The Bizarre Contract Extension of Giants Coach Tom Coughlin

Last week New York Giants coach Tom Coughin was given a one year extension to the one year already left on his three year contract. This past season the New York Giants team seemed to fall apart as they lost six of their last eight games and did not play well during the second half of the season.

During many moments during the season it seemed as if Tom Coughlin lost control of the team. Players openly questioned his decisions to the media. Last year in fact team leader and running back Tiki Barber openly questioned whether Tom Coughlin was out coached by Panthers coach John Fox after the Giants lost their playoff game last year at home. John Fox had been the Giants defensive coordinator before he took the head coaching job with the Panthers. He was also a player and fan favorite and losing to the Panthers really hurt the Giants fan base.

During other moments of the season the players committed stupid personal foul penalties like when offensive tackle Bob Whitfield head butted another player and the team lost fifteen yards. In many games players like Jeremy Shockey lost focus and were dropping too many footballs thrown by Eli Manning.

Eli Manning by himself and own admission is another problem entirely. He has now been a quarterback in the NFL for two full seasons and he has seemed to go backwards, not forwards in progress. His fellow piers at quarterback drafted the same year as him like Ben Rothesberger and Philip Rivers have both played very well, especially in the postseason. Philip Rivers just had one of his best games of the season against Tom Brady and the Patriots defense. Ben Rothesberger has already led his team to a championship. It is time for Eli Manning to start playing up to his brother's shadow and earn his spot as the number one pick of the draft.

A new General Manager is in town named Jerry Reese and he comes from within the Giants from office to replace General Manager Ernie Acorsi who is retiring. Tom Coughlin has no one but himself to blame for the poor finish to the regular season and for failing to beat an Eagles team that had far less talent then the Giants.

The one year extension is a decision made by the owner of the team to give Tom Coughlin one last shot at keeping his job and the team together. The Giants from office wants to see Tom Coughlin succeed. However, unless Eli Manning improves his horrid play and the Giants team plays better than an 8-8 team, Tom Coughlin will be handed his walking papers and shown the front door out of the Giants franchise.