Tom Coughlin, The Great Communicator



As they're unbeaten following a Week 1 loss to Philadephia, you might be excused from thinking there was a relative harmony in the NY Giants' locker room. In advance of today's game with Detroit, The Hartford Courant's John Altavilla suggests otherwise.

Linebacker Barrett Green, a former Lion, is obviously happy the Giants are 4-1 but says he's not totally comfortable with his contribution, or apparently his coach, as his new team prepares to play his old team today at Giants Stadium.

"They haven't seen everything I can do on the field," Green said.

Much of that could be attributed to what resembles an uneasy relationship with Coughlin, who fined Green, among others, for not being early enough to a meeting in training camp. Green was apparently 1-11/2 hours late for another meeting recently, which precipitated an argument with Coughlin in practice this week.

Green has been demoted to the second team for today's game. Nick Greisen will take his place.

"I've been instructed not to talk about it," Green said.




Green (above) may have expected to be utilized more aggressively as a pass rusher, something that hasn't materialized. Today would be a good starting point as the Giants return from their bye week with an eye on a fifth straight victory.

"I have high expectations for Barrett and I think his expectation level needs to approach mine," Coughlin said.

Said Green: "I have no comment. I don't care to comment about the whole situation."

Green sees similarities between Coughlin and Tom Mariucci, in his second season with the Lions, who was hired to alter the mind-set of a team that won three games in 2002. The Lions were 5-11 in 2003 and are 3-2 this season.

"He did a lot of the same things Tom is doing. He focused on details," Green said. "He wanted things done in a certain manner, which he emphasized at all times. Mariucci is a coach the players like. He's going to give you leeway at times, he'll throw you a bone, which the players appreciate."

Green did not say whether his new teammates felt the same about Coughlin.

Posted: Sun - October 24, 2004 at 11:52 AM      

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