Neuigkeiten » Giants running back Saquon Barkley knows that some peop

le think the Giants should have chosen quarterback Sam Darnold over him in last year’s draft. But he doesn’t know what he can do to change those people’s minds.“If a Rookie of the Year doesn’t sway that mindset Kareem Martin Color Rush Jersey , I don’t know what will,” Barkley said, via Kimberly Jones of NFL Network.But that’s just it: Nothing will sway that mindset. Because the idea that the Giants should have taken Darnold isn’t about Barkley at all. Criticizing the Giants’ decision was never about doubting Barkley would be a good running back. It’s about doubting that running back can help the Giants as much as Darnold would have.The reality is, in today’s NFL, if you need a franchise quarterback and you have a chance to draft him, and you draft a running back instead, that’s a bad move — even if that running back is Rookie of the Year. There’s a reason that 20 quarterbacks will make more money this year than the highest-paid running back: Quarterback is a far more valuable position.If Darnold develops into a good quarterback, and Barkley develops into a great running back, then Darnold is the more valuable player. It’s not a knock on Barkley to say there’s nothing he can do to help the Giants win as much as Darnold will help the Jets win if he blossoms into a high-quality starting quarterback. It’s just the reality of their positions.Barkley and Darnold will always be linked because they play in the same city and were drafted second and third overall in the same year. And if Darnold becomes an elite starting quarterback, he’ll always be the player the Giants should have drafted, and a career full of highlight-reel runs from Barkley won’t change that. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Dave Gettleman isn’t ready to make a decision on Eli Manning’s future as the quarterback of the New York Giants.The general manager and the two-time Super Bowl MVP had a no-holds barred conversion about Manning’s future Monday after the team missed the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons.Gettleman would not say Wednesday whether the quarterback Robert Thomas Color Rush Jersey , who will turn 38 on Thursday, would be back for a 16th season.Manning’s $23 million salary cap hit will play a role in the decision, but the bottom line is Gettleman will do what is in the best interests of the Giants (5-11).“He came in and he wanted to talk,” Gettleman said of the conversation. “I have a crazy idea that if a guy asks me questions, I’m going to be honest with him. He wasn’t called to the principal’s office. He came to see me.”Manning, who has a year left on an $84 million contract, threw for 4,299 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this past season despite being sacked a career-high 47 times. His completion percentage (66) was the highest of his career.“Once we got rolling, once everybody got comfortable with the offense, if you’re going to look at stats, it wasn’t too shabby what (he) did Cody Latimer Color Rush Jersey ,” Gettleman said of Manning. “He still can make the NFL throws, you know what I’m saying? He’s still got it.”There is no doubt Gettleman respects Manning, who he called a “mensch.” It’s a Yiddish word meaning “a person of integrity and honor.”“There’s no deviousness, there’s no duplicitousness, none of that stuff. He’s a mensch. Someday, I hope to be a mensch,” Gettleman said.The question is whether Manning is the best choice to lead the Giants to victory and Gettleman plans to watch plenty of videotape and talk to his coaches and scouting staff in coming to a decision.In a news conference that lasted more than 30 minutes, Gettleman said he liked the direction the Giants are headed. The dissention-ridden locker room from last season (3-13) was cleaned out, leaving only 13 players on the final roster.Among other topics Gettleman touched on:— He said the offense overcame early season woes to lead the NFC East in scoring, but the defensive play needed to improve.— Gettleman said the Giants didn’t re-sign receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a five-year, $90 million before the season to trade him.— A recent survivor of a bout with cancer, Gettleman was certain he made the right choice drafting running back Saquon Barkley with the second pick overall instead of taking a young quarterback.— The veteran general manager also was happy with Pat Shurmur’s first season as coach Evan Engram Color Rush Jersey , particularly after a 1-7 start.“We’re trying to build sustained success,” said Gettleman, who replaced the fired Jerry Reese last December. “That takes brutal honesty and that takes tough decisions.”— Gettleman would not comment on the status of cornerback Janoris Jenkins and linebacker Olivier Vernon. Both are under contract but each could be a salary cap casualty.“We’re going to look at film, we’re going to evaluate everything. Everything is on the table for us,” Gettleman said.— Looking forward to this year’s draft, Gettleman has no intention of forcing a pick, such as taking a quarterback early because of Manning’s age or a team need.“You do that, you’re going to make a mistake, you’re going to screw it up,” he said.Manning’s father, Archie, recently said his son can’t go through another losing season. Gettleman found it humorous when asked it he could guarantee a winning team next season.“Really and truly Patrick Omameh Color Rush Jersey , can anybody guarantee anything like that? Really?” he said. “All you Yankee fans thought you were going to win 162 games this year (laughter). I knew better. All kidding aside, you can’t guarantee that. There’s no way. I wouldn’t guarantee that to anybody.”Gettleman believes he heads into this offseason with a better understanding of what Shurmur and his coaches need in terms of players.While the offense was his focus heading into the offseason last year, the defense will occupy that spot now.Despite not making the playoffs, Gettleman does not see this as a rebuilding season. He actually hates the word.“You just keep going, you just keep building. It’s really what we’re doing here,” Gettleman said. “We’re doing our best to accumulate the talent that fits our schemes, and that understands how to play the game, and hates to lose. That’s what it’s really all about, and we’re going to continue to do this and get it right. We’re going to fix it.”