Tom Coughlin has learned to do a bunch of new things this year, from showing his warm-and-fuzzy side to the players, to getting along with the media, to enjoying his first-ever Gatorade bath.
It looks like the Giants’ coach has added a new talent to his repertoire. He has learned how to dance. Ask him about how he’ll deploy his personnel in Saturday night’s game against the Patriots, and all of a sudden he turns into Fred Astaire. 
“It's difficult for me because we want to win every game," Coughlin said. "I'd rather think about how we can play against a very good opponent and have an opportunity to win."
Notice he doesn’t name the opponent in that sentence. Is it undefeated New England on Saturday night in the regular season finale at Giants Stadium? Or is it Tampa Bay a week later in the first round of the NFC playoffs?
One-two-cha-cha-cha.
It is a delicate proposition for Coughlin, at least publicly. He can’t rightly say that he has no interest in winning the game, despite the fact it doesn’t mean a single, solitary thing to his team as far as the playoffs are concerned. The Giants are locked into the fifth seed, so nothing that happens on Saturday night will change who the Giants play or where. At Tampa next weekend. Period.
But Coughlin knows that how he approaches Saturday’s game against the Patriots could make all the difference in the world as far as the playoffs are concerned.
If he treats it like any other regular season game and tries to win at all costs, he runs the obvious risk of having some of his key players injured in advance of the game that really matters – the one next week. Then again, if he publicly states that he will treat this game like the last preseason game – where he gets a little work in for the starters to keep them sharp, and then takes them out to make sure they’re ready for the opener – then he runs the risk of creating a mentality where his players might unconsciously not try quite as hard and run the risk of getting hurt in their limited playing time.
What does Coughlin do?
He keeps dancing, right up until Saturday night.
He says it’s an important game to win, just like every other regular season game, and he says he has every intention of doing whatever possible to beat the Patriots. And then he makes certain that any players with any sort of injury does not come near their helmet and shoulder pads.
Brandon Jacobs (ankle).
Plaxico Burress (ankle).
Gibril Wilson (knee).
Antonio Pierce (ankle, hamstring).
And anyone else who has been playing hurt trying to get the Giants in the playoffs. Aaron Ross. James Butler.
And anyone over 30 and in need of a blow before the playoffs: Michael Strahan, Amani Toomer.
Gentlemen, have a seat.
Eli Manning, two or three series for you, and it’s time for Anthony Wright.
There is simply no reason for Coughlin to approach this game any other way. To put everything into preventing the Patriots from becoming the first team to go 16-0 in the regular season is foolhardy. Even if the Patriots wind up routing the Giants – which is likely, given the fact Bill Belichick’s team will play its regulars for at least a half, knowing they’ll get a week off in the first round – it doesn’t matter.
Patriots opponents had 15 other cracks at knocking them off, and they all failed. So it’s not Coughlin’s responsibility to interrupt their shot at history. His first responsibility is to his own team, and that’s to make sure it’s at optimum strength for the playoffs.
In the meantime, Coughlin will do his best to balance the public requirement of saying he’ll try and win the game, and the private – and more pressing – requirement of getting the Giants in position to beat the Bucs.
Three-four, cha-cha-cha.
Comments (11)
Greetings Bob!
Happy Holidays!!
Looks like my Dad and I got our Christmas present.....two seats in Raymond James Stadium for Big Blue Playoffs!
One quick comment....I don't think New England will rout the Giants, regardless of who plays for each team. I think Coach B still has the utmost respect for the Mara family in particular, and the New York Giants organization as a whole. I believe he will call of the dogs before the score becomes embarassing!
Glad you got your wish, Chris. Looked a little dicey there up in Buffalo for a bit.
Agreed on the idea that Belichick wouldn't run up the score. Even so, 28-3 is a rout or 35-10 is a rout. Maybe not by Patriots' standards this year, but by conventional standards, anyway.
Happy holidays!
BG
A very happy Christmas to you Mr. Bob Glauber, I totally agree, Coughlin should rest all the players, whether they need rest carrying injuries. Its not the Giants responsibility to end the unbeaten season for the Patriots, not to mention other teams will have a chance to end their unbeaten streak in the playoffs.
I dont know I been a die hard big blue fan since I was a kid.I really belive we play most of our starters with the exception of Buress and few others who realy do need a break. I think this game should be looked at like a playoff game for the gmen.Dont get me wrong once this game is starting to look like a blow out by all means take the starters out , but I say give it our best shot why not try to stop history in the making. They win this gm they will always be remembered for stoping the Pats persuit of perfection on a cold December saturday night. A win like that can really give a confindence they need going into a playoff run , and with Bradshaw and Jacobs sharing more time in the backfeild now can really cause a problem for any team. There both too diffrent style runners and with the nfc up for grabs why not big blue this yr!
If I were the coach I'd make the game the teams super bowl just in case we don't make it. If you rest and not play hard the results will be injuries.
Go for it !!
Jacobs right, Jacobs left and throw sparingly. Bradshaw looks like a comer !!!
There are too many teams depending on us and if the situation was reversed we would want another team to play there best !!
Lets face it, Coughlin doesn't know how to Coach. Do you think Coach Ditka wouldn't want his team to win ?
I would rest the guys that are injured or slightly injured such as Burress, Jacobs, Pierce etc.. As far as the healthy starters I would play them for at least the first half, maybe 3 quarters. If they are in the game, finish it out with a chance to break the Pats win streak. If not, put the backup's in to get them some experience while resting the main players. The Pats have a week off, the Giants don't. I don't care if the Giants beat the Pats streak. It would be great if they did but the main thing is to stay healthy and rested for the Bucs the next week on the road.
Is there time between now and the Wild Card game to find a professional QB?
As a Patriot fan, let me start by saying I rooted BIG-TIME for Buffalo last week.
It was my hope the Giants would NEED this game to make Play-offs (like in do-or-die) because I can already hear the "haters" pouting that the Pats had thier undefaeated season handed to them in week 17.
That said - Tom's choice is a very easy one actually...rest everybody for the Wild Card game & give the Patriots this game.
He owes NOTHING to the 72 stinkfins or the other 30 teams in the League. Especially those who were unable to get the job done in 15 previous attempts...and it's obvious many of them gave it thier best shot!
EVEN at full strength, this would be a difficult task for Giants to accomplish at this point - beceause Belichik & his team are pursuing HISTORY & will NOT be letting anything or anybody take this away from them. They'll be playing all-out from the coin-toss, until the time win 16 is certain & anyone who doesn't believe this hasn't been watching football this year.
It's that simple & so is Coughlins decision. He MUST save his healthy players & rest the injured ones for the Bucs.
The outcome of this game is meaningless, but the result of the Wild Card game means everything to the Giants, thier Organization & thier Fans! And these are the ONLY one's Coughlin owes anything to.
Let's get one thing straight RHRN (With apologies to Bob Glauber for the shameless pilfering of his signature phrase), History is the battle of Gettysburg - Not 16-0.
I've been hearing people talking about how Brandon Jacobs is "fragile" for a 265 pound running back. I think that because of his size, defenders throw everything at the guy and, as a result, he takes a lot more brutal hits than the average RB. Defenders don't think they can tackle him one on one, so they dive for his knees and ankles, usually after going airborne. Can anyone take that kind of punishment and not get hurt?
Brian... are you trying to agitate BBiB? LOL