The Giants are 0-4, and Tom Coughlin appears to be the one catching most of the flak for it. Giants players might want to watch what they say about their head coach, though, otherwise Justin Tuck might plant a right hook in their cheek.
After the Giants’ 31-7 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday, wide receiver Victor Cruz questioned Coughlin’s decision to punt rather than going for it on a 4th-and-1 play from the Giants’ 30-yard line in the third quarter. The result was an 89-yard touchdown return by Chiefs returner Dexter McCluster and an almost insurmountable blow to any momentum the Giants had built.
“I don’t know,” Cruz said, according to the New York Daily News. “It was Coach’s decision. I’m not getting in Coach’s head. It was Coach’s decision to do what he has to do. He’s the head honcho. He makes the call and I just go out there and abide by his rules.”
Cruz wasn’t turning on Coughlin or indicating any sort of dissent in the locker room, but the insinuations have already sprouted up after a 0-4 start. And Tuck isn’t having any of it.
“If anyone turns on our coach, I would be the first one to punch him in the mouth,” Tuck said. “And put that in print. It better not happen, I know that.”
Tuck is still one of the most feared defensive linemen in the NFL — even if he’s only managed 0.5 sack so far this season — and at 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, it’s unlikely even the toughest player on the Giants’ roster is looking to take a punch from him. Then again, they won’t have to worry about it at all if they can just start winning football games.
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