The New York Giants are sitting at home, having missed the playoffs for the second-consecutive season, while their rivals in the Big Apple are heading to their second-straight AFC Championship Game.
As far as Giants safeties Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips are concerned, the difference has nothing to do with talent — but instead motivation and coaching, according to the New York Post.
"If you match us up against the Jets, do I think they’re a better team? No, I don’t think so at all," Rolle said on WQAM. "But when it comes to their chemistry, I think their chemistry might be better than ours."
The reason for the Jets' chemistry, Rolle believes, is Rex Ryan's coaching style.
"People want to talk about Rex Ryan and this, that and the other, that team is going to war for him," Rolle said. "They would die for him."
Phillips agreed.
"I would love to play for a guy like Rex," Phillips told WQAM. "He goes to bat for his players. He’ll take the blame, he allows you to be you. He’s not asking you to hide. If you’re a guy who likes to talk, go out and talk, as long as you back it up. His guys are playing for him and I’d love to be a part of that."
As for Tom Coughlin, neither safety had positive words for how he has impacted the team.
"Honestly, that’s where the problem comes with me, as a coach," Rolle said. "If he just loosened up just a little bit, run the ship the way you want to run it, run the program the way you want to run it but let us have a little fun, because at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about. … I like the coach, I understand what he’s trying to do but he has to understand it’s 2011, man, things have changed."
When asked "who is Tom Coughlin?" Phillips again echoed Rolle's sentiment.
"Honestly I don’t know. Still trying to figure it out. I’m going into my fourth year and I’m still trying to feel him out. He’s a strict guy, sometimes he’s kind of loose. He’s sort of like a general, especially the way he runs his football team."
Coughlin had been rumored to be on the way out in favor of Bill Cowher or another big-name candidate, but it was announced at the conclusion of the regular season that Coughlin would be returning as head coach.
