EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- For 12 seasons, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has mastered the art of hiding his emotions, good or bad.
On the day following the end of the Giants' 2015 season, however, Manning let his guard down just a little when talking about head coach Tom Coughlin, who stepped down later in the day.
"He's been a great coach to play for," Manning said, at times tearing up. "I learned so much from him from an early age when I got here and every year after. He's got a great football mind, loves what he's doing and a great example of how you should handle your job and love what you're doing."
Manning, who said that in the past he has made his feelings known to ownership, did not pay a visit to either John Mara or Steve Tish, but did express remorse that the players failed the 69-year-old coach.
Related
Because of that, Manning, who has had the rare luxury of playing his entire career for one head coach, said that making a change "would obviously would not be ideal" and that what happened this year was more on the players than anything.
"I think we, his players, have failed him by not playing to the level we could," Manning said. "We didn't get the job done. So whatever occurs, I'll handle it."
Manning, as well as many of his teammates, said that Coughlin, who has right until the bitter end insisted that this not be about him, gave his usual year-end speech to his players, with whom he met at 11 a.m. ET Monday morning before meeting with Mara and Tish.
"I think he appreciated the players, of our work. He talked about our effort; he didn't question our effort."
Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul said he does not believe the team is in need of a coaching change.
"At the end of the day it's all about players and we didn't do a great job this year," he said. "We didn't give the extra effort and we didn't finish those close games that we had. You go back and see those close games that we needed to be in the playoffs but we didn't finish it off. We played the best of the best and like I said those close games really count."
The Giants will conduct a coaching search, but many believe they may promote offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo to replace Coughlin.
"Also a guy who's taught me a lot of things," wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said of McAdoo. "Having the experience and just being able to teach and we all have learned and grown to know each other throughout this time. It's been a lot of fun."
