NFL Rumors: Tom Coughlin Jealous Of New York Giants Defense

NFL rumors are swirling around Tom Coughlin. During a recent interview, he made comments alluding to the New York Giants front office not giving him the necessary pieces to win games. According to NBC Sports, Coughlin felt that he would have had a better chance had the Giants provided him with defensive players like Janoris Jenkins, Damon Harrison, and Olivier Vernon. Tom pointed out how the new additions were made after he agreed to resign as the head coach of the Giants.

By handing out $62.5 million, the New York Giants were able to upgrade their defensive secondary. The team signed former Los Angeles Rams corner back Janoris Jenkins. Though he can be susceptible to giving up big plays, Jenkins is also capable of making big plays. Janoris can turn the tide of a game with his fantastic interceptions. He’s considered an upgrade over Prince Amukamara, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on a one-year deal, because Jenkins is healthier and can stay on the field.

Olivier Vernon left the Miami Dolphins due to the big $85 million contract that the New York Giants handed him. Vernon is expected to be even more effective as a pass rusher now that he’s playing on the opposite side of the defensive line with Jason Pierre Paul, who received a $10 million contract to return to the Giants for another season.

With Olivier Vernon and Jason Pierre Paul anchoring the defensive line, the person that might benefit the most from that setup is Damon Harrison, the former New York Jets defensive tackle that signed a $46.25 million deal with the New York Giants. He’s normally known as a run-stopper, but Harrison is expected to make more of an impact on the pass rush because he’s switching from a 3-4 defensive front to a 4-3. Damon will be lining up in the gap between the center and guard instead of going directly against the center.

By handing out more than $193 million in contracts – $203 million if you wanted to count the amount needed to keep Jason Pierre Paul around – the New York Giants have added a ton of talent to the defense. Whether they pan out together on the field is unknown, but the fact is that Giants management made an attempt to make things better for new head coach Ben McAdoo, who served as the offensive coordinator under Tom Coughlin last season.

It’s a bit understandable for Tom Coughlin to be upset with the situation because he feels that the New York Giants weren’t supportive enough, even though he brought two NFL Championships to the franchise. That’s a ton of money spent in a short period of time. Coughlin cannot help but wonder if he could have taken this unit deep into the playoffs.

When Tom Coughlin was forced out as the New York Giants’ head coach, many were puzzled because they felt that general manager Jerry Reese should have been the one let go. By making one of the biggest splashes in the NFL during free agency, the belief is that Reese is trying to buy himself some time. Jerry took quite a risk on Janoris Jenkins, Damon Harrison, and Olivier Vernon. His job could be on the line if they don’t improve the Giants’ defense.

Tom Coughlin still uses the New York Giants facility to work out, so he casts a shadow over an organization that he no longer coaches. Soon, he might need to find another gym to use. Coughlin runs the risk of alienating the Giants if he continues to complain to the media about how the team didn’t do enough for him and how he was forced to leave the job.

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