PFW: NFC E: The Way We Hear It: Is there lingering tension between Coughlin, Strahan?

[bubba9497]

Is there lingering tension between Coughlin, Strahan?

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/default.htm?mode=nfceast

NY Giants

The static between head coach Tom Coughlin and DE Michael Strahan apparently remains. Two news agencies reported that Coughlin fined Strahan $10,000 for showing up for an 8:25 a.m. meeting two minutes early at 8:23 a.m. Strahan, reportedly upset, was considering filing a grievance with the NFL Players Association. If you remember, Strahan was the only veteran who didn’t participate fully in Coughlin’s “voluntary” offseason program, and he was believed to be one of the 7-10 Giants players who filed a report about the length of the minicamp practices to the NFLPA.

Dallas

When Bill Parcells says he is worried about his defense — the same one that finished No. 1 last season — don’t just assume it’s coachspeak, a Parcells specialty. There are four new starters, and you could argue that none is considered an upgrade over the player he replaced. DE ­Marcellus Wiley has not provided the immediate pass rush the team expected from him. But the bigger problems appear to be in the secondary, where both the RCB and nickel back spots look like potential season-long problems. Pete Hunter, the expected starter by default, and Bruce Thornton had rough preseasons, and Donald Mitchell, pegged for the nickel role, was released. Jemeel Powell probably played the best of the corners, but he doesn’t have the raw speed to play full time.

Philadelphia

The biggest question on defense has not been the play of the young cornerbacks but the state of the linebackers. There is a growing sense that the LB unit could be the Achilles’ heel of the defense, as it was in part last year when the team allowed 119.3 yards rushing per game. Nate Wayne has been hobbled by ankle and hamstring injuries all preseason, and he might be the weak link of the group. But ask the fans, and they’ll tell you it’s MLB Mark Simoneau. There’s a growing call for recently signed Jeremiah Trotter to take over for Simoneau, but defensive coordinator Jim Johnson continues to defend his starter. In the preseason, Simoneau was plagued by missed tackles, and his lack of bulk is a concern in the run game. LB coach Steve Spag­nuolo (who coached the secondary last year) also has a thinner unit with the release of Justin Ena, a top reserve last year.

Washington

The Redskins set the tone early in the opener against the Buccaneers, going to power sets with multiple tight ends a majority of the time. It’s clear that the TE and H-back positions will play a big role in Joe Gibbs’ offense — perhaps bigger than some imagined. One of Gibbs’ signature plays, the counter trey, requires blockers to sustain their blocks longer than on most running plays because two linemen pull. Rookie Chris Cooley earned the starting H-back spot, the pass-catching position in the offense, because he showed very good hands and a knack for getting open in the preseason. He started opposite Walter Rasby, who made a big block on RB Clinton Portis’ 64-yard TD run on Portis’ first official touch as a member of the Redskins. Also expect contributions from Brian Kozlowski and Mike Sellers, an intriguing receiver.

[NavyDave]

Cut him

He'd look great in burgundy and gold

[Tom [Giants fan]]

The fine was actually $500, not $10,000.

[TXREDSKINS44]

Originally posted by Tom [Giants fan]

The fine was actually $500, not $10,000.

Man I was thinking $10,000 just for a team meeting man that is one important meeting!!

[TheDoyler23]

I'm sorry, i keep thinking that I'm reading this wrong. He was fined for showing up 2 minutes EARLY? huh?

[TC4]

Tom, it doesn't matter if it was $500 or $10,000, he was fined for showing up two minutes EARLY to a team meeting :doh:

It sounds to me like Coughlin is trying to do to Strahan what Marty Schottenheimer did in San Diego to Junior Seau and tried to do to Darrell Green when he was here, mainly, try to run him out of town

[Buddha]

How about Rod Gardner for Strahan???