Blame must be placed for the 0-5 start by the New York Giants, but head coach Tom Coughlin is not ready to put it all on quarterback Eli Manning. As Week 6 of the NFL approaches, Giants fans certainly did not see this type of start coming, especially from a team that has won two Super Bowls in recent memory. However, something is not right and people want blame.
Manning has thrown a league-high 12 interceptions. Coughlin understands that fans believe the quarterback is the reason for the terrible start, but he would rather take responsibility for the downfalls on the team instead of letting Manning take all the heat.
"I can understand what the football world may think," Coughlin said, via Conor Orr of the Newark Star-Ledger. "Actually, what should happen is people should shift [the blame] to me. The guy is trying to play the best he can. He's certainly trying to do too much. He knows his team, and he knows his responsibility."
After looking at the stats, it is hard not to blame Manning. His 65.8 passer rating is good enough for a 42nd ranking, and he is 43rd in completion percentage. Coughlin noted that he and Manning had a discussion about the direction of the team for the remainder of the season. He stressed that while the Giants are putting together a historically bad season, Manning cannot shoulder the blame.
"I know that we're maligning my quarterback today, and believe me, there's a bunch of people involved in that. Those things don't happen just one-on-one now," Coughlin said. "It's a team concept. Whether you have a pressure situation, whether you have somebody that comes loose in front of him and he tries to move, whether the receiver doesn't do what he's supposed to do, whether people don't come back for the ball ... whatever it is."
Many teammates are speaking up in favor of Manning. Wide receiver Victor Cruz notes that he is proud of Manning for remaining positive each week. Cruz believes his leadership is going to help the Giants in the long run. He also understands that part of the blame falls on him, noting all 11 players on the field have played a role in this start.
"(Manning) is so proud of the way he plays and wants to play great each and every week, and when things go the opposite way, the type of person he is, he takes a lot of that blame. But that's not the way it is. It's everyone. It's the receivers. It's the offensive line. It's everyone that's to blame," Cruz said.
Manning has just simply said that losing is no fun. With the way the NFC East going up and down, he holds out hope the Giants can make a late season run.