Cough-Lin' Blood: The Demise of Tom Coughlin and the Future of Big Blue

by Louis Musto

This isn’t because of Matt Dodge. This isn’t even because of the disastrous 28-point collapse in the fourth quarter of this Sunday’s game with the Philadelphia Eagles which resulted in 38-31 loss inside the New Meadowlands Stadium. The fact of the matter ist’s time for Giants’ head coach Tom Coughlin to go. Even if the Giants had managed to stop Desean Jackson, or if Matt Dodge had been intelligent enough to punt the ball out of bounds (or at least kick a solid punt for the first time all season), Coach Coughlin’s time had long since past him by in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

For those who fell off the face of the Earth this weekend, the Giants and Philadelphia Eagles squared off in what many considered to be the deciding game in a battle for the NFC East crown this season and potentially even a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs. The New York Giants were dominant and looked outstanding in every facet of the game.

That is until the quarterback Michael Vick and the Eagles kicked into gear.

Behind the outstanding play of Vick and some terrible preparation and play-calling by Coach Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants, the Eagles marched back from a 31-10 deficit with 7:28 left in the fourth quarter to defeat the Giants on a last-second punt return touchdown by the Eagles’ second biggest weapon, Desean Jackson. Coach Coughlin threw his notes as Jackson arrogantly danced along the goal line, running onto the field and letting his rookie punter, Matt Dodge hear it for what he had just allowed Jackson to go ahead and do.

Fortunately we all know better.

The Giants’ last-second loss was hardly Dodge’s fault, though his failure to do as Coach Coughlin asked of him, punting the ball out of bounds, certainly did not help. For a moment, you could have blamed Dodge for his poorly hung punt, but a muff by Jackson allowed plenty of time for the Giants’ coverage team to recover and make up the time they may have lost on the lack of hang time by Dodge. The problem is, they didn’t.

But again, this has nothing to do with Coach Tom Coughlin and his job security, or lack there of.

Coach Tom Coughlin, renowned in the NFL as a “disciplinarian” and noted for his success as head coach of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars, specifically when he guided them to the AFC Championship in just their second season of existence. Coughlin took over as the head coach of the New York Giants in 2004 and the team started the season at 5-2, unfortunately things soon fizzled and the Giants completed the rest of the season going 1-8. This was perhaps, a sign of things to come for Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants.

Coughlin’s record with the Giants is 63-45, an impressive win percentage for any coach, especially one whom coaches in the feisty NFC East. The Giants even won the Super Bowl in 2007 after going 10-6 in the regular season. Looking at his record alone, one would never be able to understand why so many fans would disregard their team’s head coach and call for his head on a weekly basis. Of course it is the numbers behind the numbers that truly tell the story, as it has been well-documented throughout his tenure in New York.

Through Coughlin’s seven seasons with the New York Giants, the Giants are 23-31 in second half of the season with two games still to go this season. Of the Giants last five head coaches, Coughlin’s win percentage of .426 in the second half of the season is only worse than Ray Handley, whom only coached the Giants for two seasons from 1991 to 1992. Jim Fassel (.491), Dan Reeves (.531) and Bill Parcells (.607) all posted better win percentages in the second half of the football season.

The more telling fact is that Coughlin’s teams haven’t just lost in the second half--they collapse. For example, see last season’s 41-9 loss at the hands of the Carolina Panthers or this season’s 28-point crapshoot this weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles. When things seem to be spinning out of control, the Giants don’t buckle down and play Giants football, they drop on the floor and scream for mercy. They panic, committing foolish penalties and giving up costly turnovers, both of which the Giants are amongst the bottom of the league in, a staple of the Tom Coughlin-era New York Giants.

This attitude certainly doesn’t appear to be the product of a “disciplinarian” coached unit. “Disciplinarian” coaches such as Bill Parcells or Bill Cowher would blow a gasket over those numbers. And yet at every stupid penalty or every costly turnover, Coach Coughlin stares out into the field with the same clueless look on his mug every time.

It’s the same clueless look Giants fans have when they fans try to figure out why Matt Dodge is still the punter after 14 previous games of awful punting or why Brandon Jacobs and Kareem McKenzie insist on getting into all-out brawls on the football field that ultimately result in crippling 15-yard personal foul penalties. It’s the same clueless look Giants fans have on their face when they try to understand how Tom Coughlin has managed to keep his job in New York, the city that are known to be some of the least forgiving fans in American sports.

