Tiki Barber: Love him or Hate him?

Loved him as a player, hated him after he retired.

Now... Just indifferent.

hate him as a commentator, don't know him as a person, so I won't comment.

He's the single best Giant RB I've ever seen (I was too young to see Gifford play), and I'm not sure anyone else is close. He's also one of the worst commentators I've ever seen. The infomercial he does with Ronde for DraftKings is beyond embarrassing.

I always liked him as a player. I did not like some of the things he later said about the Giants. Hate though does not enter the conversation for me.

I was one of those guys who had a good chuckle at all of his misfortunes after football. Having his foot in his mouth after his Eli comments, his broadcasting career turning to ash, being booed by Giant fans and missing out on getting a ring by a year.

But as time has gone on, I've let all of that stuff go. I only think about the player Tiki was on the field and not the things he said when he was off it and no longer a part of the Giants. At his peak, he was the best RB I've ever seen in a Giants uniform and the best we've had. It's a shame that he walked away at the top of his game. He could have had a shot at the HoF with a few more years like he was having at the time.

I don't hold any of the BS against him anymore. He's been piled on enough since then. He was a great Giant.

Starting to re: Phil too which is even worse to me. I can't listen to Phil call a game.

Once TC cured his fumbling, he became one of my favorites. But then he started opening his mouth, and all of that goodwill went out the window. For me, the way he left overshadowed his play on the field. And I was at Fedex in his last reg season game where he carved up the Deadskins. What transpired after he retired he was an unfortunate chain of events much of which was not in his favor. Again as a former fan of his, it was sad to see him shunned out of the limelight trying to find somebody to interview after the 07 SB win.

He should be hailed as an all time great Giant, but he killed any chances of that.

In comment 12501871 arcarsenal said:

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I was one of those guys who had a good chuckle at all of his misfortunes after football. Having his foot in his mouth after his Eli comments, his broadcasting career turning to ash, being booed by Giant fans and missing out on getting a ring by a year. But as time has gone on, I've let all of that stuff go. I only think about the player Tiki was on the field and not the things he said when he was off it and no longer a part of the Giants. At his peak, he was the best RB I've ever seen in a Giants uniform and the best we've had. It's a shame that he walked away at the top of his game. He could have had a shot at the HoF with a few more years like he was having at the time. I don't hold any of the BS against him anymore. He's been piled on enough since then. He was a great Giant.

This pretty much sums it up well

but he really made enemies among his former fans with all his critical comments about Eli and his former team. As time has passed I have forgiven his comments and I hope he can find some success on television.

I loved his play as a player, he was definitely a favorite when i was a teenager. He handled himself really poorly after retiring which made me not care about him at all.

At the end of the day he didn't cause anyone harm like other clowns in the NFL, so I don't hate the guy or anything. Just think he said some foolish things on his way out the door.

Feel bad for him after he left the field. That's about it.

Turns out that he wasn't such a great teammate and he took some jabs at the Giants after he retired - so that soured my opinion of him.

Not a great guy.

Neither love him nor hate him.

Coughlin came along. He had his three best years under TC...rushing for almost half of his career total rushing yards in three years under Tom. Tom also cured him of his fumbleitis.

Then he rips Coughlin and quits. Tiki, to me, is like Plaxico Burress...I will never forgive either of them for the stupid antics they pulled and how they tried to undermine the franchise and pull it down. Burress was more successful in terms of ruining what would have been back to back Super Bowls.

Barber turned out to be, put simply, an ASS!

RH is my favorite all time Giants RB. In his first three or four years he was the best RB I've ever seen in blue. He could do it all. Dan Reeves will always be hated for the way he misused RH, and for releasing Eddie McCaffrey.

after football, just with the history of those two and all...

Seems like a interesting dude. I hated his shots at Eli, but as time passes, I've forgiven him.

Tiki was arrogant as hell, using words that he didn't really need to to prove he wasn't a sterotypical jock. He went to UVA after all.

I would never have guessed 92 would have a better broadcasting career than 21.

