Those of us that closely follow the sports world know that all coaches and managers eventually get fired. Sure, there are some exceptions where guys go out on top – see John Wooden, Dean Smith, Red Aurebach. But in more recent times, this is the exception. Even Joe Torre with his remarkable run with the Yankees went out after the 2007 season when he lost in the playoffs.
Tom Coughlin had a great run with the Giants for 12 years. He won two Super Bowls and clearly cared about winning and losing. But the reality is that ownership allowed him some extra years to turn things around and he failed to get the team back to the playoffs or even have a winning record. It’s funny though: this year’s team may have been his least talented group but he had them in position to win a number of games late in the 4th quarter. The problem was that his coaching contributed to a number of those losses. So it goes. He was allowed to resign and will be remembered as one of the Giants’ best coaches in their history.
SU does not understand how General Manager Jerry Reese is still there. He has put together a really bad roster for several years now. Other than Eli Manning and Beckham, none of their other players likely starts for most NFL teams. I will be surprised if he makes it through but the Giants’ ownership is pretty loyal to its staff and he just may.
No doubt Ray Handley is chomping at the bit for another shot at the helm. There are lots of good young assistants who deserve a shot at a top position. SU hopes that the Giants at least retain McAdoo as the offensive coordinator given how Eli Manning has thrived in his system this season.
Meanwhile, the Jets laid a major egg on Sunday and Ryan Fitzpatrick reverted to form. You have to figure he will be brought back next season given his strong overall numbers for the season and how few good quarterbacks are around now in the NFL. Surely you don’t want to rely on Geno Smith for next season.
SU went back into the archives to check on the preseason Super Bowl prediction. It was Green Bay over Denver. OK, you say, Green Bay has no shot but Denver is the #1 seed and could make a run with a rejuevenated Peyton Manning. I also saw that Sports Illustrated had the Baltimore Ravens winning it all. Nuff said. It’s all a crapshoot.
Anyone care to make a Super Bowl match-up forecast?
Sports Update Intergalactic 
Broncos beat the Cardinals in the Super Bowl and Peyton Manning announces his retirement shortly thereafter.
Coughlin has definitely been a great coach over his tenure (2 SB wins as the underdog throughout the playoffs) but he definitely seemed to have lost some measure of coherent or at least consistent thought this year. The NFC East was bad enough this year where he should have been able to coach them to the playoffs even with his undermanned team.
Mark, I like the Peyton winning out and walking away story line as well. That would be a really nice ending for him. I definitely think Denver has to start him in the next game. You do wonder with a leg injury if that will hurt his ability to throw long. But he seemed to have good form this past weekend. Agree with you about Coughlin – good man. There are rumors that Mara wanted to keep him and that Tisch wanted him gone.
Rematch of the Seahawks and Pats. This time Pete goes with a running play with MVP Russell Wilson taking it in, 31-27 Seahawks!
Coughlin a class guy. Giants gave him 2 extra years to try to right the ship to no avail. The GM should be out also. Very mediocre roster with only 2 very good players in Eli and OBJ.
Definite signs of global warming in Buffalo. Revis Island was totally submerged under water! Sammy Watkins made him look like a very old man all day long. The Jets could not stop 3rd and long every time it counted. Poor execution and a bad scheme by the coaching staff. A better than expected year for a Jets fan, but honestly, I do not think the future is that bright. The team is very old (many key starters over 30) and the window is short with this bunch. The team needs to start the rebuild and finally land a franchise QB. Love the FitzMagic all year until the 4th Q of game 16 but this was the best he will ever be. He will certainly regress to his career numbers. Any Jets fans out there with a strong opinion either way? What do you think Howard? Does Fitz deserve a 3 year $30 Million deal?
Jeff, my feeling about Fitzpatrick is that he is a mediocre QB who will always, and I mean always, turn the ball over in a crucial spot at some point during the game. He had a career year but he is no youngster. I think he benefited from a good offensive coordinator and having 2 All Pro receivers in Marshall and Decker. He’s a gritty guy – you have to admire that about him. I would give him 2 years and in the meantime, find a youngster to be the future. Of course, easier said than done as we all know and that guy is not Geno Smith.