The media was given access to the New York Giants' players this morning, and all questions were about the future of Tom Coughlin and the Giants.
Eli Manning finds himself in a unique position with regards to Tom Coughlin, and it is most definitely not an easy one. The Giants' quarterback, long known for his cold-blooded emotionless demeanor on the field, was visibly on the verge of tears as reporters asked him about Tom Coughlin.
I've never seen Eli Manning this emotional. Today, fought back tears. Of Tom Coughlin: "He def has not failed these players. We failed him."
— Kimberly Jones (@KimJonesSports) January 4, 2016
Eli Manning on Tom Coughlin: "He definitely has not failed. I feel that, we as players, we failed him by not playing to the level we could."
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) January 4, 2016
I've never seen Eli Manning this emotional in this kind of setting, save for maybe on the steps before getting the Lombardi after SB 42.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) January 4, 2016
We can hardly blame Eli for his feelings. In his 12 years as an NFL quarterback, Manning has never played for any head coach but Coughlin and their 183 consecutive starts together is the longest such streak for a head coach/quarterback duo in league history.
Eli Manning did not go to ownership to voice support for Tom Coughlin. Says Mara/Tisch families know how he feels about TC. #Giants
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) January 4, 2016
Eli spoke glowingly of his relationship with Coughlin, the coach's preparation, and football mind, and said that Coughlin admired how Eli plays the quarterback position and "handles his business". When asked how he feels about potentially having to learn a whole new offense -- again -- at this point in his career, Eli said that "It obviously would not be ideal.but we didn't get the job done."
More than his words, to see the emotional rock that is Eli Manning -- a man who's reserve surprises even his family and men such as Michael Strahan -- being so openly emotional is unsettling.