Tom Coughlin essentially confirmed that he was pushed out by the New York Giants after the season, though he did his best to make it seem like all is good between him and the team.
Coughlin resigned on Jan. 5, the day after the Giants’ season ended. The common belief was that the Giants pushed out the 69-year-old coach following his third consecutive losing season. During an interview with “Jay Mohr Sports” on Fox Sports Radio Tuesday, Coughlin was asked about matters and said he disagreed with the decision by the team to have him resign. He also was asked about the moment where he seemingly snubbed Giants owner John Mara on a handshake (video here).
Here’s how Coughlin’s exchange with Mohr went:
Mohr: “I watched you give a press conference, I watch you walk off stage, I watch John Mara go to shake your hand, and I watch Tom Coughlin, basically with his eyes say, ‘You can go kick rocks, I’m outta here.’ Why were you let go, why did you resign, what’s your relationship with Mr. Mara?”
Coughlin: “My relationship with Mr. Mara is the same it’s always been – very respectful, very professional, very, very proud to be a Giant….I’ve been very fortunate to be a member of three Super Bowl, World Championship teams so, a Championship every five years is not too shabby. By the way, I did not snub Mr. Mara if that’s what you are insinuating…”
Mohr: “No, no, I don’t know…”
Coughlin: “That’s the way I leave the press conferences. Why should I hang around to answer one more less-than-glamorous question.”
Mohr: “Coach, I’m not going to spin anything. I just saw with my eyes what I saw and that’s what everybody thinks so I’m glad that this came up because you can clarify it. But Mr. Mara, he stuck his hand out to shake your hand as you walked past him, and you walked past him…I just watched you walk past the guy and I went, ‘Ooh, bad blood.’”
Coughlin: “No, not really, not really. Hey, do I agree with the move? Of course not. I don’t, it hurts, it hurts. ‘Former’ is not a good word. I don’t like the word. But, nevertheless, that’s the way it is.”
This pretty much confirms what anyone with a brain already knew about the situation. But Coughlin, despite his best efforts, still can’t convince me he wasn’t snubbing Mara. The guy openly contests the decision but says there’s no beef. Sure, like we believe that.
