Should the New York Giants Extend Tom Coughlin’s Contract Sooner than Later?
Many forget the tumultuous few years Tom Coughlin has led his team through, including missing out on the playoffs in the past two years, and losing in the first round of the playoffs in 2008. He did win the Super Bowl four seasons ago, but how much time does that end up buying him?
When Coughlin first joined the Giants in 2004, he was regarded as a no-nonsense disciplinarian and was expected to right the wrongs left by the previous coach – Jim Fassel. It was believed that Fassel, known more as a “player’s coach,” no longer had control of his team, and bringing in a disciplinarian like Coughlin would whip the team into shape. His first three seasons led to a 25-23 regular season record, and a playoff record of 0-2, with only one winning season. After the ’06 season, and early in the ’07 campaign, the majority of Giants fans believed the team would be better off making a change. Nearly every New York media outlet was speculating on his seemingly imminent departure, but Coughlin saved his job by leading his team to a Super Bowl victory. Talk of any potential change at the head coach position immediately ceased, and Coughlin was immortalized in New York for the team’s improbable run.
In the three seasons after the Super Bowl victory, the Giants went 30-18 in the regular season, but only made the playoffs once – losing to the divisional rival Philadelphia Eagles in ’08. The Giants’ woes are evident to even the casual fans; they cannot consistently win in the second half of the season. Under Coughlin, the Giants are an incredible 37-14 in the first half of the season, but a sub-par 28-33 in the second half. The Giants are 4-3 in the playoffs under their current coach, but all four of those wins came in the 2007 Super Bowl push.
The coach is not directly responsible for the record, as he is not physically playing on the field, but the Giants’ troubles begin with the failure to accomplish the tasks that Coughlin stresses. Penalties have always been a major problem with this team under Coughlin, as the team has averaged 215 penalties per season, or over 13 every game. Defensively, the team has had the 10th most penalties in the league in every season but one (2009); offensively, the team has had the 15th most penalties in the league in five of the seven seasons under Coughlin.
Turnovers have also killed the Giants under Coughlin, as the team has recorded a positive turnover ratio in only three seasons, and has averaged over 28 turnovers each season, or almost two per game. The Giants have been losing games by committing mental mistakes such as penalties and turnovers, which, in theory, a disciplinarian should correct. The fact the Coughlin has preached limiting turnovers and penalties each year and the team has yet to do so leaves one to question his ability to actually help these areas of weakness.
In spite of all of this, I still believe the Giants should keep Coughlin for another few years. His contract is up after this year, but signing him to a 2-3 year extension would be wise for a few reasons. First, Coughlin has done a great job developing talent, as he has helped with the progression of many successful players such as Justin Tuck and Steve Smith, but most notably Eli Manning. Secondly, Coughlin has proven to be a winner, and despite his second half struggles, he is still the owner of a 65-47 regular season record. Third, and maybe the most important, is the fact that, currently, there are not many better options available to coach. Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden have been rumored to want to coach in New York, but both are very similar to Coughlin in their disciplinarian ways. Bringing in a new coach, especially with the lockout, might prove to be too much of an overhaul.
There is no doubting that the Mara and the Tisch families are big Coughlin fans, as Giants’ Co-Owner John Mara recently stated that Coughlin will get an extension “sooner rather than later.” If the Giants miss the playoffs again this year, though, that could change quickly. With Coughlin on the proverbial “hot seat,” the team needs to finally limit their turnovers and penalties; more importantly, they need to win.
Chris Spina is a student at Villanova University in Pennsylvania and an acting intern at Giants 101.
