Nothing Cheap Here

     Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants organization need to relax. The 66 year old head coach, who was backed by several of his players in agreement, publicly complained to the media about the last play of the game following his team's 41-34 thrilling victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. While planning to take a knee and run out the clock nearing the game's close, Eli Manning and the Giants offensive line were caught by surprise. The defensive linemen of Tampa Bay dove at the feet of both Eli and his wall of an offensive line in a desperate attempt to knock the ball loose and cause a fumble to extend the game a few seconds longer and earn a chance at a hail marry attempt. Though the Bucs did not succeed, New York took offense.

     "I don't think you do that at this level," Coughlin said after the game. "You don't do that in this league. You don't jeopardize the offensive line, you (don't) jeopardize the quarterback. Thank goodness we didn't get anybody hurt," he said (Jane McManus). Coughlin, like many of his players, was not in the greatest of moods following the game despite pulling out the hard fought victory. Eli Manning, who fell on his back side as a result of the play, was in the same boat.

     "That was a first," Manning said. "Obviously I think it is a little bit of a cheap shot. Going down, we are taking a knee, in a friendly way. They are firing off, and it's a way to get someone hurt" (Jane McManus).
 
     While Giants players and coaches made a big deal out of the play, they forgot one thing: it's football. There's no room for softness. If you can't take a hit, then don't play the game. The clock had not struck zeros, so anything was fair play. In fact, what first year coach Greg Schiano did was honorable. He never gave up. He was teaching his team a valuable lesson - to play until the final whistle blows. If NFL egos can handle such a message, then more power to them.

     "I don't know if that's not something that's not done in the National Football League, but what I do with our football team is we fight until they tell us game over," Schiano said. "There's nothing dirty about it and there's nothing illegal about it," he added (Jane McManus).

     The Buccaneers were playing til the end, and that should be applauded, not frowned upon. New York: man up and worry about your own team. Tampa: keep doing what you do, and play til the fat lady sings.