New York Giants running back David Wilson spent the majority of last season in coach Tom Coughlin's doghouse after fumbling in the season-opening loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Backfield partner Andre Brown realizes the same fate could await him if there's a repeat of his muffed pitch from David Carr in Saturday's 18-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I know I can be in the doghouse when you fumble the ball, especially with coach Coughlin," Brown said, via Newsday. "I know he's going to be on me this week about holding onto the ball and my protection."
Coughlin predictably was perturbed about Brown's careless turnover.
"His eyes never went to the ball," Coughlin said. "He never looked at the ball. He was looking at the rush and fumbled the ball. By the time he got to where he started looking for the ball, the defenders were on him."
Although Coughlin called the fumble "disappointing," it's telling that Brown remained in the game for the next series, allowing the running back to get back in the flow of the game.
Fair or not, Brown is not going to be banished to the bench in the same fashion that Wilson was last season. The coaching staff has more faith in his mastery of football fundamentals, especially in pass protection.
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