By Geoff Walter / SNY.tv

 

 

It's not bad to fail at the top. If a CEO happens to lose a few billion here and there for his company, he leaves with a nice seven-figure severance package. The same thing appears to be happening in the sports world, specifically around the New York Giants. Head coach Tom Coughlin was not fired after a 23-20 loss to the Eagles in a season where his team went from Super Bowl contenders to an early first-round exit after limping into the postseason and being at each other's throats. When the smoke cleared, it was the assistants who were given the boot, and the guy at the top got rewarded with an extra year on his contract. Is that justice? Here's your chance to see my take on Coughlin's contract extension, and respond with some thoughts of your own.

If anything, the Giants have taken a huge step back. There was so much hope at the outset of the season -- talk of the Superbowl permeated the air. Then a 6-2 record turned into 8-8, and hopes of clinching the NFC East to barely holding on for a wildcard berth. Yes, Big Blue was able to make a trip to the playoffs in each of the past two years, but nothing beyond the first round.

Eli Manning is another issue altogether. Manning has not developed as anyone hoped, causing frustration to abound both inside and outside the team. A mentor might be able to help improve his ability, but at least at this point, there's little to hope that Manning will ever be as great as Giants fan had once hoped he would be.

Reportedly, some members of the team spoke about excessive infighting off the field, mostly due to Coughlin himself. Supposedly Coughlin has a great reputation as a strict disciplinarian. Where was it this year? The concern now becomes that if Coughlin was barely able to keep the team together this season, if at all, what hope does he have for next year?

Coughlin has become the first Giants coach to get them into the playoffs two years in a row since Bill Parcells did it in 1990 (eliminated in the division playoffs) and 1991 (when they won Superbowl XXV 20-19 over Buffalo). However, in both of Coughlin's appearances, he couldn't get Big Blue past the first round. In 2006 they were shutout 23-0 by Carolina, and literally kicked out 23-20 by David Akers and Philadelphia last week.

Sure, take the Giants' stance on the issue. Blame offensive coordinator John Hufnagel, defensive coordinator Tim Lewis and assistant coach Mike Sweatman, since they "made the calls" that led to the Giants' defeats. At least that's the story coming out of Giantland. The Giants' defense ranked 25th overall in yardage allowed (342.4 yards) and 28th against the pass (228.1 yards). But who was the guy that hired Lewis? Gave Hufnagel a job? Who brought back Sweatman? Coughlin.

The Giants now have a glaring hole at runningback, having lost Tiki Barber for good, and fans get to spend another season with Tom and Eli. That's not a fair trade by any standards. Coughlin's tenure was supposed to be one of progress, and if I may quote the Boss (Springsteen, not Steinbrenner): "my machine she's a dud, out stuck in the mud, somewhere in the swamps of Jersey."

Wanna argue with the Ref? Don't like the call? Go ahead and make your own!