...of the modern era Giants.

I'm always taken aback by the badmouthing, while LT - with his drug issues and the bizarre crap with the 16 year old prostitute is canonized for sainthood.

Kiss my ass - TIKI WAS THE BOMB.

He earned the right to say whatever he wanted in the greatest seasons I've ever seen from a Giants player.

The number's he put up in his waning years were staggering.

Give him an inch, he took a mile.

Over him.

are we this bored ?

because he deserves to be looked at in the same light as the all time greats.

He was invited (along with Shockey of all people) to be at the deathbed of Wellington Mara. That sacred trust and he should have never thrown Coughlin and Eli under the bus like that.

He paid mega Karma points for that.

His peak was off the charts. His arrogance at the end of his career and after just revealed him as a fool. No reason to hate him for that.

I looked at him as one of the team’s model citizens and real team player. He was a great running back, a role model for other players, dedicated to being great, a money player, and a team leader; one of my favorite Giants. Towards the end (and after), he became very selfish and it became all about Tiki. I don’t know if he changed, or if we just didn’t see the real Tiki until then. Now I just look at him as a real selfish creep.

Care about what athletes do on the field since I don't personally know them. Guy busted his ass and was classy to opponents. Loved him.

In comment 12501898 shabu said:

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are we this bored ?

Absolutely. There's been nothing newsworthy at all today. Sucks.

after tomorrow night.

He seemed like an arrogant dude who made bad decisions in his personal (and professional) life.... but I loved him as a player and still do. He was the best all around RB that the Giants have had since I have been a fan.

loved him as a player and hated him after he retired.

We need another back that can get us yards like that. I remember the year he had like 1800 plus yards rushing! What a running game like that would do for this offense. I think Vereen is quite capable, however I don't think he would hold up to the rigors of being the bellcow.

The last season and after ruined that for me. Still can't believe how he threw away the keys to the castle. Should have been so easy to be a forever beloved Giant and a big success off the field. Almost had to try to screw that up.

That sounds cliched these days but that's my biggest issue with Tiki. He's one of the very few players that doesn't represent it. Shockey and Plax are two others that directly come to mind. But out of the three Tiki represented it the best while with the team and no one did more to burn those bridges once he was gone. Hate is indeed a strong word but I don't want to see him in any capacity or any affiliation with the team.

we'd be skewering the Redskins.

It's a damn shame that what he did for the team is largely forgotten because of his big mouth and poor decisions in his personal life.

In comment 12501884 Curtis in VA said:

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Turns out that he wasn't such a great teammate and he took some jabs at the Giants after he retired - so that soured my opinion of him.

That's about where I stand.

BTW - Shane Vereen looks a lot like a do it all back to me.

and he refined Tiki into a very good back, one that was to be feared by the other team.

And I don't mind the way he retired even though it was pretty self-centered. But he committed the biggest crime of all, he bashed the NY Giants on the way out the door. Before that, he was loved by the fans, the media, by Wellington, by everyone... and for him to bash the team and Eli was unforgivable to many fans.

Tiki might be forgiven.... someday..... after Tom and Eli are gone but he will never regain what he threw away, the love of the fans of the NY Giants.

But he's nowhere near as strong a pure runner as Tiki was. It's not even a contest, really. Tiki could run between the tackles and gain tough yards.

how cool would it be if Vereen suddenly went from a third down back to one of the best in the league, like Tiki did.

but I do feel a little bad about how his promising career went south so quickly.

Giants offensive line to do that.

In comment 12501931 Curtis in VA said:

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how cool would it be if Vereen suddenly went from a third down back to one of the best in the league, like Tiki did.

Maybe if he starts running up the Ramapo mountains with Greg Comella there's a chance :)

Both about the same size and build.

