Tiki Barber had some harsh words concerning Coughlin

[Gambit]

The personality and demeanor of a pansy.

Are you saying that Tiki Barber was, in fact, a Slytherin girl who was taking Polyjuice Potion?

 

[cardsfanmd]

I've had a lot of fun playing on really bad lacrosse teams and not nearly as much fun playing on dominant ones. I don't see coughlin bringing winning back to the Giants as incompatible with Barber having less fun playing under him.

And, for the record, I think Barber is WAY off-base for his comments (all of them), and I don't really care for him. Never have.

Hey, good to see another lax guy in here. Where did/do you play?

 

[cardsfanmd]

I dont have Syrius Radio and am not a Tiki expert, but at the same time I have had a lot of respect for him as an athlete.

Here is a guy who went out and played his butt off every week. It seems to me that when an athlete comes out and doesn't have a bad work ethic or posses that do 187s in people's a$$es or electrocute dogs, we should embrace and appreciate them for setting decent examples for kids, who will look up to athletes no matter what. This guy comes in and does his job extremely well but speaks with proper grammar so he must be a pansy. Oh wait, he retired before he destroyed his body, because he was intelligent enough to earn a living elsewhere, so that makes him a pansy. I applaud him for leaving the game when he did. We keep hearing about all these former athletes who are basically incapacitated by the time they reach their early 50s. I am glad he was man enough to do what he thought was right for him and his family.

I was at the Giants regular season finale last year in Washington. they needed that win in order to make the playoffs. Eli stunk it up and the Giants D was pathetic. Tiki took over like I have never seen a player do before. Everyone in the stadium knew he was getting the ball and still he was unstoppable. When everything was said and done he had carried about 30Xs for over 220yds. The man was a beast and a warrior.

Do I think that he should be running around criticizing everyone, no. However, it was no secret that Eli is adopted and isn't a leader. Look at him, how can you be inspired by a pouty-faced stuttering spoiled brat punk ******. Nor was it a surprise to anyone that Coughlin is an @--. So what, that is like getting in trouble for saying that Britney Spears has issues.

I am so sick of hearing people slam him for announcing his retirement when he did too. There was no claus against it in his contract, and he was giving future employers time to consider him as well as providing the Giants with a heads up on replacing him. The most ******** comment I hear is that it put too much pressure on his teammates to win. THEY ARE PROFFESSIONAL ATHLETES. These guys are paid to thrive in pressure. If they cant take the heat they need to get the hell out of the oven and retire.

 

[Russ Smith]

So, a guy can be as tough as nails, but if he speaks in proper english and doesn't curse or spit, he's a pansy?

Pretty much.

"spits"

The rap on Tiki was from earlier in his career when he ran out of bounds a lot he became a much tougher runner later in his career. I agree with Wild Card you have to admit that he was a MUCH better player under Coughlin.

If all he means is it wasn't as fun that's probably true, but what's more important for an NFL player fun or winning games?

 

[BigRedRage]

Are you saying that Tiki Barber was, in fact, a Slytherin girl who was taking Polyjuice Potion?

Very close.

 

[Pariah]

Pariah:

And if the point of you playing rec league lacrosse is to have fun, then you'd be justified in bailing on a coach that was taking winning--and himself--too seriously. But if Tiki Barber was being paid millions of dollars to be a professional athlete, and he's whining about a taskmaster coach having "robbed him of the joy" of playing football at the same time that he was going to multiple Pro Bowls for the first time in his career, then boo-effing-hoo.

The guy used to like his job, and despite getting better at it, he didn't like it anymore. So he quit. So what?

Winning does not necessarily equate to happiness. Just like money doesn't make you happy.

All I'm saying is that he enjoyed his life more without Coughlin. So he cut Coughlin out of his life. Good for him.

 

[Pariah]

Hey, good to see another lax guy in here. Where did/do you play?

I played at ASU and still play in a Denver men's league.

 

[Wild Card]

The guy used to like his job, and despite getting better at it, he didn't like it anymore. So he quit. So what?

Pariah:

So nothing. Like I said, I have no problem with a player walking away from the NFL when he's had enough, for whatever reason. I just think it's bad form for Tiki Barber to bash the head coach who made him a better player, just because they weren't best buddies.

Winning does not necessarily equate to happiness. Just like money doesn't make you happy.

And Barber was apparently a professional athlete who wasn't motivated by playing well, winning games or making money, and enjoyed the game more when he was a fumble-prone running back on a losing team. Truly an unusual individual.

WC

 

[Pariah]

Pariah:

So nothing. Like I said, I have no problem with a player walking away from the NFL when he's had enough, for whatever reason. I just think it's bad form for Tiki Barber to bash the head coach who made him a better player, just because they weren't best buddies.

I totally agree. Very bad form. He's an a-hole for it, IMO.

And Barber was apparently a professional athlete who wasn't motivated by playing well, winning games or making money, and enjoyed the game more when he was a fumble-prone running back on a losing team. Truly an unusual individual.

