When Joe Schoen was hired as the New York Giants’ general manager and made his move from Orchard Park to East Rutherford, he thought he was ready.
Now several months into the job, Schoen admits that maybe he wasn’t as prepared for everything that came with running the Giants as he thought. Specifically, he was not prepared for the team’s obsessive media coverage.
“The job part is what I thought it would be,” Schoen said during a WFAN appearance on Wednesday. “Everything that comes with the job is definitely different than Buffalo when you talk about New York City, and all those exterior factors outside the building.
“I’m not sure I was totally prepared for what comes with New York City, that’s for sure.”
Although they are often on the receiving end of criticism themselves, New York reporters are relentless. Every day is 24 hours long and no piece of news or rumor, however small, is considered irrelevant. Everything is covered. Literally everything.
“I interviewed somebody and they didn’t get the job, and it became a story,” Schoen said. “I can’t believe people care about that!”
Schoen was also surprised about the coverage of Logan Ryan’s grievance against the team. The first-year GM expected that to fly under-the-radar but it didn’t.
“Thirty one other teams probably wouldn’t have reported that,” Schoen said. “That would have never made it to the papers, because it happens all the time…a grievance is a disagreement, it’s not a big deal.”
Everything in New York is magnified. Everything is a big deal.
“The stuff that’s reported, it’s amazing how tied in people are and what’s reported throughout the entire year, whether it’s free agency, drafts, leading up to it, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” Schoen said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”
Schoen sure didn’t seem like he was having fun when asked about trading wide receiver Kadarius Toney during the 2022 NFL draft. In fact, he snapped back at a reporter and requested they “reflect on” his previous statements before he repeats himself.
And imagine Schoen’s surprise when he checks the Thursday morning papers and finds out his comments about the media coverage has been covered by the media.
Everything is a big deal.
