBC)
And what about the royal involvement? How significant is that?
"Huge," said Hughson. "Just the fact that it has a royal celebrity attached to it." We give celebrities more credibility because they're famous, she said, "and that is great for these entrepreneurs."
"It is a great thing for Prince Andrew to be doing, because everybody who can support building a stronger entrepreneur ecosystem will dramatically help us improve our own economies."
Royals in Canada
Prince Andrew and his wife, Sarah, the Duchess of York, play tourist in Niagara Falls, Ont., on July 18, 1987. The couple later divorced, and many of Andrew's visits to Canada since then have been lower-profile than those he made with Sarah shortly after their marriage. (Tim Clark/The Canadian Press)
Andrew's time in Toronto for [email protected] was part of a six-day visit to Canada, one of 30 or more trips he's made to the country since his first time here in 1976.
Some of those trips had a considerably higher profile — like that first trip with his parents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, brother Edward and sister Anne when she competed at the Montreal Olympics, or with his then-wife Sarah in 1987 and 1989. This one was much more low-key.
Andrew arrived on May 23 in Nova Scotia, where he attended a ceremony to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Princess Louise Fusilliers.
Many of Andrew's trips to Canada have included a return to the school where he spent time in 1977, and this one was no exception: He was back at Lakefield College School near Peterborough, Ont., on Saturday for its Regatta Day.
Lakefield College School was delighted to welcome His Royal Highness @TheDukeOfYork on Saturday, May 25, 2019 for the school's annual Regatta Day celebrations. This past Saturday, over 700+ students, staff, parents, alumni and friends joined in on the Regatta Day activities. pic.twitter.com/2j2E3XYY6F
—@LakefieldCS
The visit also took him to the kinds of places royal visits often go — in Toronto, he spent time at the Hospital for Sick Children and Ryerson University.
At Ryerson, business was back on the agenda as he visited the school's DMZ business incubator, where he met representatives of about 10 companies and met privately with leaders.
"He asked some extremely well-thought-out questions," DMZ executive director Abdullah Snobar said.
"It was good exposure for the companies. Hopefully, if one major thing can come out of it, it's going to be able to inspire them to continue what they're doing and stay resilient, but also inspire other young folks and other people to embrace the world of entrepreneurship."
Andrew wasn't the first royal to stop by the school in the past five years. His older brother Charles was there in 2014, and younger brother Edward visited two years later. Snobar hopes other members of the family might follow suit.
"Maybe we can bring on Prince William and Prince Harry at some point, as well."
How secret should a royal birth be?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's son Archie was born at a London hospital, but that location did not become public until nearly two weeks after his birth. ( Dominic Lipinski/Reuters)
In the last newsletter, we asked readers what they thought about secrecy surrounding where a royal birth takes place. For nearly two weeks after the May 6 arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's first child, the location of the birth was not publicly known.
The public release of Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor's birth certificate on May 17 revealed Prince Harry and Meghan's son was born at the private Portland Hospital in London.
Several readers were fine with not knowing where he had been born, saying that as long as the child was healthy, the location of the birth didn't matter.
Others took a different view.
"Rather silly to keep it a secret, especially after the birth," said Sandra Murphy of Bible Hill, N.S. "What does it matter? This is a bit much."
Canada recognizes Archie's birth
Speaking of Archie, recognition here in Canada of his birth means children in need at five schools will have the chance to have healthy breakfasts.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that the federal government will donate $100,000 to the Breakfast Club of Canada to mark Archie's arrival. The donation means the program will reach an additional 500 students daily, and provide more than 100,000 breakfasts over a school year.
It's a recognition in keeping with the charitable interests Harry and Meghan have shown. Before Archie's birth, they encouraged members of the public who might have considered sending them baby gifts to make donations instead to charities supporting children and parents in need.
Royal diplomacy coming up
Queen Elizabeth and U.S. President Donald Trump inspect the Guard at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on July 13, 2018. Trump will meet the Queen again during a state visit to the United Kingdom from June 3 to 5. (Matt Dunham/Reuters)
Queen Elizabeth is nothing if not diplomatic in how she conducts her affairs, and there'll be another opportunity for royal diplomacy to be on full display next week.
U.S. President Donald Trump makes a long-anticipated — and controversial — state visit to the United Kingdom from June 3 to 5.
Protests are planned in London, and it appears there is a desire to keep some of the festivities out of the public realm. The official welcome will take place in the private gardens behind Buckingham Palace, rather than a more public venue where such ceremonies are more often held.
Most senior members of the Royal Family are expected to meet Trump at some point during the visit.
But it's been widely reported that Harry's wife, Meghan, will not. Her absence will avert a potentially awkward moment if she and Trump were to come face to face. Before marrying Harry, she had been highly and publicly critical of Trump.
Royally quotable
Queen Elizabeth visits a pop-up Sainsbury's on the site of one of the original stores to mark the 150th anniversary of the supermarket chain on May 22 in London, England. (Jeremy Selwyn/Getty Images)
"And you can't trick it? You can't cheat, then?"