WC

He may have enjoyed the game more when he was fumble prone and losing, but where do you get that he wasn't motivated by playing well? Or winning games? Or making money? They guy didn't like Coughlin and enjoyed the game less despite being better at it. I just don't think that's so unusual.

 

[Wild Card]

(Barber) may have enjoyed the game more when he was fumble prone and losing, but where do you get that he wasn't motivated by playing well? Or winning games? Or making money? They guy didn't like Coughlin and enjoyed the game less despite being better at it. I just don't think that's so unusual.

Pariah:

I guess I'm just having a hard time processing these latest quotes on Barber's part. It seems like not long ago that Tiki was focussed on winning a Super Bowl and playing his heart out week after week. Sure, he ran his mouth some after a couple of tough losses, but Coughlin--remarkably, I thought--seemed to take his comments in stride and moved on. And although the Giants have struggled at times, they've made the playoffs twice in the last three years, while Tiki's gone to the Pro Bowl all three.

When Barber announced his retirement last year, I didn't think it was much different than Robert Smith leaving the Vikes a few years ago. Another talented player leaving at his peak, rather than waiting to decline from age and injuries. Fair enough.

But when Barber implies that he might have kept playing for some other head coach, and that he's leaving the game solely because Coughlin "robbed him of the joy" of playing football, I'm left wondering if I walked in on an episode of Oprah by mistake.

So I wish Tiki Barber well, with whatever he's gonna do the rest of his life. But I'm far more interested in the NFL season that's about to start. I'll bet you are, too.

WC

 

[lobo]

Not good to burn his bridges...what good is it now? First he dissed Eli, now Coughlin...imagine what loyal Giants fans must think of Tikki now, whether they like Eli and Coughlin or not.

Why not just go out on a great season like he did and go out with class and leave all the rest behind?

Obviously, Tiki is vindictive.

That said, if what Tiki says about Coughlin taking all the fun out of the game for him is true...and we can all see why...Coughlin is a fastidious taskmaster and control freak, a la Bill Parcells, his mentor...only Parcells had charisma and an understanding of what makes the players tick...Coughlin seems to have neither.

Even though pro football is a business, it's still a kid's game being played by adults...and Tiki raises an interesting question because for pros to not be able to retain a kid-like excitement for the game they love is a shame...hard ass coaches can take away all the fun, they really can...

Ironically, Tiki, despite not enjoying his job, turned in another stellar season last year...give him some credit for that.

Tiki is proving himself to be a world class putz. I am not a great fan of Coughlin as is act always wears thin after awhile...HOWEVER before Tom got there Barber would lead the league in fumbles lost for several years. He never would have gotten the chance to carry the ball as much if he didn't learn how to hold onto it...wanna' thank TC or not, it was under his watch.

Got a TV show and a book. Would have neither if he kept his fumbling up.
He expect to be a "world class" TV journalist and not concentrate on football....oh yeah??

 

[Lorenzo]

well i was reading USA today....today. Tiki stated that ESPN completely jumped on one thing that he said without reading up on the big picture of what was said. if that makes sense. He said he credited the coach and that he was not out of the game because of coughlin alone. I'm not a tiki apologist and I think it is crappy of him to call out ELI, his coach(during the season), and quit on his team last season. but on the flip side I am tired of ESPN and their shady reporting.

 

[Taco]

Tiki is weaky

 

[john h]

John:

Sure, Tiki Barber was a good player. But you have to wonder if he thought the game was a lot more fun in the Giants' last season pre-Coughlin, when Barber was the leading rusher for a 4-12 team that lost its last eight games in a row under Jim Fassel and was ranked 30th for points scored and 29th for points allowed. Yeah, I can see why he'd be nostalgic for those good old days.

WC

What Tiki said is a lot milder than what many of us post on this board about players and coaches. Do we have a double standard or is it ok for us, as fans, to call coaches and players names that you would not even want to see in print. I know zero about Coach Couglin. Many workers quit their jobs every day and call there former boss every name imaginable. I guess it gets down to who's shoes you are walking in. I personally do not like to burn bridges behind me as the saying goes "what goes around comes around". The guy is very well spoken and was a good football player. The media is not shy about critizing Eli or any coach that walks. Some of what they print is worse than any thing Tiki said. In the big scheme of things who really cares what Tiki says. Two weeks from now it will all be forgotten except for the Coach, Eli, and Tiki. I have seen post on this board about Bill Bidwill that could start a fire. I have not read the complete words of Tiki. I would like to see all the words and not out of context to weigh in on an unimportant subject. Meantime here we are waiting and hoping for an 8-8 season. That really sucks.

 

[lobo]

What Tiki said is a lot milder than what many of us post on this board about players and coaches. Do we have a double That really sucks.

Those who post on the board who stated they would be back if he wasn't coach please stand up or raise your hands. Again I submit Barber would have long been gone if he continued to fumble the ball the way he did prior to TC coming aboard. I am not a TC apologist as I feel as I said previously guys like this where thin after awhile.

Do you think it was Coughlins decision to sell the ranch to get Eli?? Do you think San Diego would trade Rivers for Manning staight up now??