Don't Blame Tom Coughlin for Being Conservative

Sports fans like to talk about Sunday being the best day of the fall season, but Monday stands out the most.

There's nothing like listening to people play the game of Monday morning quarterback after a tough loss, and Chicagoans and New Yorkers play that role well in this country.

Fans rant after their favorite team loses while sportswriters earn their money by savaging coaches and players.

It was a good day to listen to sports radio—after the Giants choked away a victory against the San Diego Chargers and no one disappointed.

Everyone ripped Tom Coughlin for playing it safe by running the ball, rather than tell Eli Manning to throw the ball to the end zone.

When it comes to pointing the blame, it's so easy a caveman can do it.

Guess what? Coughlin called a good play there.

Manning has regressed lately, and with the game on the line, it would be risky to have him throw with a chance of an interception, giving the Chargers a victory.

It says something about the quarterback that his head coach lost faith in him down the stretch.

Normally, Manning gets it done as well as anyone in that situation, but his mechanics are off right now, so there's no guarantee it would have worked out.

It probably wouldn't have worked, so it was smart to let the defense finish the game based on the way it played.

Rivers and the running game did nothing against that defense, so the coaches were right for playing it smart. It didn't work out.

These things happen.

If fans assign blame, give it to Manning. He played mediocre for most of the game despite the fact he played well in spurts in the second half.

Even then, he was off when it came to throwing the ball to his receivers, and the Chargers almost intercepted him several times.

It wasn't hard for the head coach to make this decision.

For some reason, everyone likens the Giants quarterback to John Elway, Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady, or Peyton Manning.

He is not, and likely, will never be.

If the coach realizes it, maybe it's time for Giants fans to do it, too. It's just an indictment of him and the offense in general.

There are no playmakers on that team, with a running game that looks done and a wide receiving corps that peaked early in the season against terrible teams.

The defense proved it can make stops and limit the Chargers' offense yesterday, not to mention their track record in recent years, so the coach went with his gut. Unfortunately, the defense failed him down the stretch.

No one would talk about Coughlin's move if defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan and his crew did its job.

Then again, that's the beauty of being a Monday morning whiner.

You're never wrong.