The Tom Coughlin hot seat talk has arrived a bit earlier than usual for the New York Giants this season. Coughlin has led the team to two Super Bowl championships since 2008, but he can’t seem to avoid folks calling for his job on an annual basis. Now that the Giants are off to an 0-4 start, the questions are already rolling in.
After Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, wide receiver Victor Cruz questioned Coughlin’s decision to not go for it on 4th-and-1 in Giants’ territory in the third quarter. Cruz caught a pass that was initially ruled a first down, but Andy Reid challenged the spot and won. New York was only trailing by three at the time, so punting seemed like a no-brainer. Not to Cruz.
“I thought we should have gone for it on that fourth down,” Cruz said, via the NY Daily News. “It’s coach’s call at the end of the day.”
Cruz was then reminded that his team was only down three and the ball was at New York’s 30-yard line.
“If it was me? Yes (I would have gone for it). Because we had the momentum,” he added. “I felt it was a yard, not even a yard, half a yard, we’ve got to take a risk at some point and make something happen.”
“I don’t know. It was Coach’s decision. I’m not getting in Coach’s head. It was Coach’s decision to do what he has to do. He’s the head honcho. He makes the call and I just go out there and abide by his rules.”
Justin Tuck strongly disagreed with Cruz. The veteran defensive lineman said anyone who thinks the team should have gone for it is an “idiot.” He also warned against any players who are planning to turn against the head coach after a rough start to the season.
“If anyone turns on our coach, I would be the first one to punch him in the mouth,” Tuck said. “And put that in print. It better not happen, I know that.”
Coughlin has made a career of getting his teams to continue fighting and making improbable runs come playoff time. It may already be too late for that this year. The last thing the Giants need right now is a locker room rift.
