Coughlin's future already being debated

by Ed Valentine on May 7, 2007 7:01 AM EDT in News Comment 6 comments

We're more than two months from the start of training camp, and already the 'Tom Coughlin will be fired after this season' stories are circulating.

Citing a 'league source,' Pro Football Talk says Coughlin had no input on draft-day decisions. Here's part of Pro Football Talk's report.

A league source tells us that Giants coach Tom Coughlin had no juice within the organization during the 2007 NFL draft.

This development suggests that Coughlin has zero influence over the shaping of the roster, and it lends credence to rumors that the Giants decided to keep Coughlin for one more year so that they won't be in the early stages of a new coach's tenure when guys like, say, Bill Belichick or Bill Cowher are available.

Geesh! Enough already! Can we at least let the season start, much less see how it will play out, before we start with this stuff again?

Personally, I like Coughlin and I think he's done a good, though not perfect, job under trying circumstances. Regardless, though, let's see what happens when the games start before we bury the guy. Face it, if Coughlin gets the Giants to the playoffs for a third straight season you'll be hard-pressed to come up with a valid argument for getting rid of him. If the Giants don't make the playoffs, there's a good chance he'll be replaced. Until we see how it plays out, though, all the speculation is useless.

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Coughlin

the problem that i have with coughlin isn't really about wins/losses. i cant fault him for two straight playoff appearances, even with the 2-6 regular season finish (which was about 80% due to injuries and eli's poor play). what i do have a problem with is that coughlin is supposed to be this strict disciplinarian yet the giants locker room last year was in chaos. the original goal of firing fassel and getting coughlin was to get someone who would be more strict with the players (you know, so they wouldn't just give up halfway through the season). coughlin obviously hasn't done a very good job in that department.

i compare it to an NFL team hiring charlie weis and subsequently having their offense finish 29th in the league. you hired the guy because he was known for his offensive mind, but the offense didn't improve. giants hired coughlin because he was known for being a hardass yet he couldn't stop everyone from mouthing off all week.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on May 7, 2007 7:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Discipline

I agree with that. My only point is, it's not fair to speculate before the season even starts. How the season plays out will determine what happens with Coughlin's future.

by Ed Valentine on May 7, 2007 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

i totally agree like with that. ill wait til the end of the season to make up my mind.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on May 7, 2007 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"League Source"

I think this statement that Coughlin had no input in the draft is very questionable anyway. According to draft sources Coughlin played a big role in drafting Alford and I'd be very surprised if he didn't have more input than that.

I also agree on TC ... let's give him the benefit of the doubt until the season gets going.

by potroast on May 7, 2007 9:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Coughlin

Let's face it, the press has a hard on for Coughlin. Has he been the best coach, no. But his team did make the playoffs two years in a row. As far as the criticism for the team not being disciplined, a coach can only do three things. Tell the player, threaten the player, and finally bench/get rid of the player. I think a theme we kept hearing from our draft was "this player is a quality person". The Giants are now trying to fill their roster with these types of players. Guys like Plax, Shockey, Barber, etc. would be problems for ANY coach. The Giants are now trying to find that right balance.

www.billkohut.com

by bk0831 on May 7, 2007 2:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

C

No question he has been a disappoinment as a discipinarian, not just with all the big mouth players, but the lack of playing discipline (all those penalties.) On the other hand, maybe the old tough guy coach types can no longer succeed.in the NFL. Players have more options now, for one thing. How would a Parcells or Lombardi done with last year's Giants? Parcells certainly didn't have much influence over OT's behavior last year

by george cronin on May 7, 2007 8:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs