When a team doesn’t play well, more often than not, the majority of the blame will fall on the head coach -- regardless if it’s warranted or not.
After the New York Giants were badly beaten by the New Orleans Saints, 30-7, on Sunday, the local sports pundits were calling for Tom Coughlin’s termination. Such an act may seem like the right thing to do, considering the Giants have lost six of their last seven games, yet in spite of this, I don’t think Coughlin should suffer the consequences for having undisciplined players.
There comes a time when a team needs to hold their overpaid players accountable for their actions. The coach is only a guide and can only do so much. Ultimately, players have the biggest impact on wins and losses, not coaches.
It isn’t Coughlin’s fault that Eli isn’t Peyton or that the Giants defense cannot stay healthy. Hiring a new coach won’t make the Giants’ problems go away because the same troubles will still exist: The overrated QB is still going to struggle with his accuracy and injuries are going to happen on a team littered with prima donnas.
Three years ago, the Giants had a terrible season and fired head coach Jim Fassel, essentially because he was perceived as “soft.” Then they replaced Fassel with a so-called “disciplinarian” in Coughlin, only to see the same problems repeat themselves.
The New York Knicks fired Larry Brown after one dismal season because he -- among other things -- was too critical on the players. As a result of this, the Knicks replaced Brown with Isiah Thomas, who also happens to be their President of Basketball Operations. Although Thomas has not openly feuded with his players, the team is still struggling mightily to consistently win in the watered-down Atlantic division.
This may sound unconventional, but for once I would like to see teams get rid of their malcontent player(s), rather than getting rid of their coach.
