Tomcat Shows His Claws, But Why?

Tom Coughlan confronts Greg Schiano after the game

Mark Schlereth is a former NFL football player, playing offensive guard for both the Washington Redskins (1989-1994) and Denver Broncos (1995-2000). Schlereth won three Super Bowl championships, one with the Redskins (XXVI) and two with the Broncos. (XXXII, XXXIII).  He is currently a football analyst with ESPN television and radio.  The subject content of this column came from comments he made on ESPN’s “NFL 32” on September 19, 2012.

Mark Schlereth went on a ridiculous tirade complaining about so-called “bush-league play” from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they played the New York Giants last Sunday afternoon.  Schlereth was demonstratively irritated at the Bucs’ first year head coach Greg Schiano for coaching his players to play full-speed on a play that is normally a formality and concession of defeat by the trailing defense. The Giants aligned their offense into what is called a “Victory Formation” where the football is snapped like on any other play, but the quarterback takes a knee and then both teams let the final seconds on the play clock expire without contact… “Game Over” and both teams meet at midfield to shake hands as conquer and the defeated. That’s not exactly how this one turned out, though.  In fact, what is usually a courteous handshake, turned into another controversial meeting between opposing coaches.   

On the same day, Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz let bygones be bygones after their controversial meeting last year where their handshake was more of a “slap and run affair” leaving Detroit head coach Jim Schwartz angry and resentful at Frisco head coach Jim Harbaugh. However, the umbrage seemed to disappear fairly quickly as the two met on the field before the game and shook hands without incident.  Whew!

Now, the controversy turns to New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano.

Tom Coughlin was visibly angry and ripped Greg Schiano directly after the game concluded.  Coughlan obviously believes that the final play of the game, when his quarterback took a knee, should have been handled with a certain etiquette and the defense should’ve politely accept defeat.  Well, I think that’s a bunch of crap!  

There is a clock on the scoreboard for a reason, and until that clock reads 00:00:00, the game is not over.  Zeros on the board; Isn’t that what every kid is taught in; basketball, wrestling, and every other sport that is conducted on a time format?  I think this is more of a case of the Giants’ offense being taken off guard and Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin whining…because that’s what they usually do.  Even in victory…

Tom Coughlan addresses the press after the game with Buccaneers

I thought long and hard about this play and this subject; Was it bush-league, was it a cheap shot, was it outside of the rules of football, or was it in bad taste, or maybe, just maybe, it was a football team believing that there’s always a chance when the game’s not over yet? I feel that I have considered every angle of the game and what it meant for the Buccaneers to hit the Giants offensive line and quarterback when they were obviously not expecting it.  My initial feelings?  The New York Giants aligned in the “Victory Formation” with the offensive line in the three-point stance, the quarterback under center and three safety players behind the quarterback… Just in case.  That’s why the offense puts those safety players behind the quarterback, just in case something goes wrong there is someone there to defend or fall on the ball… Just in case.  Let’s examine exactly why the “victory formation” is designed the way it is.  Obviously, the offense realizes that the game is not over, that’s why they put players in a position to ensure that all the gaps are covered.  If they believed the game was already over, they could just go out in a normal 21 personnel and bring the wide receivers in and go through the motions.  That’s what I expect Coughlan believes is that it’s just window dressing for something that isn’t real.  When is it not real?  With five seconds remaining, 45 seconds, how about a minute or just 1 second remaining?

This is only my opinion, but I think Tom Coughlan was acting like a spoiled child and Eli Manning was just acting like Eli Manning. I don’t think what Greg Schiano or the Bucs’ Defense did anything wrong; In fact I believe they would be considered tough and opportunistic competitors if that football wasn’t snapped cleanly and one of the Buccaneers players picked it up and ran into the end zone for a game-tying touchdown with no time left on the clock.  However, there’s an old saying used by Winston Churchill, among others, that goes like this; “It is the victors that write history.” In other words, Tom Coughlan and Eli Manning can whine about this play because the unthinkable didn’t happen. The Giants won the game… But what if…?

