For some teams, including the Cowboys and the Redskins, it is a regular occurrence to hear criticisms and suggestions about their present state of affairs from former players.
Outside of the occasional grenade lobbed by Tiki Barber in the past, their NFC East rivals in New Jersey aren’t usually in that mix. As they play out the string on a dismal season, however, the best defensive player in franchise history has decided to weigh in.
Lawrence Taylor says he believes Tom Coughlin is a good coach, albeit one he’s not sure he could have played for, but that he thinks it is “time for him to take his talents on the road.”
“He’s done all he can do for the Giants. If he wants to coach, I think he needs to take his philosophies to another team,” Taylor said, via Kevin Kernan of the New York Post. “After a while, the players just stop listening. I respect the man, but it’s time. As much as I like Coughlin and the job he has done, it’s time for a shakeup.”
There’s been no signal from the Giants that they agree with LT’s take. The consensus opinion around the team is that the only way Coughlin doesn’t return for the 2014 season is if he decides to step away from his post and Coughlin’s offered no hints that he’s planning to make that decision. Next year is the final year of his contract, though, and the team should probably start thinking about next steps with a coach who will be 68 when next season gets underway.