Tom Coughlin doesn't find players' comments 'disrespectful'
Head coach Tom Coughlin of the New York Giants greets wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. #13 of the New York Giants as he comes off the field during the second quarter of a game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on Nov. 9, 2014 in Seattle. Credit: Getty Images / Otto Greule Jr
Tom Coughlin chalked up the critical comments some players have made in recent weeks in regard to play-calling as an expression of frustration and not, as he called it, "being disrespectful."
Most recently, Antrel Rolle questioned the decisions on the Jaguars' final drive of the game, particularly when it came to allowing quarterback Blake Bortles to run for 31 yards.
"We had calls that are absolutely great for that," Rolle said Sunday, "but we weren't in those calls at the end of the game."
And wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said he thought the offense needed to keep "the pedal on the metal" and stay aggressive in the second half after taking a 21-0 lead.
"Perhaps I've said something in my attempt to be flat-out honest with everybody as to why we are in the predicament that we are in that could be interpreted by a player that way, but I don't think they're being disrespectful," Coughlin said.
He also noted that he did not think the offense was tapered down with a big lead.
"If it became a game like that and I sensed it, then I would have said something about it or changed it somewhat," Coughlin said. "But we were still trying as hard as we could to get the ball going, get it down the field and make some plays."
No loss of swagger
The Giants' defense has been handed a lead in the final three-plus minutes in two straight games and has been unable to hold on for a win. But linebacker Jameel McClain said the unit retains its belief in itself.
"I wouldn't say the defense has lost its swagger," he said. "People go through tough times all the time. Would you say that the defense lost its swagger in those first three quarters? . . . The defense needs to finish. This is a good defense, man. I'm telling you, man, there are talented players on this team and people are in position to make plays. We have to finish the plays and we have to finish the drives and we have to finish the quarters. We just have to finish, and finish isn't so simple."
Injury update
DE Robert Ayers Jr. tore his pectoral muscle in Sunday's game and will miss the rest of the season. Coughlin did not have an update on the status of OL Geoff Schwartz, who injured his left ankle . . . Coughlin said the Giants expect RT Justin Pugh to return this week. That could mean that the offensive line will go from disarray at the end of the Jaguars game, with players out of position, to a return to the starting lineup the Giants used in the first 10 games.
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.
