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Tiki Barber Still Harboring Resentment For New York Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin

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By @MuscleSportMag

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Some things never change. Outspoken and critical while he was a member of the New York Giants, Tiki Barber has once again put his foot in his mouth in retirement with his latest rant against his former employer and, more specifically, head coach Tom Coughlin.

As a guest on a recent episode of “The Home Team” on The Beast 980 in Los Angeles, Calif., Barber lit into the Giants’ public relations personnel, general manager and entire coaching staff. He said:

“The Giants’ players are not listening to Tom Coughlin anymore. As much as they want to pass the buck and blame the offensive coordinator, the team got rid of Kevin Gilbride and brought in Ben McAdoo. Now they say it’s the defensive coordinator’s fault, so maybe it’s time to get rid of Perry Fewell. At some point, it trickles uphill and it has to be Tom Coughlin’s responsibility. I’ve held off on saying it, but it is time for them to make a change at head coach.”

Surely, Jerry Reese appreciates the advice. But he will in fact make up his own mind and doesn’t need a former player spewing rhetoric that reeks of sour grapes.

Here’s a bit of a recap in the event anyone has forgotten the saga of one Tiki Barber and the New York Football Giants: Barber was a second-round pick in 1997 and was thought to be a change of pace-type back due to his diminutive 5-foot-10, 205-pound frame. But he ended up having a very productive 10-year career in the Big Apple, eventually becoming the franchise leader in rushing yards with 10,449, attempts with 2,217 and touchdowns with 55.

But along the way, there were more than a few bumps in the road. In 2002, Barber knocked teammate Michael Strahan’s contract negotiations in the New York Post, drawing the ire of fellow Giant Keith Hamilton, who basically put Barber in his place due to his lack of tenure on the squad and the unwritten rule of not talking publicly about another player’s contract.

The next target for Barber was Coughlin, who was named the field boss in 2004, which just happened to be a then-career high for the running back’s production. As a matter of fact, Barber had his best three years under Coughlin.

So how did he show his appreciation for the coach? By publicly questioning Coughlin on three separate occasions. Barber was also criticized for announcing his retirement in October 2006, stating that the timing of it — and especially because he commented that he “lost the heart to play” — became a weekly distraction to the team.

Then in retirement, Barber said that Coughlin’s difficult practices were the main reason why he hung up the pads and helmet early. He also publicly questioned Eli Manning’s leadership skills.

Barber’s assessment of both became almost comical when his former team went on to win Super Bowl XLII the first year without him, upsetting the 18-0 New England Patriots in the process. Strahan was instrumental in not only that game, but in the entire run leading up to it. Manning was named the game’s MVP and Coughlin was lauded as a genius.

When his short-lived broadcasting career blew up in his face, Barber attempted an NFL comeback. The Giants wanted absolutely nothing to do with him, and outside of a brief workout with the Miami Dolphins, there were no takers.

He couldn’t be any more irrelevant, but Barber decided to ruffle some old feathers and kick his former coach while he’s down. The Giants have lost five consecutive games, and at 3-7, they are staring at another year on the outside looking in as far as the playoffs are concerned.

The last thing that they need right now is a bitter former player who missed out on not one, but two Super Bowl championships because he retired too early.

Joe Pietaro is a New York Giants writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @MuscleSportMag, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. 

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