PHOENIX — The New York Giants caught the media off guard Tuesday. That’s difficult to do at the Super Bowl, where notebook-toters and wagging tongues far outnumber the athletes.
But this is Camp Coughlin.
While most of the media were killing the final moments between access to the New England Patriots and Giants during media day, the players were already at their podiums.
While the Patriots were 10 minutes late to their hour-long session, the Giants were rolling at 11:55 a.m. sharp — five minutes early. Just on time at Camp Coughlin.
“I guess I was on Coughlin Time,” said New York quarterback Eli Manning, who was ready to chat well before the hordes were in front of his station. “I guess that is so ingrained in us, I don’t even notice anymore. I live my life being five minutes early.”
Camp Coughlin is a happy place these days, the result of fighting through a mountain of adversity. Coughlin has ignored rumors of his demise and won 10 consecutive road games, including three playoff games. Speculation had Coughlin fired as recently as Christmas.
In the early days of the militaristic Coughlin regime, players were fined for being on time to meetings and “Coughlin Time” was an ugly expression. But when you arrive to Super Bowl events five minutes early it allows more time to soak it all in.
While his quarterback has enjoyed a late-season rebirth, Coughlin has benefited from his own makeover the past month.
Things began looking up when he decided to keep his heavy hitters in the game for the season finale against New England despite the Giants already owning the No. 5 seed in the playoffs. The Giants seemingly had nothing to gain from playing their star players, but they gained valuable confidence by forcing the Patriots to fight to the finish. The Giants battled valiantly, even taking a 28-16 lead in the third quarter, but fell to the Patriots 38-35. It was that game that seemed to unite coach and players.
The Giants have since won three playoff games — all on the road at Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay — to earn another crack at New England and validate their coach.
“We’re all behind Coach,” Giants defensive end and leader Michael Strahan said. “He has gotten us to this point.”
Getting to this point — the Super Bowl — has been a rocky road for Coughlin, a former Syracuse running back who was teammates with Floyd Little and Larry Csonka. After eight successful seasons in Jacksonville, Coughlin was 6-10 in 2004 — his first year with the Giants and Manning’s rookie season. Since then, the coach has engineered New York to three playoff berths.
Still, there has been plenty of turmoil. In the past, many Giants bemoaned Coughlin’s strict ways. Last season, tight end Jeremy Shockey said the team was “outcoached” in a loss. After retiring, former Giants running back Tiki Barber has been critical of Coughlin.
It all seemed to be catching up with Coughlin this season. The consensus was the Giants would be looking for a new coach, perhaps one who could better relate to players, if Coughlin didn’t get the team into the postseason.
Coughlin has kept to his no-nonsense approach throughout the Giants’ hot streak, and the players know they still must stay on their toes.
“He is pretty quick to blow a gasket,” punter Jeff Feagles said.
Said Coughlin: “We came here to do a job, and that’s the only reason we’re here. All of the expectations that the players have during the season, everything that has gotten us to this point, remains the same.”
And Camp Coughlin marches on, five minutes early, as usual.
Bill Williamson: 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com