No, no... I wont do it. =)

I am ONLY interested in how they perform on the field and Tiki was terrific. There have been MANY worse people who have played for the organization and some are worshipped here. Tiki was outspoken and said some things he shouldn't have but when he put his Giant uniform on and went on the field,there were few,if any,we had better at his position.

a lot of great runs in that video - he won a lot games on his shoulders alone so how can a giants fan wish he never wore blue. not mad at him but actually sad. he could have run another 5 or more years right into the HOF and the hearts of giants fans all around but be came off as arrogant and smug thinking he was going to be the next frank Gifford of broadcasting - didn't work out that way of course.

when threads like this pop up 1 day before game day....

arrogance humbled"

In comment 12501974 ZogZerg said:

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when threads like this pop up 1 day before game day....

See my 11:56

In comment 12501871 arcarsenal said:

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I was one of those guys who had a good chuckle at all of his misfortunes after football. Having his foot in his mouth after his Eli comments, his broadcasting career turning to ash, being booed by Giant fans and missing out on getting a ring by a year. But as time has gone on, I've let all of that stuff go. I only think about the player Tiki was on the field and not the things he said when he was off it and no longer a part of the Giants. At his peak, he was the best RB I've ever seen in a Giants uniform and the best we've had. It's a shame that he walked away at the top of his game. He could have had a shot at the HoF with a few more years like he was having at the time. I don't hold any of the BS against him anymore. He's been piled on enough since then. He was a great Giant.

this

....

Think people act ridiculous and over the top with the Tiki hate.

Tiki is and was all about Tiki - He was never a team player - and even though he did individually great things as a player he could never embrace the concept of team - and it is not even ironic - it is indicative - that the year after he left the Giants was the first year under Coughlin that the Giants were able to embrace the team concept - he was poisonous for the team

In comment 12501893 x meadowlander said:

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...of the modern era Giants. I'm always taken aback by the badmouthing, while LT - with his drug issues and the bizarre crap with the 16 year old prostitute is canonized for sainthood. Kiss my ass - TIKI WAS THE BOMB. He earned the right to say whatever he wanted in the greatest seasons I've ever seen from a Giants player. The number's he put up in his waning years were staggering. Give him an inch, he took a mile.

This sums how I feel. I'm 1000% with you.

Although I do like the alligator suit on him.

of any Giant ever. Hard worker. Student of game. Best all around offensive player in team history.

Now I just kind of pity him. Tiki worked and SO hard to have the very kind of post-football career that Michael Strahan achieved -- seemingly with ease. While he was still playing, he took broadcasting courses, internships at TV stations in the off-season. He purposely avoided doing football sportscasting (a mistake) because he wanted to be more than that, but he failed to get any real traction due, in part, to lack of charisma. Then he ended any hope of return by cheating on his pregnant wife with a younger woman which made him radioactive. But even with all that, he would PROBABLY have still been a "beloved Giant" had he not attacked Eli in the media. Instead, he alienated the fans who had always cheered him, and were happy to see him play his whole career as a NYG. Now they boo him. But he brought it on himself.

The man totally screwed up his life. It's just sad.

In comment 12501871 arcarsenal said:

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I was one of those guys who had a good chuckle at all of his misfortunes after football. Having his foot in his mouth after his Eli comments, his broadcasting career turning to ash, being booed by Giant fans and missing out on getting a ring by a year. But as time has gone on, I've let all of that stuff go. I only think about the player Tiki was on the field and not the things he said when he was off it and no longer a part of the Giants. At his peak, he was the best RB I've ever seen in a Giants uniform and the best we've had. It's a shame that he walked away at the top of his game. He could have had a shot at the HoF with a few more years like he was having at the time. I don't hold any of the BS against him anymore. He's been piled on enough since then. He was a great Giant.

This. His play on the field could only be described in superlatives, and all that other stuff I really don't care about. I loved watching him play and he is truly a Giant great.

In comment 12501888 That’s Gold, Jerry said:

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Coughlin came along. He had his three best years under TC...rushing for almost half of his career total rushing yards in three years under Tom. Tom also cured him of his fumbleitis. Then he rips Coughlin and quits. Tiki, to me, is like Plaxico Burress...I will never forgive either of them for the stupid antics they pulled and how they tried to undermine the franchise and pull it down. Burress was more successful in terms of ruining what would have been back to back Super Bowls. Barber turned out to be, put simply, an ASS!

