The New York Giants' defense has been criticized for the way it squandered a late lead in Sunday's loss to the San Diego Chargers, but the offense has been criticized even more for giving the defense a lead small enough to squander.
Leading 17-14 with the ball deep in San Diego territory in the fourth quarter on Sunday, the Giants played it safe, ran the ball and settled for a field goal to go up 20-14 with 2:07 remaining. The Giants lost 21-20, and many fans and media members have criticized quarterback Eli Manning and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride for that cautious approach.
But head coach Tom Coughlin made it clear on Wednesday that anyone who wants to criticize the team should criticize him.
"I thought it was perfectly clear, but let me express it so no longer does anyone else receive any type of blame," Coughlin said. "The blame goes right here. That's all. . . . I'm responsible for all of the decisions that are made with our football team."
Coughlin's comments come after the Giants' fourth loss of the season, and they're reminiscent of another Giants coach, Jim Fassel, making an impassioned speech after the Giants' fourth loss of the 2000 season.
''I'm raising the expectations. I'm raising the stakes," Fassel said in that 2000 speech. "I'm driving the train and all they have to do is listen and follow. I'm redefining the season. I'm responsible and no one else is. We're in a horse race and we're coming around the last corner. I want to get this team to the finish line. That's my whole goal in life right now.''
Fassel's comments were repeated over and over again when the Giants got to the Super Bowl two months later. Coughlin can only hope his speech yields similar results.
Tom Coughlin: "I'm responsible" for Giants' loss
Posted by Michael David Smith on November 12, 2009 10:43 AM ET
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21 Comments 
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This is how I talk when I screw up at work and am afraid I'm going to get fired. At the end of the day it's not about results, it's about a paycheck.
Tom Coughlin is not getting fired. He takes responsibility for the highs and lows of this franchise -- as any coach should.
Michael David Smith said:
"Coughlin's comments come after the Giants' fourth loss of the season, and they're reminiscent of another Giants coach, Jim Fassel, making an impassioned speech after the Giants' fourth loss of the 2000 season."
No, actually Coughlin's comments are pretty much consistent with who he has always been as a coach. The man comes from the Bill Parcells school of coaching. Where problems with the team stay and are discussed inhouse for the most part.
Comparing him to Fassel is assinine...
Coughlin isn't responsible for the loss. Philip Rivers and Vincent Jackson are!
I actually like Coughlin, hate the Giants but Coughlin doesn't bother me. Maybe Andy Reid should take notes.
I thought it was the Chargers' fault the Giants lost...
Coughlin said he takes responsibility BUT does not admit to or state one mistake he made. Not a single one.
An intelligent man LEARNS from his mistakes. A stubborn old man(thinks he) NEVER made one!
The guy won a Super Bowl 2 seasons ago and the division 1 season ago. Even if he didn't make the playoffs this year, i would expect him back next season.
Tom Coughlin: "Yeah it was my fault, made some bad play calls. I'll accept that."
Andy Reid: "The officials made terrible calls, dont they know who I am?"
I've always liked Coughlin too, he's always seemed very professional and to the point when he speaks. I've heard that he can be a real a-hole at times but I don't think I've ever seen a good boss that can't.
It wasn't too long ago that Coughlin was about to get the ax and the fans were all too happy. Then he got lucky and his team started play way beyond their means and won him a SB. Coughlin is still the same bad coach he was then except now he doesn't have enough good players to save his hide. That win *may* save his job until next season but there isn't anyone good enough to step up and save it beyond that.
Tom you've got it all wrong. You need to talk to Rex Ryan, he's got all the excuses. You could take a page from Rexy and blame your scout team for example, for not preparing the starters well enough to face San Diego.
db3300 says: "Coughlin is still the same bad coach he was then except now he doesn't have enough good players to save his hide."
Bad coaches don't win a Super Bowl and take another team to the Conference Championship, toolshed.
