The longer the relationship usually means the worse the breakup. That rings true for Tom Coughlin and his less than graceful exit from New York- if he has left. Details from NY Daily News:
Coughlin clearly is having a very hard time letting go. He must have separation anxiety as he nears his 70th birthday in August. For some reason, he’s been working out at the Giants facility once or twice a week. What former coach keeps showing up? Didn’t he ever hear of a gym membership?
It’s a confusing message to the players and a confusing message to the coaching staff. And on top of that, it must be befuddling to Ben McAdoo himself.
If that isn’t sad enough, Coughlin reportedly didn’t have a great interview with the Eagles. The Coughlin camp made it sound like he withdrew his name, but that was not the case. More from NY Daily News:
The interview was a disaster.
Coughlin acted like a 20-year old whose girlfriend had dumped him and he was trying to make her jealous by dating her No. 1 enemy on the rebound. NFL sources say his hard feelings for the Giants came through loud and clear in the interview with the Eagles brain trust, which included owner Jeffrey Lurie, and he was obsessed with how he felt wronged by the Giants. He was not forthcoming about his plans for his staff. He came off more concerned with making the Giants look bad than being consumed with coaching the Eagles.
For someone with that much experience in life and in his career, it’s surprising this was handled so poorly. The reputation he took so long to build with the Giants and the rest of the NFL is quickly starting to become tarnished.