— Queen Elizabeth gets an up-close look at technology she doesn't encounter in her day-to-day life: a self-service scanner at the grocery store. The Queen was shown a new till and weighing scale during a visit to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Sainsbury's chain.
Royal reads
Prince Charles and Camilla were back in Ireland recently — the Republic and Northern Ireland — as the Royal Family continues its efforts to reaffirm their commitment to an area that has had a troubled and controversial history.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Jim and I set our next appointment time, but he didn't write it down. He just agreed to the appointment, collected his cell phone and keys, said goodbye and headed out the door.
With that one phone call I cleared my responsibility before I could forget, and had given Jim an appointment reminder that he could replay again and again all week long. That's right; my quick phone call was to Jim as he walked out to his car. It was an arrangement that we had devised to help him remember, and it worked great for the entire time he saw me.
Before my first appointment with a client ends, I ask them if they need a reminder for appointments. Each client has a different need. For some, despite the fact they have ADHD, they never have any difficulty remembering when we're getting together, as long as they have a card with the time.
Some clients prefer an email the morning of their appointment and others request a phone call to remind them as they start their day. A few clients, who need some time to make the drive to my office, ask for a call about 90 minutes before they're supposed to be there.
If possible, I try to accommodate whatever approach works. With Jim that means calling him as he leaves my office and leaving the reminder on his cell phone where he likes stumbling across it all week. Jim thought of this idea when I was offering the list of possibilities.
If you have trouble remembering appointments, be a good observer of what works well for you. Once you find a system don't be afraid to tell your dentist, accountant, personal trainer or other service providers. They may appreciate knowing what will get you to your appointment on time and on the right day. You may even teach them to ask other clients who sometimes forget.


Although things started out a little slowly, by the time we got to 9:00 the dance floor was packed with folks out having a great time.
The LA Singles group is one of the largest Singles Organizations in the Baltimore / DC area, and their dances are unquestionably some of the best attended.
On this particular evening we were celebrating our bass player Jim Young's birthday, as well as a half dozen other birthdays in the crowd!


text:
HomeProfessional integration of migrants and asylum seekers
Call for papersEconomics
Sociology of work
Migration, immigration, minorities
Labour, employment
Twenty-first century
Professional integration of migrants and asylum seekers
"Africa e Mediterraneo" dossier 88/2018
Published on Thursday, March 29, 2018 by Céline Guilleux
After a few years of monopolizing the issue of "landings" and the organization of reception, the issue of the professional integration of migrants and asylum seekers in Europe is beginning to take hold. Member States' priorities have moved from the first reception to longer-term actions aimed at the social and economic integration of migrants into the European productive fabric. However there are still many differences in working conditions of third-country nationals compared to native citizens in most of the Member States, which also present very different conditions, policies and experiences.
Reference context
Repeatedly, statistical surveys confirm that immigration from less developed countries or in situations of conflict constitutes, for Europe, an increasingly important structural question from a social, political, demographic, economic and cultural point of view.
Traditionally, economic prosperity and political stability in the EU have been significantly attractive. This is not due to diminish and will result in a further increase in the influx of people entering the continent, making it ever-more necessary, at a community level, to define the shared integration pathways. This will enable the identification of strategies and measures for an absorption of migratory flows by the host countries that is sustainable and profitable for all involved.
According to a recent report by the European Parliament,[1] there is a widely shared consensus among experts that participation in the labor market is the most important step towards successful integration and a positive economic impact into host societies, as it is presumed a large number of asylum seekers and refugees will remain in the EU for several years.
This requires large investment in human capital, especially in countries where the influx of migrants can be considered an opportunity to cope with the aging population. In many parts of the EU, it is estimated that between now and 2050, 30% of the population will be over 65 (Projection Eurostat 2004/2050) and that for every 100 people of working age, in 2050 there will be 53 people aged 65 and over or more, compared to a ratio of 29 elderly people per 100 working-age adults in 2015. This will inevitably lead to changes of an economic and social nature, produced by the reduction in the active population and the difficulty of recruitment in sectors that cannot be relocated, with an inevitable decline in their growth rates.
The fact that international migrants comprise a greater percentage of people of working age than the total European population has in the past pushed some countries - like France, whose percentage of over 60s was 20.85% in 2005 and which will increase in 2050 to 27.2% - to discuss "replacement immigration" over a decade ago. A report published in 2006 by the government Center d'analyse stratégique entitled "The need for labour and migration policy"[2], talks for the first time about how to turn immigration into a "replacement" resource to fill the vacuum left by the demographic decline and mitigate as much as possible the negative effects of aging on the economic activity of the country. The report reads, "the use of immigration can be a transitional solution to these difficulties, provided that the work force guidance mechanisms are effective and that the sectors of activity pursue parallel efforts to improve the labor market".[3]
The same concept was addressed years later in a UN report from 2017[4] which foresaw a dramatic increase in the world population. In particular, it is estimated that, between 2017 and 2050, the population of 26 African countries will almost double. According to the UN report, "the movement of people between countries can help to mitigate some of the negative consequences of an aging population" will not be enough to fully compensate for the population decline, especially in the European region.
