NFL Rumors: Should Tom Coughlin Be Dismissed As The New York Giants' Coach?

Many New Yorkers have to be very surprised with yesterday's news that Tom Coughlin will be back as the New York Giants' Head Coach in 2011.  For the past seven seasons, Coughlin has been at the helm in New York.  During that time, he's gone 65-47 (4-3 in playoffs) and has won a Super Bowl.  

Yesterday, after the team's last game, Giants' co-owner John Mara gave Coughlin a vote of confidence for 2011.  He declared that Coughlin "will be back" as head coach next season.  In addition, Mara said that he still believes in franchise quarterback Eli Manning.  

After all, these guys did win a Super Bowl together three years ago.  Although, a lot has changed in those short few years and the G-Men have lost many parts of their defense which led them to the title.  Many believed that it was a "fluke" run to the title and that Coughlin was an overrated coach.  From what we've seen since, they may be right.

Since that miracle run in 2007, Coughlin's team has failed to win another playoff game despite having strung together more solid seasons.  Over the past three years, they've gone 30-18 but have slipped off. Solid regular season performances don't always translate into playoff success.

Their defense has been the main reason this team hasn't been able to relive that same "magic" of 2007.  They've struggled despite being recognized as a top unit still.  The personnel appears to be in place, but poor execution has plagued them.  Notably in the Miracle at the New Meadowlands, the entire defense and special teams collapsed.  That loss cost them their season and probably the job of Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell.

The Giants again look back at this season and try to figure out where they failed.  Most likely, it was in The Miracle at the New Meadowlands.  Even though this was in Week 15, the Giants were tied with the Eagles for the NFC East lead and up by 21 points with less than eight minutes left.  

At least, to their own credit, the players didn't give up as the Dallas Cowboys did on then-coach Wade Phillips.  Coughlin's own miscues were at fault but so was the execution on the field.