Tom Coughlin Receives Support of Giants Veterans; Needs Support From Bears

The New York Giants, outscored 73-17 over the last 68 minutes, think that the rumors are "absurd" that coach Tom Coughlin might be fired if they miss the playoffs after a 6-2 start and a 9-4 record just two weeks ago.

"If we were out there taking care of our business, there wouldn't be any concern," said Pro Bowl safety Antrel Rolle. "I put it on us as players. The locker room has never left his side."

Guard Chris Snee, who admittedly is Coughlin's son-in-law, was even more baffled by the idea that Coughlin, who guided the Giants to the Super Bowl title in 2007 and to the playoffs in 2005, 2006 and 2008, could be dismissed if they finish 10-6 or 9-7 and don't qualify for postseason.

"Playing for his job?," Snee said. "Two weeks ago no one was saying that. Now two weeks later everyone changes their viewpoint of the guy? It's absurd. We win (Sunday at Washington against whom New York is 8-1 the last five seasons), it's our 10th win. He wasn't the reason that we collapsed in the fourth quarter in Philadelphia. He wasn't the reason we played like we did in Green Bay. But somebody has to take the blame, I guess."

Linebacker Keith Bulluck is in his 10th NFL season but has never been part of a firing since he played the previous nine years in Tennessee, where Jeff Fisher is in his 17th season coaching the franchise.

"You know how much Coach emphasizes specific things and as a team you don't go out and get it done, then it falls back on him," Bulluck said. "I don't think Coach Coughlin tackled any one, caught any passes or threw any passes this year. If you play this game long enough you come to find every one is expendable. But I think Coach Coughlin has been great in the time I've been here.

"I've enjoyed playing for him. So we're going to go out and get this win and hopefully Green Bay will lose and we don't have to talk about that no more."

Handling the struggling Redskins yet again is a task that looks tougher with six starters unable to practice on Wednesday including: Rolle; leading receiver Hakeem Nicks; Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Tuck; center Shaun O'Hara; defensive tackle Chris Canty and cornerback Corey Webster as well as.

The Giants need Chicago, which has already wrapped up the No. 2 seed, to beat the Packers.

"Some people get hot ... at the right time of the year and Chicago's a prime example of that," said Tuck, who had three of New York's franchise-record 10 sacks in a 17-3 victory over the Bears in Week 4.

If that isn't maddening enough, the Giants could finish three games ahead of the Seahawks whom they crushed 41-7 on the road in Week 9 but miss postseason while Seattle hosts a playoff game by winning the NFC West with a home victory over 7-8 St. Louis on Sunday.

"There are a lot of rules in this league that I don't understand and don't necessarily like, but they are there for a reason and you abide by 'em," Tuck said. "If they win their (division), they deserve a playoff berth."

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