I missed this article on Gettleman's firing.

[top dawg]

I'm really not trying to get another round of Richardson vs Gettleman started, as much as I'm just surprised that this Charlotte Observer article apparently never made it to our Huddle. Believe me, I exhausted every attempt to search for this before even broaching the subject because some nincompoop is going to turn it into another useless and heated discussion about the good, the bad, and the ugly. But, that being said, I think that that the now dated Charlotte Observer article gives the most insight as to why Gettleman was probably canned. I have to use "probably" because there obviously weren't any flies on the wall to tell us for sure.

I happened upon the article while looking for anything on what Gettleman is up to these days. Despite it all, I liked the guy and thought he'd get a chance to redeem and entrench himself as a top GM in the league. But unlike many (it would seem), I was skeptical of some of his moves which apparently ware part of the equation as to why he was fired, while simultaneously acknowledging his prowess on the strictly business side of things. I gave him a B overall, but moving towards an A. But unfortunately his manner was perceived as a bigger problem than we thought.

Apparently  the smoke arising from all the speculation surrounding his release had some real fire underneath it all. Gettleman's way from the perspective of interpersonal relationships with personnel proved to be the main fuel of his firing. And of course it's all 20/20 hindsight (which may be absolutely true), but his manner may have been the reason why he had never gotten a GM job before Carolina.

 

"Derrick Fox, agent for former Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith, said he believes the 25 years Gettleman spent as a scout – the last 14 with the Giants – did little to improve his interpersonal skills required to be a successful GM.

“'I think that you have to have some experience dealing with agents to navigate your way through those situations,' Fox said during a phone interview this week. 'And I think his lack of interaction with agents in the Giants organization wasn’t well-suited for taking on the general manager role.'”

 

So, yeah, from a fan's perspective it's easy for us to look above the obviously serious issues, but Jerry Richardson---and rightly so---just refused to overlook perceived or real slights to different levels of personnel.

 

"Tolbert said Rivera’s presence at the meeting kept things from getting overly emotional.

“'Mine was a little heated, but I think it was a little more calm than some because of my respect for Coach Rivera,' Tolbert said. 'He was sitting right there.'

"Gettleman’s gruff manner was offset somewhat by assistant GM Brandon Beane, whose personable nature allowed him to serve as a go-between among the front office, coaching staff and locker room."

So whether some want to admit it or not, it's not an ideal situation for someone to seemingly have to act as a go between between members of the FO and the GM, or the players and the GM. It's just not a good look, and it's something that the top of the food chain had to address for the betterment of the organization going forward. 

Now I didn't say that Gettleman had to go, but that his manner had to be addressed. All I can do is speculate that when Big Cat decided to do this, that Gettleman, being true to his nature, wasn't as receptive or diplomatic as he could've been. But that's just speculation---an educated guess. I will say this with surety though: Too bad G-man wasn't as shrewd a politician as he was a businessman. 

Read more here: 

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article162968358.html

[Montsta]

Steve Smith's agent doesn't like Gettleman. 

In other news, I didn't like the CO's that beat the poo out of me for being a smartass. 

[stratopanther]

I reckon that's the most insight I've seen in the move. Im shocked it went down like it did but Im realy excited for the team nipsho built. The core players obviously get credited to hurn but the supplemental players with value are really the ones that get you there imo. I'll credit those to nipsho. Im still positive about the future.

[ladypanther]

11 minutes ago, Promethean Forerunner said:

Business is cold. Gettleman wasn't the only GM who performed this way. 

And a couple of them lost their jobs this off season...1 being in KC.

[SmittysLawnGuy]

Well written and objective. Still think it was criminal on JR's part. I'm old. I've seen where this street takes us.

 

[top dawg]

25 minutes ago, Montsta said:

Steve Smith's agent doesn't like Gettleman. 

In other news, I didn't like the CO's that beat the poo out of me for being a smartass. 

Well, I don't believe that you can say that for sure. He may have not liked the way that G-man executed business (or lack thereof), but there is more than likely a level or professional standard that is the expectation in these situations. Moreover, it's too easy to write off players as disgruntled, but by many accounts, some of the discontent was with men of very high regard, pretty much without blemish. Everyone can't be wrong.

[TN05]

27 minutes ago, Promethean Forerunner said:

Business is cold. Gettleman wasn't the only GM who performed this way. 

Business is indeed cold. So why whine when Gettleman was fired with the same lack of respect he displayed to players? It's just business.

[Saca312]

I love how the guys complaining about those defending Gettleman and object to his firing are the same guys beating this dead horse and stirring up the conversation they supposedly are tired of hearing.

 

[imminent rogaine]

If his manner is the reason that he was canned, JR doesn't deserve a championship. His job was to build a team, not give everyone a reach around and a heart-warming compliment or two.

[tiger7_88]

Here's the most important thing in the world to Steve Smith, Deangelo Williams, Josh Norman, and FatAss Tolbert respectively:

Steve Smith

Deangelo Williams

Josh Norman

FatAss Tolbert

As GM of the Carolina Panthers, here was the most important thing to Dave Gettleman:

The Carolina Panthers 

[Montsta]

30 minutes ago, top dawg said:

Well, I don't believe that you can say that for sure. He may have not liked the way that G-man executed business (or lack thereof), but there is more than likely a level or professional standard that is the expectation in these situations. Moreover, it's too easy to write off players as disgruntled, but by many accounts, some of the discontent was with men of very high regard, pretty much without blemish. Everyone can't be wrong.

I feel like Gettleman was very cold toward people on the team. I also think that this team had such a "rewarded for tenure/loyalty" attitude that the situation was that much more exacerbated. 

Its like being from a friendly city and someone being a dick versus being in the Bay Area and someone's a dick and you sort of expect it. 

Gettleman is by no means without fault and shares his portion of blame for being an arrogant, smug, yankee fugwad, but Steve Smith was also a petty, fickle bitch who thought he ran this franchise all the way up until the door knob hit him in the crack of his ass. 

[panthers55]

This is what I have said all along. Now imagine using that style with your owner and having an emotional outburst. Had to be pretty bad to justify a July firing after putting up with him for 5 years.

[TheRumGone]

37 minutes ago, TN05 said:

Business is indeed cold. So why whine when Gettleman was fired with the same lack of respect he displayed to players? It's just business.

Uh because he was pretty fuging good at his job and now we have entered the twilight zone of Marty fuging Hurney. 

[uncfan888]

11 minutes ago, tiger7_88 said:

Here's the most important thing in the world to Steve Smith, Deangelo Williams, Josh Norman, and FatAss Tolbert respectively:

Steve Smith

Deangelo Williams

Josh Norman

FatAss Tolbert

As GM of the Carolina Panthers, here was the most important thing to Dave Gettleman:

The Carolina Panthers 

Basically