Gettleman: Giants no longer have 'culture problem'

For New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman, having the most talented players isn't the most vital aspect to winning a Super Bowl - it's developing a championship culture.

Gettleman made arguably the most controversial move of the offseason when he traded All-Pro receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns, and he also raised eyebrows by parting ways with longtime Giants defenders Landon Collins and Olivier Vernon.

The GM defended his decisions in an interview Saturday with NJ.com's Steve Politi, saying that his detractors are "still missing" the overarching philosophy: "Players win games. Teams win championships."

"There's more to it than just collecting talent," said Gettleman. "There is a cultural thing to it that's critical. I have not been on a team that’s gone to a Super Bowl that's had a culture problem."

Asked if the Giants had one, a smiling Gettleman responded, "Not anymore."

While Gettleman didn't explicitly mention who contributed to the problem, he made Beckham the NFL's highest-paid receiver just months before moving him for a deal centered around Cleveland's 2019 first-round pick.

While few deny Beckham's talent, he made headlines for things other than his play, from punching a kicking net on the sideline and fighting Josh Norman to publicly discussing his issues with the offense and Eli Manning after New York's poor start to last season.

After the trade, Beckham rejected reports that he was moved due to becoming a distraction.