This guy has been coaching teams very well and creating passing games with little to work with for awhile now. Just ask Bill Belichick (cut Keenan McCardell) and Tom Landry (cut Jimmy Smith) how well this guy does with unwanted receivers.
jjared1101 says:
The guy won a Super Bowl 2 seasons ago and the division 1 season ago
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You mean the Giants won the Super Bowl and #1 NFC Seed last year WITH Spagnuolo directing about the same defense that was totally useless under Coughlin/Tim Lewis before AND AGAIN useless under Coughlin/Sheridan as soon as Spagnuolo left the team.
Weekend at Bernies lost this game for the Giants without a doubt. He should be nervous about his job, they pay special ed boy a huge contract and dont trust him enough to throw the ball in that situation?
Night of the Living Dead should be a bit worried, I cant wait to see what happens if they dont make the playoffs. Then maybe Night will be looking for a new job.
You mean the Giants won the Super Bowl and #1 NFC Seed last year WITH Spagnuolo directing about the same defense that was totally useless under Coughlin/Tim Lewis before AND AGAIN useless under Coughlin/Sheridan as soon as Spagnuolo left the team.
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That's a very good point.
With that said, i still think, barring the Giants losing every game the rest of the season, the FO will give him another year to prove himself. You're right. The defense doesn't look as good under Sheridan, but anytime a coach wins a SB, it usually buys them a few seasons.
Bob S, remember that Steve S had a losing record in December of last year and his defense was got beat in the playoffs. The jury is still out on Bill S, but it wasn't all roses last year, especially toward the end.
db3300 says:
November 12, 2009 11:53 AM
It wasn't too long ago that Coughlin was about to get the ax and the fans were all too happy. Then he got lucky and his team started play way beyond their means and won him a SB. Coughlin is still the same bad coach he was then except now he doesn't have enough good players to save his hide. That win *may* save his job until next season but there isn't anyone good enough to step up and save it beyond that
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and what do you call 12-4 last yr?? go away
gilbride should be held accountable more than anyone else, he has totally lost his mind. He is doing a fine job in his rehersal for the raiders job. How many times can he go deep on first and ten, incomplete and then run on 2nd and long to face a 3rd and long. its absurd. they stopped feeding jacobs the ball who of late is averaging over 5 yards a carry and give bradshaw more touches who since the injury is averaging less than 3 yards a carry. How does everyone see this but the coordinators? Eli was throwing all over sd and made it look easy in his first 2 red zone trips, so what do they do? run, run and run to go up by 6. give me a break. how they dont use boss on PA's more in the red zone is absurd.
sheridans play calling that whole final drive should have gotten him fired, its the same schemes tim lewis used to use. Kenny phillips was coming into his own, his season ending injury damaged that defense bad. i would like to see thomas shift over to safety when ross finally comes back. they need to stop w the jason varitek stuff w pierce and reAlize hes a horrible football player and teams key in on him. boley has been good when healthy, but why would they put him one on one w sproles on the final drive? get real
db3300,
yes you are right he got lucky pulling off one of the biggest upsets in superbowl history defeating what many were calling the best team of all time. Let's avoid giving him and the team any credit and credit this imaginary force called luck.
Nard100 says:
Bob S, remember that Steve S had a losing record in December of last year and his defense was got beat in the playoffs. The jury is still out on Bill S, but it wasn't all roses last year, especially toward the end.
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#1 - That was after the Plaxico episode had turned the team around as well as after the Giants basically had clinched #1 in the East and then did beat Carolina for the number 1 seed in game 15, Dave Carr played the meaningless to the Giants Minnesota final game.
#2- The defense only allowed two touchdowns to the Eagles in the 23-11 playoff loss and the defense got a safety themselves. But the offense and Eli had a bad day, Hixon with that drop, Carney missed 2 FGs, so you couldn't really blame that on the defense WHICH even at that point was still better than it is now.
That's the difference between the Giants/Eagles and the Redskins/Cowboys. Reid and Coughlin man up when they've made mistakes. Poppin' Fresh and Mr. Irrelevant just make excuses.