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Warm And Fuzzy? Not Quite, But Close

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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 1, 2008

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Tavian Banks and Cordell Taylor would not recognize the "pleasant" Tom Coughlin who coaches the New York Giants.

Both likely remember Coughlin's heartlessness when he coached in Jacksonville. Each played under Coughlin in 1999 as rookies and knew he hated tardiness at meetings. They were running late and sped to be on time for a Saturday team meeting. As they rushed, Banks lost control of his Mercedes and it flipped four times on the Main Street Bridge near downtown Jacksonville.

A team security official picked up Banks and Taylor at the scene and transported them to the hotel, where they attended Coughlin's meeting before being taken to the hospital for observation. Neither player was seriously injured - except in the wallet after Coughlin fined each $500 for being 30 minutes late.

"The accident took place at a time that was very, very close to the meeting time," Coughlin previously said. "They were running late. They were going to be late for the meeting."

Coughlin apparently has been reborn this season, and it could be the main reason why New York is playing against New England in Super Bowl XLII.

The callous Coughlin has been replaced by a more compassionate person who is still strict on his players, but no longer driving players into retirement - see Tiki Barber.

Giants players have spent much of this week saying nice things about Coughlin, which even surprised them. Coughlin has suddenly gone from an angry pit bull to a more likeable Doberman pinscher.

"I think you change always," Coughlin said. "You learn from every experience. You'd better. You better learn every day."

Coughlin may have naturally been unpleasant, but learned how to perfect his attitude while serving as Giants coach Bill Parcells' assistant from 1988-90.

In fact, Bill Belichick served as a Giants assistant coach from 1979-90, and both mirrored each other in kindness and warmth.

Coughlin fined players for being late. He fined them for being one pound overweight. He even fined them for wearing the wrong colored socks.

"When he first came here in 2004, I said to myself 'I have to be here this year, but after this, I can't play for this man. He's crazy,'" Giants defensive end Michael Strahan said.

Strahan was not alone.

New York finished 6-10 in Coughlin's first year, and despite an 11-5 record in 2005, the Giants returned to mediocrity and were 8-8 last season. Barber blasted Coughlin's coaching techniques and lack of personality after he retired, claiming the coach killed his love for football.

Coughlin's demonic ways often baffled left guard Chris Snee, who met the coach's daughter in a freshman theater class at Boston College and eventually married her.

Snee was a second-round pick by the Giants in 2004 and constantly witnessed both of his father-in-law's personalities, especially around his two sons.

"He loves his grandchildren. He loves to be around the family," Snee said. "He's a family man just like most people."

However, Barber's comments proved Coughlin did not have a football family, which he finally worked toward this season.

Coughlin eased up on his demonstrative style of coaching and was not as stringent. He abandoned his boot-camp approach to training camp and eased up on his players, never conducting two-a-day workouts on consecutive days.

He also allowed the players to establish a "leadership council," a group of 11 players who could speak to Coughlin about team concerns, or give ideas. Those players are Strahan, Snee, Eli Manning, Amani Toomer, Shaun O'Hara, David Diehl, Jeremy Shockey, Osi Umenyiora, Antonio Pierce, Mathias Kiwanuka and Jeff Feagles.

"I think he is more focused on the games and the game plan, and he trusts our team more," Toomer said. "He is less worried about us trying to break rules or us trying to get over on the system, and he realized mostly that our team wants to win just as bad as he does, if not more.

"When you have that understanding between a coach and the players, that is when success can happen."

Coughlin's triumph over his former self has made this year's team successful.

Banks and Taylor probably would not recognize this Coughlin. And neither would penalize him for changing.

"Was it difficult to change? No," Coughlin said. "I made up my mind I was going to do it, and the players were not going to feel uncomfortable because of me. I was going to make them feel comfortable and feel that they could contribute. They did, and they have."

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425 or arichardson@tampatrib.com.

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