Tiki torches Coughlin

Wile_E_Coyote · 02-14-2007, 11:54 AM

Updated: Feb. 14, 2007, 11:30 AM ET
Barber: Coughlin's demands pushed retirement

ESPN.com news services

NEW YORK -- Tiki Barber spent part of his first day as a full-time media personality criticizing his former boss at his last day job.

Barber, who will work on NBC's "Today" show and on the network's Sunday night football coverage, said his problems with New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin had "started to take its toll on me" and that it was an "act of God' that the physical demands Coughlin placed on him did not result in serious injuries.

"Coach Coughlin is very hard-nosed, and I didn't get a lot of time off, couldn't sit down and rest myself, and so it was a constant grind -- a physical grind on me that started to take its toll," Barber told reporters Tuesday after his introduction the "Today" show's newest correspondent.

"There'd be days where I couldn't move on Tuesday or Wednesday at practice, and he'd get mad at me for going half-speed. And I told him, 'Coach, I can't do it. I'm gonna be out here, I'm never gonna miss a practice, but I can't give you what you want all the time.' And he understood." -- Tiki Barber on Tom Coughlin

"The grind took its toll on me and really forced me to start thinking about what I wanted to do next. And that's not a bad thing. That's a good thing, for me at least. Maybe not for the Giants, because they lose one of their great players, but for me, it is," Barber said.

He spurned offers from Fox and ABC/Disney to take the NBC job.

"My dream has always been to be on the 'Today' show," Barber said.

Barber, 31, retired as a Pro Bowl running back, scoring a touchdown in the NFL all-star game last weekend. Barber and his disciplinarian coach had their rough patches, particularly when Barber said the Giants were outcoached after a playoff loss a season ago.

Barber said Coughlin's physical demands wore him down -- and that over time the coach came to understand that.

"There'd be days where I couldn't move on Tuesday or Wednesday at practice, and he'd get mad at me for going half-speed," Barber said. "And I told him, 'Coach, I can't do it. I'm gonna be out here, I'm never gonna miss a practice, but I can't give you what you want all the time.' And he understood."

"We were in full pads for 17 weeks, and with the amount of injuries that we had, it just takes a toll on you. You just physically don't want to be out there when your body feels the way you do in full pads," Barber told reporters. "And while it probably doesn't have a really detrimental effect on how you practice or how you play, it does on your mind. And if you lose your mind in this game, you lose a lot. And that's something that [Coughlin] has to realize. And I think he does [now]."

Barber acknowledged that he had some of his best seasons under Coughlin, and that he might not have done so without him. But he still thinks Coughlin needs to change his approach.

"He has changed in little ways, but I think he still has to more," Barber said. "The game has changed, players are different, and you have to understand them and get to know them in order to encourage and motivate them to be successful. We'll see what happens this season."

Barber laid the groundwork for a broadcasting career while still active in the NFL. He was a correspondent for the Fox News Channel morning program "Fox & Friends," and has two programs on Sirius Satellite Radio, one on general topics and another on football that he does with his twin brother, Ronde Barber of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Few other novice broadcasters would get such a lavish introduction to their new business: a news conference attended by NBC Universal President and Chief Executive Jeff Zucker, the presidents of NBC News and Sports, and "Today" co-host Matt Lauer.

Zucker compared Barber to Joe Garagiola, another "Today" personality with a sports background, and former Giants star and longtime broadcaster Frank Gifford.

Barber "pops through the screen" and is incredibly popular with women, who make up the bulk of the "Today" show audience, Zucker said.

"He's incredibly handsome, he's incredibly charming, he's incredibly personable and he's incredibly smart," he said, "and that's a rare quality."

NBC News President Steve Capus also said Barber came with a backup.
"On those days when you're not feeling well, we'll just call Tampa Bay and get your brother," Capus said.

Sure-Oz · 02-14-2007, 01:29 PM

Tiki can still play at a high level easy, its a shame he is retiring.

Sam Hall · 02-14-2007, 01:42 PM

I could torch Tiki for not scoring touchdowns for my fantasy team. I was eliminated by the time he decided to have a huge performance.

Sure-Oz · 02-14-2007, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Hall

I could torch Tiki for not scoring touchdowns for my fantasy team. I was eliminated by the time he decided to have a huge performance.

I'd torch coughlin there too, cause he'd take him out for Jacobs every damn time. But tiki should know better and have broken off more 50+ yard td runs.

Sam Hall · 02-14-2007, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

I'd torch coughlin there too, cause he'd take him out for Jacobs every damn time. But tiki should know better and have broken off more 50+ yard td runs.

If Brandon Jacobs has a fan club, count me out. He's part of why I missed the playoffs by one game. And I lost my share of close matchups.

ck_IN · 02-14-2007, 01:59 PM

Is it just me or does some of this sound like what Roaf was saying about DV?

