Tom Coughlin has a suggestion to those who might wonder if, at 67, he might be getting too old to continue as head coach of the Giants, who are 2-6 at midseason:
Why don’t you see if you can keep up with me?
“You know, if you pin me down on it and I really knew that [questions about his age] was taking place, I probably would say, ‘Come on out here and get with me at five in the morning and see who works harder in the morning, see who’s able to go,’ ” Coughlin said Monday on WFAN. “‘I’ll challenge you’ kind of a thing.
“People can say what they want to say. You’re in this because you love it. You’ve got a bunch of guys together with you that want to fight and want to battle. Has the game passed us by? I don’t think so.”
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General manager Jerry Reese offered no update on RB David Wilson, who has missed the past three games with a herniated disk in his neck, other than to say Williams will undergo more tests early next week.
As for Wilson’s future, Reese said: “I’m not a doctor so I don’t want to stand up here and say something is career-threatening, but anytime you have a situation with your neck and your spine, those are some serious things that you need to take into consideration.”
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After six games, Eli Manning had an NFL-high 15 interceptions and he appeared shaken in his postgame press conference following the sixth loss, in Chicago.
“I don’t see the word ‘shaken,’ I wouldn’t use that word,’’ quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan said. “Frustrated — I would have used that word, that he was frustrated with the performance. He sets a higher standard for himself and for us. So does everybody in this building.’’
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DE Jason Pierre-Paul, coming off offseason back surgery, has only one sack and defensive line coach Robert Nunn admits: “He’s struggled a little bit, but he’s still playing solid against the run. He needs that one breakout play, or one breakout game to get him rolling.’’
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Linebackers coach Jim Herrmann said there was a palpable sense of excitement when Jon Beason walked into the meeting room.
“It’s different and new,’’ Hermann said. “He has a gregarious personality. He’s very easy to get along with. You can tell why he’s been a good leader.’’
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How good can second-year safety Will Hill be? “In my opinion, I think he can be a Pro Bowler,’’ safeties coach David Merritt said. Merritt said the reason Ryan Mundy did not play any defensive snaps versus the Eagles was to protect him from a hip pointer issue, though Mundy did not appear on the injury report. … Offensive line coach Pat Flaherty said he feels rookie Justin Pugh’s future is at right tackle and he has been impressed with the improvement he has seen.