Tom Coughlin wasn’t panicking as the ball slipped out of Eli Manning’s hands. Not as it squibbed on the ground while Manning, the only player in blue running after it, had a pair of Patriots defenders bearing down on him. Not even when Manning dove head-first with an outstretched hand to knock it onto the New England sideline.
In the middle of a chaotic play somewhat reminiscent of the one against the Jets last month that resulted in a three-inch gash on his franchise quarterback’s head, the Giants’ coach could think about only one thing.
“My No. 1 concern was how did the ball get out?” Coughlin said following the Giants’ preseason-closing 20-17 victory over the Patriots. “You work so hard to clear traffic that sometimes he loses control of the ball. I was very happy there was no one right on top of him.” (ledger)
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