TC deserves extension for job well done

by Ed Valentine on Feb 21, 2008 6:46 AM EST in News Comment 5 comments

What a difference a year -- and a Super Bowl championship -- makes!

The Giants are on the verge of giving Tom Coughlin a new four-year contract that will run through the 2011 season.

When you consider everything that has happened during Coughlin's tenure, that's amazing.

I began writing here at Big Blue View almost a year ago to the day. Leading up to the season we spent a lot of time debating Coughlin's fitness to be Giants' coach.

In fact, in a July post I referenced an article by Clark Judge of CBS Sportsline in which he said TC was the second-most likely coach to be fired following the 2007 season.

On July 15, I asked this question.

Can Tom Coughlin really change? The Giants coach has said again and again during the offseason that he will try and relate better to both his players and the media. He needs to. Coughlin, in the final year of his contract, needs fewer distractions and more wins to save his job.

Even as late as the beginning of the 2007 playoffs many were wondering if Coughlin had done enough yet to deserve coming back for what would have been the final season of his contract.

No one could have foreseen the Giants' magical, unlikely Super Bowl run. You would have to say, though, that Coughlin has done enough now to deserve whatever the Giants give him.

You have to give Coughlin all the credit in the world. It's not easy for anyone, let alone a hard-nosed man in his 60s, to look in the mirror and realize the way he has always done things, the method he believes in, is no longer the right way. It's even more difficult to adapt at that point in your life.

Coughlin did, though. He reached out to his players. He relaxed, showed them more of his personal side. The players responded. They realized that Coughlin didn't want a team of robots who were there just to follow his rules. He wanted to win, and he would do whatever he could to do just that.

It was that attitude of togetherness, that they were a team, that carried the Giants through all those unlikely road victories and -- ultimately -- to a Super Bowl title.

Bravo, TC. You have earned this. Oh, and thanks again for helping to create the best memory of my life as a Giants fan.

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TC

Tom was always a good coach, but wasn't a great one because he couldn't reach out to his players and get them on his side. It was the only thing holding him back and now that he's figured it out, I love having him as HC of the Giants. This 4 year deal does mean we'll probably lose Spags in the next couple of years, however.

by potroast on Feb 21, 2008 9:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Right on all points, pot

I never understood why people wouldn't give him credit for his successes. What he did at BC and Jacksonville was remarkable. Of course, at Jacksonville his hard-nosed, old school ways caught up to him as they did to a (lesser extent?) with the Giants. As Ed points out, without giving up his core principles, he changed enough to reveal to his players what he's all about--winning.

by george cronin on Feb 21, 2008 9:57 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

TC

You are right about Spagnuolo. But, stuff happens. If he gets a head coaching job in another year, good for him.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 21, 2008 1:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

As promised........

Months ago I swore that if Coughlin made it deep into the playoffs I would become a TC fanboy. At the time I never gave any serious thought to winning it all.

Well TC and the entire coaching staff held up their end of the bargain (as did the players) and here we are, Super Bowl Champs!

It is a rare person who can identify his flaws and correct them, especially over the course of only one year. If I owned the Giants I'd hand Tom a blank check and let him fill in the amount.

As for Spagnuolo don't be so sure he will jump to the head coaching ranks just yet. He can bask in the 2 miilion he's earning and be maybe the best defensive coach in the league for a few years before risking a short tenure as head coach of a lesser team. I think a lot of coaches who were rushed into head coaching jobs before they were really ready will make him think twice.

by giant fan since 57 on Feb 21, 2008 5:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Change In Coughlin?

I think the team changed, I think some undisciplined aspects of this team(Barber) took a hike and let wheels of stern execution move forward. As postured as Coughlin is, he can let maybe a very small aspect of assimilation into his regiment but very little at best. He is and has been a leader, I just believe these day's players have felt the need to question the integrity of the coaches. When you ditch questions and execute at and for all levels of a cause you can then consider yourself a Team. I see that is why the Patriot's have had some success. Belicheat is looked at by his team as unwavering and set in his script. Ultimately Coughlin watched those who believed in him lead others to the cause and therefore collectively played as a unit. Cuddly, Feely stuff and sensitivity belong in the Tabloids or Oprah, surely not in the NFL,damnit!

by johnd134 on Feb 21, 2008 11:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs