For the Giants, Signs of Peace Are Gone

Giants Coach Tom Coughlin, upset by a call in Sunday's loss to the Lions, again has a team gripped by tension after he benched linebacker Barrett Green. (Bill Kostroun -- AP)

The truce between New York Giants Coach Tom Coughlin and his players has ended. The Giants' four-game winning streak was halted by Sunday's loss to the Detroit Lions at Giants Stadium, and Coughlin benched Barrett Green after the linebacker reportedly was at least 90 minutes late to work one day during the team's bye week.

Green was one of three Giants players who had grievances filed on their behalf by the NFL Players Association earlier in the season after they were fined by Coughlin for showing up early to a team meeting, but not early enough to suit Coughlin. The tension between the players and their demanding coach eased when the team reeled off one victory after another following a season-opening defeat at Philadelphia, but resurfaced when Green played only on special teams against the Lions, his former club, while Nick Greisen took over at his outside linebacker spot.

Green said after the game that he had been under the impression that he would receive playing time on defense. He called it "probably one of the most frustrating experiences of my life," and added: "I didn't understand it, but it's not my job or my prerogative to."

Coughlin declined to address the issue in detail, calling it a private matter between himself and Green. He said he would have played Green on defense if needed, but he thought Greisen played well. He declined to say whether Green's punishment would last beyond the Detroit game. Coughlin passed on that question again during his news conference Monday, saying he would address the issue when the Giants resume practicing today.

Internal friction spilled out publicly for the Indianapolis Colts this past weekend, too. The team played down a sideline argument between quarterback Peyton Manning and wide receiver Reggie Wayne, caught by the television cameras during Sunday's loss to Jacksonville, that resulted in Wayne lightly shoving the quarterback.

"I don't think it's a big deal," Coach Tony Dungy said during his news briefing Monday. "I think it's been put behind us."

Lions' Reversal

The Lions rank last in the league in total offense and 30th in total defense. They have been beaten badly twice at home, by 17 points by the Eagles in Week 3 and by 28 points by the Packers 10 days ago. But somehow, their rebuilding project is on course after going 10-38 the previous three seasons. They are 4-2 -- including 3-0 on the road, where they had lost an NFL-record 24 straight games entering the season.

"We are just playing real solid football,'' Coach Steve Mariucci said after the 28-13 triumph over the Giants. "We are not turning the ball over on the road, and that certainly helps. The weather doesn't bother us. We haven't had bad weather or anything. The crowd doesn't seem to bother us. The stress and the pressure and the situation don't seem to bother us. It's a complete turnaround. . . . We have just been playing smart football."

The Lions have the NFL's best turnover margin, at plus-10. Third-year quarterback Joey Harrington has 10 touchdown passes and just three interceptions after totaling 38 interceptions and only 29 touchdown passes in his first two seasons. He is the NFC's third-rated passer, behind Daunte Culpepper and Donovan McNabb.

"They're a good team," Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey said Sunday. "They're not the same Detroit team you've seen in the past." . . .

The Denver Broncos have lost tailback Quentin Griffin for the rest of the season. He hurt his knee during Monday night's loss at Cincinnati, and an MRI exam confirmed yesterday that he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Griffin began the season as Clinton Portis's successor but suffered a sprained ankle that provided a chance for Reuben Droughns, who has responded with three straight 100-yard rushing performances. . . .

The game was the Bengals' first appearance on "Monday Night Football" since Oct. 19, 1992. The Arizona Cardinals now inherit the league's longest active stretch of not appearing in a Monday night game, last appearing Sept. 27, 1999. . . .

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook has a broken rib and could miss up to two games, an NFL source said last night. Westbrook, Philadelphia's leading rusher, could miss Sunday's game against Baltimore and the team's Nov. 7 game at Pittsburgh, the source told the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. . . .

Many in the league thought that Coach Jim Haslett could be in jeopardy of being fired Monday if the New Orleans Saints lost Sunday at Oakland. They didn't, but with a 3-4 record, they're on their way to another disappointing season. Haslett wasn't exactly pleased recently when General Manager Mickey Loomis said there would be changes made if the Saints didn't improve.