Tiki Barber doubles down: Tom Coughlin should be fired

Tiki Barber, who re-inserted himself into the consciousness of Giants fans on Monday by telling a Los Angeles radio station that Tom Coughlin has lost the locker room and should be fired, was on WFAN Tuesday morning to stand behind his comments.

Barber, who played the final three years of his career under Coughlin, said it was just business and not personal.

"I'm eight years removed from the New York Giants," Barber said. "Look, I had a great working relationship with Tom Coughlin...I have an opinion. It's my job to have an opinion. That's what (CBS executives) hired me to be."

Barber, who retired from the Giants after the 2006 season to pursue a career in the media, has often been critical of the Giants. It's led to a rift between him and Giants fans -- he is often booed when he appears at events at MetLife Stadium despite being the team's all-time leading rusher -- and, most likely, Giants management.

Barber said he was surprised that his comments on Coughlin, which are not unique, created such a stir.

"I don't care if you don't agree with my opinion, but the personal reaction that comes from, mostly the media here in New York...put me on the back page?" he said.

By Tom Rock

tom.rock@newsday.com@TomRock_Newsday

Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.