Eli Manning in a postgame press conference

Here are a few things to consider;

This wasn’t a blowout game and it wasn’t even a double score margin, it was a single touchdown that separated the two teams. I wonder if Tom Coughlan and the Giants were trailing by a touchdown, even two touchdowns with just five seconds remaining, what they would do on a kickoff?  Would they just kick the ball away and concede, give up or would they attempt an onside kick?  If he was a decent coach, he would do whatever it took to give his team a chance to win or at least tie the game so they could keep fighting.  How about the same scenario, only the Giants had the ball on their own 20 yard line, and trailing by a touchdown; would they field four wide receivers and give Eli Manning a chance to launch the football down the field in the off-chance that something amazing would happen?  Or, would he just have his quarterback drop a knee and concede defeat, give up, giving his team absolutely no chance?  Now, some will argue with me and say that it is a much higher percentage chance that a Hail Mary could result in a touchdown from 80 yards away, then to have a fumbled snap on the final play of the game with just seconds remaining? But I say; exactly how many more percentage points the you subtract until you give up?  You play the game to win and you give and give whatever you can of yourself for a chance until the game is over…OVER! 

How many games have been put into the log books with time still remaining?  The answer is none, zero; the same number that should be on the clock when a team quits and gives up.

Why is it okay for an offense that is trailing by 7 touchdowns or more to throw a Hail Mary with as few as one second remaining on the play clock, but a defense must concede defeat, like a bunch of quitters, with time remaining in the game?

Tom Coughlin complained that it was immoral for the Buccaneers to put the Giants offensive line and quarterback in jeopardy of being injured.  His words were, “…Thank goodness no one was injured on that play …” If anyone was injured, the Giants offensive line and quarterback would have no one else to blame but themselves.  The final play of the game is like every other play.  The clock is running and during that time all of the rules of the game of football are in play, not suspended just so the defense can concede defeat before the game is over.  That, in my opinion, would be something to be ashamed of.  We criticize players for giving up before the game has concluded.  Usually, it’s a virtue to play your butt off until the game is completely over, officially.  However, Coughlan and is Giants football team just plain word prepared for the last play of the game.  The clock decides when the game is over, not Tom Coughlin and not Eli Manning, it is the clock and no other measure can determine the end of the game.

Coughlan was being an arrogant ass and was using his seniority in the NFL over Greg Schiano who was coaching only his second NFL game ever.  You don’t dress down a colleague, bullying him on the football field in front of the cameras and the fans, simply because you have a couple of Superbowls under your belt.  It wasn't that long ago that the New York press and fan base were calling for your head on a platter. If there’s a problem, you handle it like a man, in private and between two coaches.  Coughlan was being himself; a grumpy old man who was behaving like spoiled five-year-old boy.

I do realize that there are a few unwritten rules of conduct that are not necessarily in the NFL rulebook per se, but I don’t think this is one of them.  Football is a different sport and is played in a manner that is very much like warfare. This isn't tennis and it's not golf… It's a battle to the end between strong, fast and vicious hitters. It’s about strategy, effort, energy and a never say quit attitude.  Frankly, I’m surprised that any defense would concede defeat unless they were mathematically eliminated of a victory.  Then, and only then, do you give up or quit.  No one has ever called the game of American football, "A Gentleman's Game." Now that doesn't mean you don't play with honor and it doesn't mean you can't be a gentleman.  What it does mean is that you don't give up on your team, your coach or your fans until it is officially over.  Using Tom Coughlan's logic, a team that is mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, should just put a knee down and quit for the rest of the year because they've lost their goal of making it to the postseason.  That's ridiculous and I think Tom Coughlan needs to rethink the way he reacted and perhaps prepare his football team to play until the game is over, then perhaps they will be ready to be hit.

Lastly, Mike Schlereth is a former offensive lineman and if you have ever watched much football in your life, you’ll notice that the television broadcasters that used to play a certain position on offense or defense will usually side with his former position player than any other on the field.  It’s just a given that a defensive back will always side in the favor of a defensive back in a game if it’s even close to being a pass interference call. Just the same, the former quarterback will side in the favor of a quarterback if his arm was close to moving forward or backward on a called fumbled play.  It’s just natural for people to be biased, 

I think Mike Schlereth is an idiot and I despise his tirade and name-calling, attacking Greg Schiano for coaching his team to never quit until it’s over, particularly when there is a mathematical chance to win.  Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has a mantra, “Always Compete.”  I wonder how he would interpret this controversial play that is usually the most boring play of the game. I would think he would want his players to compete, compete, compete, compete…

Greg Schiano in his first NFL season as head coach

I applaud Greg Schiano and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense for never giving up when there’s even a mathematical chance that you can win.  And if anyone is wondering… No… I don’t like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, even a little, but I respect their effort to never say die before it's time.

You play the game to win and you give and give whatever you can of yourself for a chance until the game is over…OVER! How many games have been put into the log books with time still remaining?  The answer is none, zero, the same number that should be on the clock when a team quits and gives up.