These questions may seize to be answered and many may try to decipher who is truly to blame for the Giants disappointment on Sunday, but there is one thing that is certain: Tom Coughlin must go. He must go, not because of Matt Dodge or the defensive collapse in the fourth quarter this past Sunday, but because the Giants deserve someone better. The Giants deserve a coach who knows how to fix things in the second half rather than break them; they deserve a coach who will be able to put them in their place and keep them well-disciplined. The New York Giants deserve a coach who will not run onto the football field during a play still going on and berate a rookie punter for his punt when he himself made 100 other mistakes that were just as costly in a pride-crushing loss. The New York Giants deserve a coach who will keep them focused, fighting and will ultimately help them to win, rather than sit back and watch as they crumble to nothingness as Tom Coughlin has done year-after-year.

So while this loss to the Philadelphia Eagles might seem like the worst thing in the world, believe me when I tell you that there is good to be found within it. It’s time, after seven difficult, hair-pulling seasons, that Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants part ways both for the betterment of the New York Giants as well as their fans. It is a step that, while most teams would like to avoid it, the Giants will need to make in order to grow as a team and an organization.

Here is a list of potential candidates for the Giants head coaching position if Coughlin is in fact fired at the end of the season:

Bill Cowher: An aforementioned “disciplinarian” in its truest form, Cowher and the Giants are like a match made in Heaven. Cowher is known to be a very good friend of the Mara family, owners of the New York Giants, and was linked last season to being a possible new head coach for the New York Giants, but Coughlin returned this season to coach the Giants once again.

He would likely want to implement the 3-4 defense which could take some time to do, but it would be worth it for a team that could desperately use his coaching ability and has rich history using the 3-4 during their two-time Super Bowl winning tenure with Bill Parcells.

Jon Gruden: He seems to be mentioned as a possible candidate for each and every head coaching vacancy so why not this one?

Gruden was a very successful coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning the Super Bowl in 2002, his first year with the Buccaneers. The Buccaneers were very up-and-down throughout his tenure, but always put on an impressive defensive display year-after-year, running a similar defensive scheme to the one current Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell utilizes today.

Jim Fassel: His name had been rumored a couple of years ago when fans were once again calling for Coughlin’s head, but the rumor ultimate turned out to be just that, a rumor. Fassel has successful coaches the Las Vegas Locomotives to two consecutive UFL Championships and is currently being mentioned as a possible candidate for the vacant Denver Broncos head coaching position. Despite his somewhat successful stint as Giants head coach in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, Fassel is an unlikely candidate for the Giants and any other NFL head coaching position. Still, Fassel would be an intriguing candidate if the Giants did look into him.

Leslie Frazier: An unlikely candidate since it’s expected that the Minnesota Vikings will offer him the permanent head coaching job in Minnesota, Frazier has been a possible target for years, receiving interviews from numerous teams in recent years. Frazier is a defensive-minded coach with all the intangibles needed for an NFL coach.

Mike Nolan: Despite a sour tenure as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, Mike Nolan could be a hot commodity for any team this offseason. Nolan has become one of the better defensive coordinators in the league, coaching a stellar Broncos last season and one of the league’s best units in Miami this season. If nothing more, Nolan could be an intriguing candidate for the defensive coordinator of a Bill Cowher-coached New York Giants team.

Brett Favre: Is This Finally The End of An Era?

We do this ever year. Every February since 2006, we as writers have hyped ourselves up over the idea of the legendary Brett Favre hanging up the shoulder pads and calling it quits once and for all. We have all sought to write the perfect article to culminate one of the all-time great’s career. And when we had, we cringed and grinned at the same time as we learned that “Old Man” Favre wasn’t finished yet!

Brett Favre entered the league as a relative nobody despite his miraculous successes at the collegiate level, including an upset of sixth-rank Florida State during his Junior season and a phenomenal victory over Alabama just six weeks after a life-threatening car accident that saw 30 inches of his small intestine removed. He was drafted in the bottom-half of the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft out of Southern Mississippi. At the time, Atlanta Falcons coach Jerry Glanville hated the draft pick and used Favre minimally during his rookie season. I bet Glanville wishes he knew the type of player he had on his hands that year.

A trade to the Green Bay Packers that offseason soon gave birth to the legend Favre has been molded into today as he entered the game for the injury prone fan-favorite, Don Majkowski. On his very first play, Favre threw a pass that was deflected at the line. Surprisingly, the play didn’t end there as Favre caught the ball himself. It was the first of 6,295 record-setting completions in the first of 297 record-setting consecutive starts by NFL‘s personal “Ironman”.

From that point on, Favre led a novel-worthy career full of ups and downs, highs and lows. He gathered MVP awards, Pro Bowl appearances, and a Super Bowl trophy; he fought addiction problems, nagging injuries, his wife’s cancer and the loss of his father. Through it all, Favre rose above and never quit.

Favre became the man we would either love or hate. Many couldn’t help but admire his boyish joy during every game. Some couldn’t help but envy the man who appeared to have it all at times.

He was determined and passionate, but we all knew he would have to hang it up someday. When he retired in 2007, it was mournful, but short-lived.

