...UPDATE...
Rotoworld is reporting that QB Jeff Garcia, WR Joey Galloway, WR Ike Hilliard, RB Earnest Graham, and LB Barrett Ruud will all be INACTIVE today against the Panthers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants are a week away from squaring off in the first round of the Playoffs... Both Head Coaches have different approaches going into the final game of their respective seasons:
Head Coach Tom Coughlin elected to start his boys against the New England Patriots and almost pulled off the unthinkable. In that (38-35) loss to the UNDEFEATED Patriots, the Giants lost starting Center Shaun O'Hara, Back-up Safety Craig Dahl, Linebacker Kawika Mitchell, and Cornerback Sam Madison.
Head Coach Jon Gruden, by all accounts, is expected to rest the majority of his starters, namely QB Jeff Garcia, RB Earnest Graham, and WR Joey Galloway among others. With 13 Players on Injured Reserve this season, its no surprise Gruden is electing to play it safe and rest his squad.
If I had to pick a philosophy heading into the last game of the season before the Playoffs, it would be that you have to read and know your team. In Coughlin's case, maybe he knew, had his team played the Patriots close, then that confidence would have carried over to the first round of the playoffs. For Jon Gruden, its a little more black and white. Had Garcia taken another helmet to helmet hit or reaggravated his previous back injury, that first round Playoff game would have been a laugher.
At any rate, we'll see soon enough which Philosophy was the way to go. I have to say, I was confident in our abilities to beat the Giants before last nights match-up with the Patriots. At this point, I'm starting to freak out. How about you?