This. What he did after he left is of no consequence to me. It is how he actively tried to cause dissention inside the locker room - how he actively tried to undermine Coughlin - that turned Tiki from one of my favorite players/people to the only NY Giant that turns my stomach every time I hear his name. What he did while he was still on the team is something I will never forgive and will hate him forever for putting his personal feelings above what was best for the team. He was - and always will be - a total and complete asshole in my eyes.

in a GMen uniform EVER !!! Some will argue against that but the Giants running game has been pitiful ever since. Please don't blame it on the O line. Our choice in running backs has been horrible. Every RB we've drafted since has either been to slow, can get around the corner or just plain sucks. Bradshaw, Jacobs, Jennings, Vareen, Williams, and Brown were all lucky to gain 3 yards a carry. It makes you appreciate the things Tiki did on the field, I could care less about his off the field antics. Compared to some alla Burress, JPP etc. he really wasn't that much of a train wreck but his on the field performances made you forget about it. It's a shame he had to deal with Fassels incompetence that really shortened his career accomplishments. We'll probably never see a running back rush for 200 again.

In comment 12502101 jripper420 said:

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in a GMen uniform EVER !!! Some will argue against that but the Giants running game has been pitiful ever since. Please don't blame it on the O line. Our choice in running backs has been horrible. Every RB we've drafted since has either been to slow, can get around the corner or just plain sucks. Bradshaw, Jacobs, Jennings, Vareen, Williams, and Brown were all lucky to gain 3 yards a carry. It makes you appreciate the things Tiki did on the field, I could care less about his off the field antics. Compared to some alla Burress, JPP etc. he really wasn't that much of a train wreck but his on the field performances made you forget about it. It's a shame he had to deal with Fassels incompetence that really shortened his career accomplishments. We'll probably never see a running back rush for 200 again.

A football player has to do two things: (1) have talent on the field; and (2) be a positive force in the locker room - be a solid teammate. Tiki Barber failed #2 with flying colors while he was still playing. The last two years he actively tried to undermine Coughlin's authority to the detriment of the team. It's no coincidence that the TEAM won a SB the minute he was gone. He was a complete and total ASShOLE as a teammate which is PART of the role of being a good player. Thus, he would be just about the LAST player I'd want on my team (Barber and Terrell Owens - both cut from the same cloth - both with identical issues - great talent but horrible teammates).

Tiki worked his ass off to fix his fumbling, just like he worked his ass off to stay in peak condition all offseason to remain at his best as he reached ages where most RBs fall off. It's a fucking crock.

Sorry he retired one year before the SB

Tiki had to deal with years of loosing under Fassel and the Giants did very little with the talent around him. If you look at his time with the Giants in the 90's and early 2000's he had to deal with inept offensive schemes by fassel, sub par qb play by Collins, and Graham and to be honest he was probably so disgruntled by the time Coughlin got there that having a authoritarian in Coughlin and a young QB put him over the edge. What exactly happened the year before Tiki retired? We couldn't score a freakin point against philly in a playoff game and Eli was horrible in that game. In the 99 super bowl the Ravens steam rolled Collins and they loaded the box and Barber took a beating. Tiki was a team guy who gave 100 percent until his frustration with the Giants came to a head.

In comment 12501891 Britt in VA said:

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after football, just with the history of those two and all...

Yes. And the first time I remember Tiki being a douche was when he publicly ripped Strahan for holding out during the preseason one year. I remember thinking, how dare he get involved in a teammate's efforts to get paid? That was none of his business and I think it may have been the beginning of his fellow players souring on Tiki.

time. Don't know him on a personal level to dislike him.

.. great talent, played hurt, carried us on his shoulders in a bunch of games.

Amazing player.

In comment 12502130 jripper420 said:

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... Tiki was a team guy who gave 100 percent until his frustration with the Giants came to a head.