I'm not drawing any comparisons, I just find it interesting.

Fish · 02-14-2007, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NBC Universal President and Chief Executive Jeff Zucker

Barber "pops through the screen" and is incredibly popular with women, who make up the bulk of the "Today" show audience, Zucker said.

"He's incredibly handsome, he's incredibly charming, he's incredibly personable and he's incredibly smart," he said, "and that's a rare quality."

Incredible.......

big nasty kcnut · 02-14-2007, 02:29 PM

I heard he was a prize for today have sex with tiki day.

Dr. Van Halen · 02-14-2007, 03:17 PM

I don't quite understand the big deal being made out of Tiki Barber. He had two arguably great years, two good years, and a bunch of mediocrity.

I saw they did some kind of special tribute to him at the Pro Bowl ... ? He was selected to a whopping TWO Pro Bowls! TWO!

Jordan · 02-14-2007, 04:49 PM

Vermil may be a mouse, but COughlin is a rat bast@rd!

He's garbage!!!!!

shaneo69 · 02-14-2007, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Van Halen

I saw they did some kind of special tribute to him at the Pro Bowl ... ? He was selected to a whopping TWO Pro Bowls! TWO!

First ballot HOF'er baby!

CoMoChief · 02-14-2007, 05:28 PM

I traded Tiki and Shockey and Chi defense for Gates, Steven Jackson and Reggie Bush.

That was a set up trade because I knew this guy in my league loved JAckson, and he had LJ.

Everything worked out great for me.

DJay23 · 02-14-2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Van Halen

I don't quite understand the big deal being made out of Tiki Barber. He had two arguably great years, two good years, and a bunch of mediocrity.

I saw they did some kind of special tribute to him at the Pro Bowl ... ? He was selected to a whopping TWO Pro Bowls! TWO!

Living in the northeast I "get" to see a lot of Giants games. I seem to recall some asshat called Tiki a, "First ballot hall of famer." That puzzled me seeing as how people question whether Terrell Davis has the resume, what with MVP's, a 2000 yard season, and a couple rings.

Tiki sounds whiney in this press release. Just shut up and walk away. Why be a bitch and point fingers behind you and ruin things for the guys who can "take the pounding." Quite frankly, I'm tired of everyone telling me how great Tiki is at everything. He can suck a nut.

Deberg_1990 · 02-14-2007, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJay23

Living in the northeast I "get" to see a lot of Giants games. I seem to recall some asshat called Tiki a, "First ballot hall of famer." That puzzled me seeing as how people question whether Terrell Davis has the resume, what with MVP's, a 2000 yard season, and a couple rings.

Tiki sounds whiney in this press release. Just shut up and walk away. Why be a bitch and point fingers behind you and ruin things for the guys who can "take the pounding." Quite frankly, I'm tired of everyone telling me how great Tiki is at everything. He can suck a nut.

I have to agree....Tiki, while a great player is hardly what i would consider HoF material. What pisses me off is to read biased east coast media like Peter King lick his ballsack every week in their columns....

Marlboro_Chief · 02-14-2007, 09:23 PM

I miss the old culture of the NFL. Players had pride. They were tougher.

Tiki is the classic example of a spoiled and pampered pansy.

Yeah, Coughlin is a hard ass, but so was my high school football coach. I didn't have any room to whine about it, I had to suck it up and deal with it like a man.

