“Don’t Ask Me That”
August 17th, 2016
Tom Coughlin spent plenty of time with Bucs GM Jason Licht at practice today, before Joe got under Coughlin’s skin with a question about Robert Ayers.
It was common for Tom Coughlin to be rankled by media during his coaching days, especially while winning two Super Bowls with the Giants.
That continued today, when Joe chased down the legendary head coach at the Bucs-Jags joint practice today in Jacksonville.
Coughlin, who turns 70 next week, wanted no part of Joe or any media this afternoon after the more than two-hour practice in the broiling sun. He was laying low in a wide hat and dark glasses, hardly recognizable. But Joe cornered Coughlin and pressed him to talk as players left the field.
Coughlin wasn’t happy, but he gave in.
The subject with Bucs defensive end Robert Ayers, Tampa Bay’s free agent star of training camp. Ayers had 9 1/2 sacks with the Giants under Coughlin last year and has had a massive impact with a work-hard/no-excuses mentality in the Bucs’ locker room.
For days now, Joe has wondered how the Giants let Ayers walk in free agency.
So why not ask Coughlin?
“Don’t ask me that,” Coughlin scolded Joe. “I’m not. I’m not.”
Joe cut off Coughlin and insisted that this was not an attempt to rile the New York media. Joe just wanted to talk about Ayers, and the conversation turned to the impact Ayers has made in Bucs camp.
“Oh, he works. He’s an attitude guy,” Coughlin said of Ayers. “He works hard, you know, he’s a veteran player that knows how to get himself ready to go. Works hard in practice and plays well in games. What more could you want? What you see is what you get with him.”
Joe also had private time with Ayers to talk about Coughlin and found a man who loves his former coach.
“Coach Coughlin is the type of guy, if you bust your behind, he loves you,” Ayers said. “If not, he going to ride you. I feel like I was the type of guy who busted my behind, so I feel like I had a great relationship with him. He’s a hell of a coach. I look forward to seeing him coach again.”
Ayers swore to Joe he’s the same guy with the Bucs that he was in New York, and Ayers said the Giants’ moves in free agency left him at peace.
“They signed [free agent defensive end] Olivier Vernon, one of my favorite guys to watch,” Ayers said. “They made some good moves, so I can’t be mad at them. No hard feelings at all.
“New regime, man. A different vision. It’s the business. Age and a lot of different things factor in.”
There was more beasting from Ayers today in Jacksonvile (to use his favorite verb), where he and Gerald McCoy were dominant in 1-on-1 pass rushing drills against Jags’ O-linemen.
“You definitely could say we had a good day,” Ayers said.
August 17th, 2016 at 1:48 pm
We are not on the same level as the Raiders,Jags,Titans,Vikings,Rams or any other up and coming team you can think of. We are on the heels the better teams in this league.
August 17th, 2016 at 1:50 pm
good stuff joe.
August 17th, 2016 at 1:54 pm
I mean look at Jason Licht on the picture. Facial says “these boys can’t f@$! wit us”.
August 17th, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Seattle,Arizona,Green bay,New England Pittsburgh.. Only advantage these teams have over our’s right now as it stands is playoff experience. No worries tho,we will have our first sample size this season.
August 17th, 2016 at 1:58 pm
got to love a crusty old dude like Coughlin. I would love to hear or read his take on the wussification of football with the limited practices and virtually no hitting. society in general is so soft now. it would be nice for one of these old guys to go off on a rant about the good old days when you had to earn your hug and trophy. sure they would get shredded by the pansy arse media but hell it’t be worth it.
Ayers is exactly what bucs needed. Hopefully he will bring the best out of mccoy without hurting his feelings.
August 17th, 2016 at 2:08 pm
Well even if Sweezy is worthless this FA class already looks better than others
August 17th, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Same guy who led the 2007 team to a world championship…no one gave that team a snowballs chance in Jacksonville on day like today. Ironically, he beat the Buccs along the way to dismantling the undefeated patriots. Buccs need to adapt that 2007 Giants mentality, and work their way back to championship form. The preseason projections of us finishing 7-9 be damned. The best and only surefire way this year to make postseason is taking down the Carolina kit kats. I don’t care if that seems impossible, Buccs need to have the against all odds mindset. We can do it, I know we can.
August 17th, 2016 at 2:35 pm
Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says
“We are not on the same level as the Raiders,Jags,Titans,Vikings,Rams or any other up and coming team you can think of. We are on the heels the better teams in this league.”
I’m a little confused by this statement, Nole.
Are you saying we’re not as good, or that we are better than them?
If better, I agree…except for the Jags. They are, I think, slightly more developed than we are (time wise). Plus, they always seem to have our number.
A win this week would be nice, but if it doesn’t happen, no biggy. I want to stay healthy and see all the real starters on the field at once so we can see the actual chemistry.
August 17th, 2016 at 3:34 pm
C’mon Bonzai you know me better than that I won’t even clarify.
August 17th, 2016 at 5:26 pm
“There was more beasting from Ayers today in Jacksonvile (to use his favorite verb)”
Editor’s Note: “beasting” is a gerund, not a verb:
ger·und (jerənd), noun
“a form that is derived from a verb but that functions as a noun, in English ending in -ing, e.g., asking in do you mind my asking you?.”
Sorry, but that’s still Ayers’ favorite verb, based on how he uses it. –Joe
August 17th, 2016 at 5:37 pm
Right on,Nole.
August 17th, 2016 at 8:54 pm
Was Coughlin flirting with the GM Jason Licht or other way around?
August 18th, 2016 at 8:32 am
I don’t know about that, I think Winston is ahead of Bortles and he has a year on him, Blake will make a couple nice plays and then make a horror throw for a INT. Jamies already is ahead of him when it comes to the mental aspect of the game, wich is where it counts the most. Other than that I think we’re neck n neck. Both have young n Talented offenses and both brought in slot of talent to fix the defense. These guys are mere images of each other.