The fact that it seems to be a near consensus among Giant fans to fire Coughlin is baffling to me. I understand that this would signal the fourth year in a row without a postseason appearance, but HE'S WON TWO SUPER BOWLS IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. As an Eagles fan, I'd give just about anything for them to win one of those things. I don't want to say some of you are spoiled but some of you are spoiled. I realize it's senseless to pay now for past victories, but at what point do those past victories - victories of which, by the way, followed almost identical dialogue that is ongoing now - represent a pattern of success that is, if not perfectly predictable, at least plausible?
Look, Andy Reid coached my team for over a decade. And as much as I love the guy, there cannot possibly ever be a coach in the history of sports that consistently provoked more unbridled confusion and frustration from his fan base. So I get it - it's one thing to watch your team lose, it's another to watch them lose in a fashion that causes you to question whether sports is just another word for self-harm.
But s***, if the results of four and eight years ago are going to be so thoughtlessly described as events that have no baring on the future, then maybe we should at least consider the fact that there have been a hell of a lot of plays this season that, completely independent of coaching, also have no baring on the future.
I'll ask: if Eli Manning doesn't throw the ball away against Dallas, if Landon Collins doesn't drop an interception that amounted to a fair catch, if Stephen Gostowski doesn't nail a 55 yard field goal (I can go on)...are you saying the same thing right now? Because if you're not, then I think you're making what ought to be a purely objective decision in the aftermath of a game where human emotion makes that impossible.
Frankly, I don't think the Giants are very talented. Until JPP returned, their front seven was among the worst in the league. They can't run the ball. Their offensive line has been poor. As a coach, there's not a whole hell of a lot you can do when you're starting from a disadvantage on both sides of the line of scrimmage...and yet still, this is a team that could easily be 8-4.
Coughlin is part of the problem, not the problem. But he was part of the problem four years ago and eight years ago, too, and then suddenly he became part of the success. I understand wanting to go with a younger guy if the future is going to demand a painful rebuilding process, but if you're rational for cutting ties is that he went for it up ten today (a decision I agree with, by the way) then I think you're looking at this wrong.