I agree. It's the "until" part that you mention that makes him such a fucking asshole. And he was a professional being paid a LOT of money to act like a professional. Instead he acted like a selfish baby. It amazes me that anyone would want someone who actively worked to undermine the head coach on their team. He was pure poison.

Can't stand him.

even without his foolish comments. Hated to see him yucking it up on field with opponents while the Giants were losing. I couldn't believe it. Seemed like he didn't care as much as fans do.

Best back in Giants history, probably. Over 50% of the total offense some years.

Critical dropsies earlier in his career.

Canstandya ...!! TIKI!

Ball, ball, ball!

TC could have been more understanding with Tiki and Shockey,
he cost the Giants 2 very good players.

TC could have been more understanding with Tiki and Shockey,
he cost the Giants 2 very good players.

Gotta take good with the bad. Can't help but suspect his arrogance and obsession with himself drove him to be his best, drove him to not be an after thought when Dayne was drafted,and drove him to not fade away when he couldn't hang onto the ball.

And anyone who didn't know he was a little smarmy wasn't paying attention to him on Fox or interviews. It wasn't a surprise, that's who he always was.

and LT gets cheered, we can safely say there's been a skewing of priorities among the fanbase.

If Tiki doesn't set the team rushing record in his last regular season game, the Giants probably lose, miss the playoffs, and Coughlin gets fired. Putting the odds at winning two Super Bowls in the last 8 years at ???

after Coughlin saved his career fumbling issues left a really bad impression. It became apparent that it was a personal attack when Tiki would make remarks how Coughlin wore him out during practices during the year even though Tiki had some of his best games late in the season.

...broke 200 yards multiple times.

My favorite Tiki game was against the Chiefs, who came with Larry Johnson to teach the Giants what a real back looked like.

Tiki lit it up with something like 260 yards, including one insane run where he got through 7 tacklers.

Great, great back - in space, as good as any ever - excellent receiver.

It was a shame he didn't stick around for one more season. Would've been fun to have him there in 07'

as he was the best Giants RB I've seen. A running threat, catching threat, can pick up the blitz. That 36-0 monster game against the Redskins, I can never forget. That this was the game after Wellington Mara died, a day in which Tiki was personally summoned to be by the Duke's bedside, should have bumped that game into the stuff of legend. Tiki was Wellington's favorite, and that day it showed. Redskins fans were joking that the Giants were being kind by throwing the ball in the 4th.

Now even after he comically mocked Elis rah-rah attempt, I wasn't mad. I let that shit go because Eli actually responded back. Easy Eli can stand up for himself and did when he felt like it. He didn't need me to boo Tiki, or write overly emotional letters about Tiki being a "traitor." I'm actually sad that Tiki's television career didn't take off. Felt dreadful that I watched Tiki be booed by Giants fans.

Although from 2004-2006, Tiki Barber was just unreal. Not only was he the best Giants RB I ever saw during those 3 years, he was the best RB in the league during that time. He racked up an amazing 6,613 total yards (5,040 rushing/1573 receiving) in those three years.

His comments about Coughlin and Eli after he retired, while I didn't like it, I understood why he did so. This was his first real opportunity as a broadcaster and he wanted to show he was impartial. I just thought he could have done so without throwing Coughlin and Eli under the bus.

Where Tiki lost my respect for him and overshadows what he did on the playing field, was that whole leaving his 9 month pregnant wife for an NBC intern. While I respect what he did on the field and will look at and appreciate his playing career with the Giants, I can't see me ever rooting for him like I used to because of those off the field incidents.

People bring up Lawrence Taylor and I have a similar view point of him. Loved the player but can't root for the man because of his off the field incidents.

we have ever had. I loved the guy.

So he fucked up with some stupid comments. Look at what he did for us. Damn, this Tiki hate bullshit is just that. Bullshit.

Was in many ways just as OBJ is now the best player on the Giants during his last years. He is without a doubt the best RB in team history who left the game to go his own way against the coach but it was his choice. I can't hate a player who made me say wow what a great run so many times I can't count. Just as I can't hate LT for his off the field actions how can I hate Tiki just for some verbal knocks against his coach or teammates.

