DeAngelo Williams is one of several former Carolina Panthers players who did not have a great relationship with Dave Gettleman, and the free agent running back has a warning for anyone who has to work under the general manager in the future.
In an interview with “Boomer & Gio” on WFAN Tuesday, Williams was asked for his thoughts on Gettleman being hired by the New York Giants as their new GM.
“He’s your problem now,” the 34-year-old said, as transcribed by John Healy of the New York Daily News. “That’s exactly what I’d tell them. For the vet players that are there now, be very cautious. Once he gets his guys in there, then he develops that relationship with them, and not developing a relationship with the guys that are already there because he doesn’t know them.”
Williams then spoke about how Gettleman cut him before the 2014 season, saying the cold-hearted nature with which he delivered the news rubbed him and others — most notably wide receiver Steve Smith — the wrong way.
“When you’re down in that locker room you are family … If I’m friends with you or I’m a family member of yours, when I call you into the office to release you, I handle it in a family member type way,” Williams said. “Like, ‘Hey, we really appreciate everything you’ve done for this organization, really loved everything you’re doing,’ it’s more like breaking up with your girlfriend, ‘it’s not you, it’s me.’ Whatever excuses you give.
“When you come into an office somebody handling business, ‘Hey man, you’re gone.’ Like, wait, what? … Nine years. I been here for nine years, I played through injuries … I give everything you possibly can for an organization and the way they let you go is ‘Hey man, you’re out of here.’ They let Steve (Smith) go through a text message.”
If you remember, Smith and Williams were two of the players who basically danced on Gettleman’s grave when the Panthers made the surprising decision to fire him last summer. Williams called Gettleman a “snake” at the time and was just as blunt on Tuesday.
“I do not like him,” Williams added.
While everything we have heard about Eli Manning’s future with the Giants sounds promising for the 37-year-old, he may want to heed Williams’ advice and not let his guard down.