Maybe he couldn’t live with the idea of his final pass in the NFL being an interception in the NFC Championship. Maybe he loved the spotlight just too much. Maybe he was self-absorbed and greedy, feeding on every dollar a team was willing to give him. Or maybe, more than likely, Brett Favre loved the football game like no other.

Much of people on network television believe we should look at Favre’s career as if his three years following his “retirement” from the Green Bay Packers should be ignored. They say that all of that stuff tarnished an amazing legacy and has given him the image of a selfish, maniacal human-being who is only concerned with himself.

I disagree. In these past three years, what I have seen from Brett Favre is all I have ever truly believed about the “Old Man” -- he just wanted to play football. From Green Bay to New York to Minnesota, all Brett Favre has ever wanted to do was play football and he has fun doing so for 20 impressive years. There will always be those people who wish to look at the worst of a man’s legacy. They want to judge him on the allegations that have been made against him and his shoddy decision-making, but the fact of the matter is, no one can question the legacy Brett Favre has left behind.

He is one of the all-time greats in NFL history and perhaps, the greatest quarterback to have ever lived. Regardless, there is no man who has ever stepped on the football field with more toughness and more heart than Brett Favre and after last night, there never will be again.

Of course, who is to say “Old Man” Favre is finished just yet?

Jets Drop The Ball, Must Fix Offensive Woes Fast

by Louis Musto

The New York Jets offense was never a hidden weapon. Everyone knew what they were about when the 2010 campaign began. Still, the Jets kicked off the 2010 season looking like the team to beat, just as many had predicted during the offseason.

Following a sputtering start with a 10-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens (8-4), the New York Jets faced off in an early season battle for the AFC East with the New England Patriots (11-2). The defense led an onslaught against All-Pro quarterback Tom Brady, intercepting him twice and Mark Sanchez followed suit, guiding the offensive to 28 points, putting together one of the best games of his young career.

The Jets ran off four more wins in the following weeks, relying heavily on the ground attack to lay out each opponent set in front of them. The last of those wins was a 24-20 victory over the struggling Denver Broncos (3-10) just before their bye week. It was the first game since their week one loss where the Jets offense looked vulnerable. Mark Sanchez was far from stellar, throwing two interceptions and the run game failed to take off until the fourth quarter. In fact, had it not been for a foolish pass interference play by Broncos defensive back Renaldo Hill on fourth-and-six while covering receiver Santonio Holmes, the Jets would've likely gone home empty-handed; the offense much to blame.

The offensive struggles continued thereafter, returning the week after the bye with a scoreless loss to the Green Bay Packers (8-5). Sanchez struggled against, going 16-of-48 passing with two interceptions. The Jets rambled off four straight wins following that loss, but much like earlier in the season they had the benefit of a rather easy schedule. The Jets struggled against the lowly Detroit Lions (3-10) and Cleveland Browns (5-8), stealing away victories in overtime. The offensive was less than impressive two weeks later against the Cincinnati Bengals (2-11), one of the league's worst defenses, before finally crash landing in Foxboro.

It was there that the Jets' offensive woes have truly come to light. After two straight shellackings at the hands of the Patriots and the Miami Dolphins, the Jets have now kicked into panic mode whether they'll admit it or not. They sit at 9-4 having not scored a touchdown since Thanksgiving and prepare for two of the toughest game on their schedule with two of the league's most dangerous defenses. The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) and Chicago Bears (9-4) are iconic for their play at home and will look to thrash an already struggling Jets offense until there's no hope left in sight. The Jets will need their defense to step up and match the Steelers and Bears punch-for-punch or learn how to score some touchdowns; a feat few teams have been able to accomplish against either of these opponents.

If the Jets can't pull a victory out against either of these opponents, their final game at home against the Buffalo Bills (3-10) will be a must-win and the Bills will be looking to play spoiler in the final week of the season. The Bills have struggled terribly all season long on both sides of the ball. This hands the advantage to the Jets, but even if the Jets manage to squeak into the playoffs, their offensive woes are certain to come back and hurt them in the end. If that happens, Jets' offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer better start looking for a new job.

Why 7 Years for Cliff Lee is Too Much

by Louis Musto

As the New York Yankees and Texas Ranger battle for position in the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, reports have swirled of offers from both teams getting up to seven years in length for the 32-year-old Arkansas native.

A seven-year deal would last Cliff Lee through age 39, an age that most starters have already long been deteriorating physically. There were just four pitchers in the 39-and-over club this past season - Jaime Moyer, Tim Wakefield, Miguel Batista, Brian Moehler - and neither of them have played up to the demands of a $140M contract, as reports have stated the Yankees have offered Lee in the range of. Of course, to be fair, none of these four pitchers have been as dominant as Cliff Lee can be.