Sure wish we had a back with his skills on our team right now, but no one is even close presently.

Tiki was a stud for us for years and don't ever forget it.

He made some big mistakes in his post-football career, but is also paying the price for them.

Such is life...

In comment 12502449 Montreal Man said:

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we have ever had. I loved the guy. So he fucked up with some stupid comments. Look at what he did for us. Damn, this Tiki hate bullshit is just that. Bullshit.

I couldn't care less what he said after he left the game. The reason he is a fucking asshole is because he actively tried to undermine Coughlin in the lockerroom while he was still a player. FUCK HIM.

Every time his name comes up I remember the good things first and start to soften up a bit and I immediately want to say it's all good now. Then I remember the smugness, the smirk when he called Eli comical. The derision of which he spoke of Coughlin...Nope still dead to me.

the football player. The retirement tour was annoying but he is still the best Giants' running back I have ever seen play.

Maybe he needs a fresh set of Depends, I don't know.

In comment 12502552 Greg from LI said:

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Maybe he needs a fresh set of Depends, I don't know.

Your right. For someone I can't stand, his name sure gets me worked up. I knew better than to open this thread. What really gets me going, however, is how everyone talks about what he did AFTER he retired. Who the hell cares what he did after he retired? That didn't affect the Giants. It's the crap he pulled when he was a player - his disloyalty to the team while he was a player - that I can't forgive - and that gets me all wound up way too tight.

Now I have a headache. Gotta change my Depends and go to bed early.

Geez. I hate when people don't know the freakin difference between "you're" and "your". Idiot.

holding grudges of any kind just makes you a bitter person.

there is on the field Tiki and off the field Tiki.

Proves to be an absolutely awful human being, if you produce for my team in the manner that tiki barber did i love you as a player.

Who the fuck cares what Tiki said off the field or to the camera. Means nothing. I don't even think the locker room drama means much at all either.

Only the media cares about the dramatics and sound bytes.

Never won a championship with would have given him bonus points. His exit has not gone well as he burned some bridges with Giants and had some bad karma coming with the way he dumped his pregnant wife.

I don't hate him. I don't love him. He is just kind of meh.

which would have

In comment 12502586 djm said:

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Proves to be an absolutely awful human being, if you produce for my team in the manner that tiki barber did i love you as a player. Who the fuck cares what Tiki said off the field or to the camera. Means nothing. I don't even think the locker room drama means much at all either. Only the media cares about the dramatics and sound bytes.

well - that's my viewpoint -- I think he's an awful human being -- and I have inside knowledge about it

gidiefor said:

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well - that's my viewpoint -- I think he's an awful human being -- and I have inside knowledge about it

LOL.....gidiefor, you can't leave us hanging like that with your comment. Now I'm curious about what that inside knowledge about Tiki being an awful human being is.

were the TWO BEST GIANT running backs.
GREATEST running back performance for the GIANTS - O.J. Anderson, in the
SUPER BOWL.

In comment 12502364 x meadowlander said:

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...broke 200 yards multiple times. My favorite Tiki game was against the Chiefs, who came with Larry Johnson to teach the Giants what a real back looked like. Tiki lit it up with something like 260 yards, including one insane run where he got through 7 tacklers. Great, great back - in space, as good as any ever - excellent receiver. It was a shame he didn't stick around for one more season. Would've been fun to have him there in 07'

What a game that Chiefs game was. Tiki with all those Housing escapes from defenders. Tommer overpowering a defender so his knee wouldn't go down, then scampering away into the endzone.

did on the field and having met him personally, I thought he interacted with the fans as well as any athlete I have ever met. He has made some bad choices in his personal life that is not my business.

But some of the criticism he gets always seems strange to me.

Comparing him to Shockey? Shockey was an asshole on and off the field who would celebrate his first downs when we were down multiple scores and worse than that, he would screw over the team and Eli by running his own routes during plays.

