Reese’s pieces came together with sweet result

February 05, 2012|Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff

The way the words looked on the printed page, you could understand why it was built up as some sort of guarantee by the New York media.

Actually, the statement was made very calmly and almost with a shrug of the shoulders. It was a confident statement made by a proven general manager who had a lot of conviction in a team-building plan that had been meticulously hatched during the NFL lockout.

But six months later, on the day his team will take on the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, the words from Giants general manager Jerry Reese resonate louder than ever.

“We won 10 games last year,’’ Reese said during a press conference Aug. 11. “It wasn’t like we were 6-10. We were 10-6. We expect to build off that. If we made a couple of plays here and there last year, we would’ve made the playoffs and who knows what would’ve happened if that were to happen? But it didn’t happen.’’

Then came the kicker.

“We’ll make the plays this time and we’ll get into the playoffs and we’ll make a run,’’ Reese said.

He didn’t stare into the cameras. There was no punctuation with a slamming of his fist.

Reese just said it, as if it were as clear to him as the blue on the Giants helmets.

And, boy, was he right.

“I didn’t see the future, I just felt good about our team,’’ Reese said last week. “I probably shouldn’t have said it matter-of-factly, because it got spun as I made some guarantees. But I was just saying I believe that we will make the plays this time and I believe we will make a run. But obviously it sounded better to say I made a guarantee.

“That’s all right, spin it however you want to. But I was just giving our team a vote of confidence, our players and coaches, that we will make the plays this time, and I do believe we will have a chance to make a run.’’

Let’s provide some context to why Reese, who succeeded Ernie Accorsi as general manager after the 2006 season and put the finishing touches on the 2007 championship team, made those comments in training camp.

The Eagles had just finished assembling their “Dream Team’’ with the acquisitions of cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, guard Evan Mathis, ends Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins, tackle Ryan Harris, running back Ronnie Brown, and receiver Steve Smith.

The Giants allowed defensive tackle Barry Cofield to sign with the rival Redskins, Smith went to the Eagles, and tight end Kevin Boss signed with the Raiders. New York released veteran guard Rich Seubert and veteran center Shaun O’Hara. Receiver Plaxico Burress turned down the Giants’ offer and signed with the Jets.

The Giants signed center David Baas from the 49ers, and re-signed running back Ahmad Bradshaw and reserve lineman Kevin Boothe.