Then again, neither had Cliff Lee until 2008, his fourth full season for the Cleveland Indians and his age-29 season. In those previous four seasons, Lee was 51-32 with a 4.76 ERA. In 2007, the season before his Cy Young turnaround season, Lee had an ERA of 5.38 in 16 starts and was sent down to Triple-A Buffalo in July. All signs pointed to a disappointing end to Cliff Lee's professional baseball career.

Things did turn around for the left-hander though, as Cliff Lee returned in 2008 and had himself a career year. He went 22-3 with a phenomenal 2.54 ERA and won the American League Cy Young Award that year. In one full season, Cliff Lee went from a flop to the top. He followed his 2008 performance with a stellar 2009 season, landing in the defending World Champion Philadelphia Phillies following a mid-season trade. Lee went 4-0 in the playoffs, including two big victories against the New York Yankees, but the Phillies ultimately lost the series 4-2 in part to struggles surrounding the rest of the Phillies' pitching staff.

Cliff Lee found himself in Seattle following a trade that would bring Roy Halladay to the Phillies. Cliff Lee was great for the Mariners, going 8-3 with a 2.34 ERA in his first 13 starts. Despite this, he was traded mid-season once again, this time to division-rival Texas Rangers. The Cliff Lee pick-up put Texas in prime position for the playoffs and with the help of a power hitting roster and a young, impressive pitching staff, the Rangers worked their way all the way into the 2010 World Series. Unfortunately much like the previous year, Lee and the Rangers were removed quite easily by the San Francisco Giants, losing the series 4-1. Lee struggled thoroughly in his Game 1 and Game 5 starts, posting an ERA of 6.94 and allowing the series-clinching homerun in Game 5 to Edgar Renteria.

Despite his recent success, there is much to be concerned with when looking at Cliff Lee for such a long-term deal. As was aforementioned, Cliff Lee is 32-years-old already and will be 39 by the time a seven-year deal would be up. Most pitchers' struggles begin long before this age and Cliff Lee would be making a lot of money for someone who likely won't be performing up to par. Then there's the possibility that Lee has very well already hit his peak. It is very rare for someone to turn their career around so suddenly as Cliff Lee did and it's even rarer to do it at the age he did and sustain that success for a long period of time afterward. Cliff Lee is not C.C. Sabathia, he is not 28-years-old and it's quite possible he's already used most of what he's got in him.

Considering the Yankees' history with big pitcher signings in the past and most recently A.J. Burnett, Brian Cashman and company should be a bit more cautious when pursuing Cliff Lee. Cliff Lee is demanding a contract that is outside his range at this point and both the Yankees and Rangers would be foolish to tie themselves up with a pitcher for seven years who may only give them 3-5 good years, if that.

Unfortunately, it does appear that Cliff Lee will ultimately get what he wants and if that is the case, it's likely the always eager Yankees will be the ones to suffer for it. I guess it's really as Lee's agent Darek Braunecker said, "It's good to be Cliff Lee."

It most certainly is.

Donnie Walsh's Next Move: Carmelo Anthony

by Louis Musto

Amar'e Stoudemire was only the first piece in the beginning stages of the New York Knicks revival as one of the top teams in the NBA. His talent is unquestionable and the success he had in head coach Mike D'Antoni's offense in Phoenix can very well reappear this fall in MSG. While that failed to entice Lebron James to join the Knicks as much as the Miami Dream Team, it could catch the attention of some big free agents for next season.

Most notably, Carmelo Anthony.

The New York Knicks still have a large chunk of cap space and at the moment, it doesn't appear it will be filled this offseason. That isn't something to panic about. While the Knicks maintain their cap room, they head into the 2010-11 season with a stronger, more dangerous team. An improvement would do wonders for the team in the 2011 offseason and hopefully, that will be enough to entice Carmelo to join Stoudemire, and hopefully another all-star, in New York.

Carmelo Anthony is a native New Yorker, born in Brooklyn before moving to Baltimore at the age of eight. He returned to New York in 2002 as a member of the National Champion Syracuse Orangemen. Carmelo led the team in scoring, rebounding, minutes played, field goals made and free throws, earning the Most Outstanding Player Award for the NCAA Tournament and a second-team All-American selection.

Carmelo Anthony is well-known for his prowess on the offensive end of the floor. He led the league in scoring during the 2006-07 season with 28.9 points per game and finished 3rd in scoring this season behind Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and the King himself, with 28.2 points per game.

Mike D'Antoni's system is renown for it's ability to rack up points. His Suns' teams led the NBA in scoring for three consecutive seasons (2004-05, 2006-07) and the Knicks finished fourth in the NBA with 102.5 points per game just last season. With two offensive threats in Stoudemire and Carmelo, the Knicks could surely have one of the potent scoring duos in the NBA.

It's just a matter of convincing Carmelo on that possibility.

Donnie Walsh, the ball's in your court.