After a few years of monopolizing the issue of 'landings' and the organization of reception, the issue of the professional integration of migrants and asylum seekers in Europe is beginning to take hold. Member States' priorities have moved from the first reception to longer-term actions aimed at the social and economic integration of migrants into the European productive fabric. In 2016, the European Commission set up an action plan to integrate third-country nationals[5] that established the basic principles for responding to the challenges of integrating migrants into the labor market. Since then, the issue has been at the heart of European debate. According to the document, education and training are among the most powerful tools to promote employment, and access to them should be guaranteed and promoted as quickly as possible.
However there are still many differences in working conditions of third-country nationals compared to native citizens in most of the Member States, which also present very different conditions, policies and experiences.
According to statistics released by the EU, in almost all countries third-country nationals are employed without recognition of their qualifications or professional skills and they work in less favourable conditions, with lower career prospects than the natives. Women tend to have particularly low rates of employment and activity and, therefore, particular attention is needed to their integration into the labour market. This can be achieved by facilitating on the one hand, the training and acquisition of new and specific skills, and on the other hand, recognition of existing qualifications.
A fundamental aspect of promoting access to the labour market is the certification of skills; an open debate, though not yet fully structured.
Pilot projects exist; for example, the "Building Inclusive Societies"[6] action plan, an initiative that brings together the Greek Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs and Qualification Recognition Centers in Greece, Italy, Norway and the United Kingdom with the UNHCR Office in Greece, to define the "European refugee qualification passport". This is a document providing an assessment of higher education qualifications on the basis of available documentation and a structured interview. It also reports the candidate's work experience and linguistic competence, reliable information for integration and progression to employment as well as admission to further studies, even for those who cannot fully document their qualifications.
Finally, the push-factors of emigration may change over time and, although some prefer to remain permanently in the country of arrival, others wish to return home after a certain period of time - or move between the two countries giving rise to the phenomenon called "circular migration". A modality which sometimes accompanies the start of business initiatives that make the most of economic, social and family ties and the possibilities to act on two countries.
Analysis and comparison of active labor policies adopted by some EU countries;
Policies and statistics on the professional integration of migrants in Europe;
The overlap of demand and supply. How to integrate migrants and refugees: positive elements, critical issues, good practices.
Labour policies in force in other countries. Organizations Dealing with Unemployment and Precarity;
Certifications and recognition of qualifications and skills. European recommendations and examples of other countries;
Professional training;
Possibilities and opportunities offered in the context of self-employment for migrants and their contribution to the European economic fabric;
Discrimination in the world of work and criticality of the insertion path. Consequences of ethnic classifications. The gender issue.
Circular migration and the development of the countries of origin.
Deadline for submissions: The proposals (max. 400 words) must be submitted no later than April 30th 2018
to the following email addresses s.federici@africaemediterraneo.it; m.scrivo@africaemediterraneo.it.
The editorial committee will examine the proposals. If the proposal is accepted, the complete article with the related abstract (abstract max. 100 words, preferably in English) and a short biography of the author must be submitted by June 20th 2018. Africa e Mediterraneo is a peer reviewed journal.
The articles and the proposals can be submitted in the following languages: Italian, English and French.
Africa e Mediterraneo, Editorial Staff
Sandra Federici, Université de Lorraine, Université de Milan
Stefano Allievi
Ivan Bargna
Salvatore Bono
Vincenzo Fano
Marie-José Hoyet
Lorenzo Luatti
Pierluigi Musarò
Francesca Romana Paci
Giovanna Parodi da Passano
Irma Taddia
Jean-Léonard Touadi
Alessandro Triulzi
Itala Vivan
[1] European Parliament, directorate general for internal policies, study for the EMPL Committee 2016: Labour market integration of refugees: strategies and good practices.
[2] Centre d'Analyse strategique, Rapport Besoins de main-d'œuvre et politique migratoire, Mai 2006
[3] It should be noted that the French birth rate ranks among the highest in Europe, the highest birth rates in 2016 were recorded in Ireland (13.5 per 1,000 inhabitants), Sweden and the United Kingdom (11.8 %) and France (11.7 %). On the contrary, the lowest were recorded in the South: Italy (7.8%), Portugal (8.4 %), Greece (8.6 %), Spain (8.7 %), Croatia (9, 0 %) and Bulgaria (9.1 %). In the EU, in the same year the number of births and deaths was equivalent and the increase of 1.5 million inhabitants was due to migration. 2016 Eurostat data.
[4] World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision, UN report on world population.
[5] European Commission, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Action Plan on the Integration of Third Country Nationals, 7th June 2016.
[6] https://www.coe.int/en/web/education/recognition-of-refugees-qualifications
Economics (Main subject)
Society > Sociology > Sociology of work
Society > Geography > Migration, immigration, minorities
Society > Economics > Labour, employment
Periods > Modern > Twenty-first century
scientific committee.docx
call_88_AeM.pdf
integration, migrant, labour market, work
Maria Scrivo
courriel : m [dot] scrivo [at] africaemediterraneo [dot] it
Africa e Mediterraneo
« Professional integration of migrants and asylum seekers », Call for papers, Calenda, Published on Thursday, March 29, 2018, https://calenda.org/438063