Sports - This is Eli's team

Though Fassel’s teams put up impressive statistical numbers, his game decisions often left us all scratching our heads.

With Fassel gone, it looked like the Giants might select one of the two New England assistants - Charlie Weis or Romeo Crennel - to be the new coach. Instead, they chose Tom Coughlin, who despite several playoff appearances, has been a disappointment.

For some reason, Coughlin was brought back this season and I had refused to go anywhere near Giants camp at UAlbany until I received a call from friend, Michael DeSantis, Tuesday morning, two days before the final practice session. Mike had two V.I.P. passes and I knew a press credential would get me to Coughlin.

We also happened to pick a day to go in which quarterback Eli Manning was responding to disparaging comments made by retired running back Tiki Barber that questioned his leadership abilities. Manning had spoken earlier in the day and Coughlin wasn’t saying much about the controversy.

“That’s Eli’s business,” Coughlin said. “I think that he thought about what he was going to do and he decided he’d say exactly what he felt. More power to him.”

I like what Coughlin said because there has definitely been proof around this camp that Eli is ready to be the team leader. It may have a lot to do with Barber’s departure and also an overall growth in maturity.

“We’ve talked a lot about dealing with distractions and I think this group has done a good job of staying focused,” Coughlin said.

We’ll see how long that focus lasts when the losses start piling up. Coughlin has surely lost control of this team before. I can’t recall a team with more in-fighting, especially a Giants team, in recent years.

My friend, Mike, got a hat signed by Coughlin and wide receiver Amani Toomer, who is probably entering his final season before retirement.

I told Mike that the two people who signed the hat have something in common - neither will be here next year.

I’m hoping that Eli can overcome the shortcomings of his coaching staff and at least put the Giants in the playoff hunt in the embarrassingly weak N.F.C. I might be asking too much, but that’s why they play the games, so stay tuned.

Sports editor Eric DeGrechie can be reached at 581-2480 and edegrechie@saratogapublishing.com.