Criticism of Coughlin? For as questionable as that was, it seemingly was what a lot of players on the team felt. He likely should have kept his mouth shut, but he was responding to why he didn't know whether he'd keep playing-- because he didn't like playing under Coughlin's discipline that he thought was too harsh on veterans. Yet, it was that part of Coughlin that nearly ended his coaching tenure in 2006. Obviously, Tiki was onto something because it became newsworthy that Coughlin softened up and changed his style the year they won the Super Bowl in 2007.

Also, I think it is disingenuous to merely give Coughlin all the credit for Tiki improving his ball security. Not only did Tiki credit Jerald Ingram, but Tiki busted his ass working on it. Plus, I don't remember any drastic improvements in the ball security of any other Giants running back since that time, suggesting it was more than just the coach.

Tiki was one of the greatest Giants we have ever seen both in work ethic and the way he represented the team as a player.

Again, he wasn't perfect, but I still think that a lot of the hatred for him is because he retired on top and didn't play until he developed CTE and couldn't walk. Then again, I still remember how Lions fans resented Barry Sanders for the way he retired, so.

Slow start to his career, Giants draft Ron Dayne and he becomes great. Great on the field, douche in the locker room. Butted heads with Strahan, criticized him for being greedy, something football players very rarely do (dick move). Never liked him after that, but liked his game. Retired early, ready to be media mogul. Fell the fuck off.

In comment 12502052 oldutican said:

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of any Giant ever. Hard worker. Student of game. Best all around offensive player in team history.

Yep. After his second season I thought we would be lucky if he became a more fumble-prone version of David Meggett.

He, uh, certainly exceeded that hope.

hate Tiki. Yeah, he retired somewhat early and wanted to do his own thing. But big. That's his right. If a player wants to retire at age 25 for the sake of concern over his health, that's okay and he gets applauded for it. If a player wants to retire at 31 to pursue another career, he becomes a villain. It's not really fair.

He shouldn't have opened his mouth for the sake of TV drama but it's whatever. It happened a long time ago and it's time to get over it. Who knows, maybe the Giants don't win a super bowl if he's still on the team. He's the one who missed out on a ring.

I don't hate Tiki but I don't love him either. He was a very good Giant and I enjoyed watching him play. That's about it.

Virtually all of the veterans hated Coughlin in 2004-06. That's why he famously made a conscious effort to mellow a bit, created the veteran's council, etc going into 2007. Remember? Strahan didn't much like him before 2007 either.

but rarely Tiki. It's a shame. He was great and could have been one of the all time greats had circumstances been different.
Link - ( New Window )

In comment 12502335 BlackLight said:

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and LT gets cheered, we can safely say there's been a skewing of priorities among the fanbase. If Tiki doesn't set the team rushing record in his last regular season game, the Giants probably lose, miss the playoffs, and Coughlin gets fired. Putting the odds at winning two Super Bowls in the last 8 years at ???

I love both LT and Tiki for the players they were. I would never boo them, but after football they're both shitheads!

He was a great football player for the Giants.

In comment 12502063 David B. said:

Quote:

Now I just kind of pity him. Tiki worked and SO hard to have the very kind of post-football career that Michael Strahan achieved -- seemingly with ease. While he was still playing, he took broadcasting courses, internships at TV stations in the off-season. He purposely avoided doing football sportscasting (a mistake) because he wanted to be more than that, but he failed to get any real traction due, in part, to lack of charisma. Then he ended any hope of return by cheating on his pregnant wife with a younger woman which made him radioactive. But even with all that, he would PROBABLY have still been a "beloved Giant" had he not attacked Eli in the media. Instead, he alienated the fans who had always cheered him, and were happy to see him play his whole career as a NYG. Now they boo him. But he brought it on himself. The man totally screwed up his life. It's just sad.

Well said -- pretty much my view.

interesting

I don't worry about Tiki the personality anymore.

his personality left much to be desired..and pretty much soiled his legacy...

He blew it all in retirement. The way history played out he's a bit of a man without a country.

Eli after SB42.