After a game that could not get any crazier, it certainly did. After a Michael Boley interception left the Giants with the last possession of the game, Eli Manning and the Giants’ offensive line lined up to take a knee and let the clock run out. Sounds pretty normal. It is pretty much how every other NFL game ends. Well, leave it to Greg Schiano and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to challenge that. Apparently, as the Giants went to take a knee, the Buccaneers pushed him and he landed on his back. Eli walked off the field without saying anything (Eli has never been one for controversy), but that did not stop his head coach for sticking up for his main guy. “I don’t think you do that at this level,” Coughlin said after the game. “You don’t do that in this league. You don’t jeopardize the offensive line, you (don’t) jeopardize the quarterback. Thank goodness we didn’t get anybody hurt, that I know of, a couple of linemen were late coming in (after end of game).” Coughlin makes a point. There was no way for the Bucs to score unless the Giants fumbled, which they were not going to do so there is no need for the overaggressive style of play. It is only asking for injury, something the Giants had enough of today. Manning did have this to say, “That was a first. Obviously I think it is a little bit of a cheap shot. Going down, we are taking a knee, in a friendly way. They are firing off, and it’s a way to get someone hurt.” It seems like everyone really is after the champs this year. It is one thing to want to win, but that is not the way to do it.
