New GM Reese Backs Coughlin, Says He Wants More Out of Manning

Jerry Reese, the Giants' new general manager, said he's glad coach Tom Coughlin was retained and expects more from quarterback Eli Manning.

The 43-year-old Reese was introduced at a news conference yesterday as the successor to Ernie Accorsi, who is retiring after nine seasons as general manager of the National Football League team. Reese has been with the franchise since 1994 and was director of player personnel since 2002.

While hiring and firing coaches will be one of Reese's responsibilities as general manager, Giants coowners John Mara and Jonathan Tisch decided last week to give Coughlin a contract extension through 2008. The Giants had an 8–9 record this season and lost seven of their last nine games.

"I'll have the final say on the coaching in years to come, but the process was that John and Jonathan spoke to me about the situation with coach Coughlin," Reese said, one day after his promotion was announced. "I was very supportive of the decision and I'm looking forward to him being here for a long time."

Reese said that, while Manning hasn't made the progress expected of him since being selected with the no. 1 pick in the 2004 NFL draft, he would remain the team's starter.

Manning, 26, passed for 24 touchdowns and 18 interceptions for the Giants this season, and his quarterback rating ranked 18th out of the league's 32 starters. He had 24 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 2005, his first full season as a starter.

"We want him to be a Pro Bowl guy that can lead us into the Super Bowl," Reese said. "That our goal. We're going to evaluate him and see what are the things we can do to help him in this process. Eli's our quarterback."

Reese is just the third man to hold the team's highest football administration position since 1979, following Accorsi and George Young.