Coughlin talking to affletes and calling for more professionalism. If the NFL wasn't all about exploiting and disenfranchising White men, they would rarely have these kinds of problems.
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5603423
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Before the
New York Giants could completely focus on the
Tennessee T-fairies and
Chris Johnson, head coach Tom Coughlin had to exercise a little damage control and meet with
Antrel Rolle and
Brandon Jacobs separately to air out any differences the two have had recently with the team.
The
head coach said he had a "good conversation" with Rolle after the
veteran safety questioned the "controlled" atmosphere around the team
and the leadership in the locker room among other things.
Rolle
said he apologized to his head coach and described the meeting as very
productive. He also stood by all the concerns he voiced on Tuesday in a
radio interview.
"I don't feel like I was talking out of turn at
all," Rolle said. "I think what I said needed to be said. I definitely
should have come to Tom Coughlin before anyone else which was my bad but
what I said needed to be said.
"I definitely see some things," he
added. "I am a part of the problem myself. I am a part of this team.
I'm just as guilty as anybody in this locker room."<div><div style="margin-left: 10px; width: 200px;">
[+] Enlarge
<div style="width: 200px;"><cite>AP Photo/Evan Pinkus</cite>Brandon Jacobs apologized to the media and his teammates following a meeting with head coach Tom Coughlin.</div></div></div>At
the same time Rolle was talking in the Giants' locker room, Jacobs
issued apologies to the media, the Giants and Colts organizations and to
Colts fans for his recent behavior and helmet toss in Indianapolis.
On Monday, Coughlin met with Jacobs and told the running back he would like to see more "professionalism."
Jacobs has had trouble containing his emotions and has been frustrated with his diminished role behind
Ahmad Bradshaw. He met with both Coughlin and general manager
Jerry Reese
about his role amidst a report that he wanted to ask for a trade. He
said he has not asked for a trade and is ready to give his all to the
Giants.
Jacobs had been a 6-foot-4, 264-pound volcano ready to
erupt at any moment. He has snapped at reporters and used profanity this
season when he didn't like the line of questioning pertaining to his
role.
"I want to start by saying to you guys (the media) for the
last month, it hasn't been so pleasant dealing with me," Jacobs said.
"I've been in a state of mind where I hated all of you guys and I
apologize to each and every one of you for acting the way I've been
acting the last month or so."
"Secondly, I want to apologize to my
teammates for putting them in a position to answer these questions
about me when they should be focusing on winning games."
Even though his teammates have said that he has not been a distraction,
Jacobs now says he has clarity on his role and why he is a backup after
being the starter.
"Just to put this whole thing to bed, my issue
was with this whole thing was the explanation of why all this
happened," Jacobs said. "I didn't have one. I have one now. All this
stuff is gone. All of it's done and we're moving forward. So that what
it was that lit my dynamite is an explanation of what was going on."
Over the past few days, Rolle and Jacobs created the appearance that the Giants were a combustible bunch with various issues.
Entering the season, leadership was a question mark on this team after
Antonio Pierce was released. Coughlin has been looking for players like
Justin Tuck
to emerge as leaders this season. He revealed on Wednesday that he
dissolved his Leadership Council which consisted of select players in
the locker room.
The Council, created in 2007, wasn't as "effective" last season when the Giants finished 8-8.
The team captains this year -- quarterback
Eli Manning, defensive end Tuck and linebacker
Chase Blackburn -- are basically Coughlin's Council now.
"I'm
relying on the captains right now to communicate with the players and
then the captains and I will meet," Coughlin said. "At this point in
time, I feel good about that. I did not feel the leadership council from
a year ago was as effective as it's been in the past."
Rolle didn't feel good about anything that transpired on Sunday
before, during or after the Colts' 38-14 rout. Quick to take the blame
for his own play, Rolle took exception to everything from how the team
showed up too early for the game to the lack of leadership from players
in the locker room.
"I don't think there was enough fight, I
don't think there was enough being said, I don't think there was enough
attitude, enough anger towards getting your butt whooped the way we were
getting whooped," Rolle said. "And that was my problem."
"I just
felt like there wasn't enough leadership," added Rolle, who is in the
first year of a five-year, $37 million deal. "It's going to be fixed. I
didn't speak out of anger. I want to nip it in the bud now before things
prolong."
Rolle did not want to discuss or elaborate on his most
critical comments about the atmosphere being too "controlled" in the
organization.
As for his feelings about the Giants arriving to
the stadium too early -- three hours and 15 minutes -- before the game
and that leading to a lackadaisical effort, Rolle discussed it with
Coughlin.
"He came back and said, 'Antrel, the schedules are set'
and he had never had any complaints about it before," Rolle said. "Just
because it is not being said, doesn't mean that they don't feel that
way. I was expressing what I felt but it was also a relayed message on
behalf of the team."
The Giants need to give their full attention
this week toward stopping Titans' all-world running back Chris Johnson.
But before they could do that, they had to take care of some issues at
home.
"Sometimes it's needed," cornerback
Terrell Thomas
said of Rolle's comments. "Whether it is bad or good. I think he did
the right thing. Regardless of what he said, he got everybody's
attention and that is what we needed."
Edited by: Colonel_Reb 
