John Mara not guaranteeing long-term deal for Odell Beckham Jr.
Star receiver Odell Beckham Jr.'s contract with the Giants runs through next year. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The Giants’ shakeup will affect all of the current players. Eli Manning, right now, is the most high-profile of them. Another has been somewhat out of sight most of this season while recovering from ankle surgery.
John Mara said in late July that he expected to sign Odell Beckham Jr. to a lucrative long-term contract at some point. On Monday, he backtracked from that commitment a bit.
“I expect him to be a part of this team in the future,” Mara said of Beckham, who is under contract with the Giants through next season, “but that will be a discussion also with the incoming general manager, the incoming head coach, and we’ll make whatever decision we feel is appropriate.”
It is Beckham who helps make the job openings attractive to many. The Giants have a superstar receiver, a very high draft pick and a defense that was dominant last season.
Accorsi to assist
The search for a general manager will begin immediately, Mara said, with former Giants GM Ernie Accorsi serving as a consultant. The coaching search will begin after the regular season ends.
“Steve [Tisch] and I have the final say on any head-coaching decision,” Mara said, “but that’s going to be largely dependent on what the new general manager has to say, yes.”
Interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo and interim GM Kevin Abrams will be candidates for the full-time jobs.
Mara said he would like to continue the Giants’ tradition of keeping their coaching and personnel departments separate but added, “I would never say never if the right candidate was there” to handle both jobs.
Scouts carry on
With one of the highest draft picks in Giants history on the horizon, Mara said he will keep most of the scouting personnel on board through the selection process.
“Our scouts and Marc Ross, our head of scouting, it’s business as usual for them,” Mara said. “They’re going to keep doing what they’re doing. But that GM will be in place long before the draft.”
If the season ended today, the Giants would draft third, behind the Browns and 49ers. Even though the 49ers and Giants are both 2-10 and the 49ers beat them head-to-head last month, the 49ers would select ahead of the Giants based on their strength of schedule.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
