The role of head coach is a term that has taken on many different meanings, and often varies by situation. In sports such as basketball and hockey, the head coach is a maestro, a facilitator of a philosophy installed at the beginning of the season. In my humble opinion, wins and losses fall at the feet of the cast of players assembled by the general manager, although the head coach is always the one to catch the heat. The same rules apply for baseball, and on an even greater scale. Over the course of a 162-game season, a manager can tinker and tw
eak lineups and pitching staffs, yet the team’s success often hinges on batting average and pitching ERA. The manager himself can end up deciding only a handful of games. To me, football stands alone when it comes to coaches. There are only 16 games to be played, with the each one more important than the last. Every single play is broken down, and when the going gets tough, the head coach is usually the one who gets going. Only in football does this role truly define his team. And in the case of the New York Football Giants and Tom Coughlin, that role is no longer one of winning ways and success.
Tom Coughlin was brought into the swamps of North Jersey at a time when the Giants were a sinking ship. There had not been a franchise quarterback in place since Phil Simms, along with a defense, which lacked any real identity. Despite a miraculous Super Bowl run in 2000, the Giants were consistently inconsistent. But in 2004, all of that changed with a coaching hire and the drafting of a franchise quarterback. Tom Coughlin was hired after a successful stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 1995-2002, with a reputation of being hard-nosed mixed with detailed preparation and discipline as his overall mantra. He was never considered a players coach, but demanded the sort of respect that a drill Instructor demands from a new Private. With many ups and downs, Coughlin led the Giants to an improbable Super Bowl XLII victory over the mighty New England Patriots, which will immortalize him in New York sports forever. Coughlin has also dealt with many negative situations as well, including second half collapses, the self-imposed shooting of a superstar wide receiver (free Plaxico), near mutinies and the ever-so-difficult New York media. One could say Tom Coughlin has seen it all in his time with the Giants, but I would say he has seen enough. Under Tom Coughlin, the Giants have been notoriously bad in the second half of the season. They always manage to start strong, drawing the talk of “NFC’s best” and “Super Bowl contenders” from the likes of Trent Dilfer and Tedy Bruschi of ESPN. But once week nine hits, the Giants fold like a dinner napkin, finishing 9-7 or 8-8, leaving the fan base disappointed and the players scratching their heads wondering what might have been.
Since Super Bowl XLII in 2007, the Giants have been failures by any reasonable fan of Big Blue. With the amount of talent on the roster, the Giants should be perennial playoff visitors. They were ousted in the first round of the playoffs in 2008 by the Eagles, failed to make the playoffs in 2009, and now will miss the playoffs again this year. Anyone who follows the NFL knows that the window to succeed closes as quickly as it opens. Right now, as we speak, the Giants have a franchise quarterback in place and the quality personnel to compete against anyone. As much as it pains me to say it, it is time for Tom Coughlin to leave his beloved Giants. I type this column with a tear in my eye you see, because I LOVE Tom Coughlin. I love him. The joy that this man has brought me is indescribable, seeing the child-like glee on his face on the sidelines of Lambeau Field in the 2007 NFC Championship game after Tynes nailed that kick, or him jumping for joy after Plaxico hauled in the game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl. I am talking about life-defining sports moments here people. But this simply isn’t working anymore. The Giants are in need of a player’s coach. Someone who can stop these turnovers and bone-headed plays in key spots. Someone who can harness the skills of these players and turn them into a feared opponent again. Someone who can relate to guys like Jacobs, Bradshaw and Tuck and instill in them the will to win again. Whatever has happened to the Giants over the past three years, it seems the very life has been sucked out of them. Do I blame Tim Coughlin? Not entirely. But it appears his relationship has run its course with the New York Football Giants. It doesn’t have to end negatively either. Bill Cowher left the Steelers with good feelings. Joe Torre has kissed and made up with the Yankees, sort of. So I implore the Giants to end their relationship with Tom Coughlin in the most respectable way possible, because the man deserves it. Thanks for the memories coach.