02-14-2007, 11:54 AM
Wile_E_Coyote avatar down for remodel Join Date: Jul 2001 Casino cash: $10004900	Tiki torches Coughlin Updated: Feb. 14, 2007, 11:30 AM ET Barber: Coughlin's demands pushed retirement ESPN.com news services NEW YORK -- Tiki Barber spent part of his first day as a full-time media personality criticizing his former boss at his last day job. Barber, who will work on NBC's "Today" show and on the network's Sunday night football coverage, said his problems with New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin had "started to take its toll on me" and that it was an "act of God' that the physical demands Coughlin placed on him did not result in serious injuries. "Coach Coughlin is very hard-nosed, and I didn't get a lot of time off, couldn't sit down and rest myself, and so it was a constant grind -- a physical grind on me that started to take its toll," Barber told reporters Tuesday after his introduction the "Today" show's newest correspondent. "There'd be days where I couldn't move on Tuesday or Wednesday at practice, and he'd get mad at me for going half-speed. And I told him, 'Coach, I can't do it. I'm gonna be out here, I'm never gonna miss a practice, but I can't give you what you want all the time.' And he understood." -- Tiki Barber on Tom Coughlin "The grind took its toll on me and really forced me to start thinking about what I wanted to do next. And that's not a bad thing. That's a good thing, for me at least. Maybe not for the Giants, because they lose one of their great players, but for me, it is," Barber said. He spurned offers from Fox and ABC/Disney to take the NBC job. "My dream has always been to be on the 'Today' show," Barber said. Barber, 31, retired as a Pro Bowl running back, scoring a touchdown in the NFL all-star game last weekend. Barber and his disciplinarian coach had their rough patches, particularly when Barber said the Giants were outcoached after a playoff loss a season ago. Barber said Coughlin's physical demands wore him down -- and that over time the coach came to understand that. "There'd be days where I couldn't move on Tuesday or Wednesday at practice, and he'd get mad at me for going half-speed," Barber said. "And I told him, 'Coach, I can't do it. I'm gonna be out here, I'm never gonna miss a practice, but I can't give you what you want all the time.' And he understood." "We were in full pads for 17 weeks, and with the amount of injuries that we had, it just takes a toll on you. You just physically don't want to be out there when your body feels the way you do in full pads," Barber told reporters. "And while it probably doesn't have a really detrimental effect on how you practice or how you play, it does on your mind. And if you lose your mind in this game, you lose a lot. And that's something that [Coughlin] has to realize. And I think he does [now]." Barber acknowledged that he had some of his best seasons under Coughlin, and that he might not have done so without him. But he still thinks Coughlin needs to change his approach. "He has changed in little ways, but I think he still has to more," Barber said. "The game has changed, players are different, and you have to understand them and get to know them in order to encourage and motivate them to be successful. We'll see what happens this season." Barber laid the groundwork for a broadcasting career while still active in the NFL. He was a correspondent for the Fox News Channel morning program "Fox & Friends," and has two programs on Sirius Satellite Radio, one on general topics and another on football that he does with his twin brother, Ronde Barber of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Few other novice broadcasters would get such a lavish introduction to their new business: a news conference attended by NBC Universal President and Chief Executive Jeff Zucker, the presidents of NBC News and Sports, and "Today" co-host Matt Lauer. Zucker compared Barber to Joe Garagiola, another "Today" personality with a sports background, and former Giants star and longtime broadcaster Frank Gifford. Barber "pops through the screen" and is incredibly popular with women, who make up the bulk of the "Today" show audience, Zucker said. "He's incredibly handsome, he's incredibly charming, he's incredibly personable and he's incredibly smart," he said, "and that's a rare quality." NBC News President Steve Capus also said Barber came with a backup. "On those days when you're not feeling well, we'll just call Tampa Bay and get your brother," Capus said.
Posts: 6,009

02-14-2007, 01:42 PM	#3
Sam Hall UNSTOPPABLE Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: KC area Casino cash: $9895185	I could torch Tiki for not scoring touchdowns for my fantasy team. I was eliminated by the time he decided to have a huge performance. __________________
Posts: 8,137

02-14-2007, 01:59 PM	#6
ck_IN Feels so good. Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10004900	Is it just me or does some of this sound like what Roaf was saying about DV? I'm not drawing any comparisons, I just find it interesting. __________________ As sweet as Tupelo Honey
Posts: 2,718

02-14-2007, 02:29 PM	#8
big nasty kcnut The pizza king of kansas Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Somewhere in the u.s.a. Casino cash: $1580900	I heard he was a prize for today have sex with tiki day. __________________ When it's grim, be the grim reaper and go get it. Adopt a chiefs Travis Kelce. You woke up the wrong mother****er!
Posts: 18,848

02-14-2007, 03:17 PM	#9
Dr. Van Halen Starter Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Missoula, MT Casino cash: $10005005	I don't quite understand the big deal being made out of Tiki Barber. He had two arguably great years, two good years, and a bunch of mediocrity. I saw they did some kind of special tribute to him at the Pro Bowl ... ? He was selected to a whopping TWO Pro Bowls! TWO!
Posts: 824

02-14-2007, 04:49 PM	#10
Jordan Starter Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kansas City, Mo Casino cash: $10004900	Vermil may be a mouse, but COughlin is a rat bast@rd! He's garbage!!!!! __________________
Posts: 119

02-14-2007, 05:28 PM	#12
CoMoChief Mahomes Dynasty Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $8052254	I traded Tiki and Shockey and Chi defense for Gates, Steven Jackson and Reggie Bush. That was a set up trade because I knew this guy in my league loved JAckson, and he had LJ. Everything worked out great for me.
Posts: 39,158

02-14-2007, 09:23 PM	#15
Marlboro_Chief Banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Casino cash: $10004900	I miss the old culture of the NFL. Players had pride. They were tougher. Tiki is the classic example of a spoiled and pampered pansy. Yeah, Coughlin is a hard ass, but so was my high school football coach. I didn't have any room to whine about it, I had to suck it up and deal with it like a man.
Posts: 198