Depending on what you've read or who you're listening to there are mixed opinions on why Tiki Barber retired early, while still playing at a peak level. Most of those reports allude to Barber tiring of Tom Coughlin, and in some way, wanting to stick it to his former coach by leaving him without a running game.
From his book:
"If Tom Coughlin had not remained as head coach of the Giants, I might still be in a Giants uniform. [Coughlin] robbed me of what had been one of the most important things I had in my life, which was the joy I felt playing football. I had lost that. He had taken it away."Isn't it funny how it's always the player most loudly speaking out against the coach that turns out to be the team's real problem. Truth is Tiki was robbing Coughlin of the most important things in his life - mental toughness, team chemistry and Super Bowl appearances.
I wish more of these ESPN First Take segments were available for post season evaluation. Unsurprisingly, Rob Parker looks like a dope citing Coughlin as the source of all problems and not being a very good football coach (granted, I might have said a few bad things about him last year, too), while hindsight says Skip Bayless took the correct approach.
The Giants have always been a very talented team, easily among the most talented in the NFC. What they lacked was player leadership and a belief in one another. Barber provided a great rushing attack, but he got in the way of allowing those more important winning traits to bloom.
Credit Tiki in a round about way for the Giants success this season. He really stuck it to Tom Coughlin, didn't he?
(p.s. 7th round draft pick Ahmad Bradshaw appears to be quite a find.)
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