Tom Coughlin has ‘hard feelings’ after his exit from the New York Giants

Tom Coughlin stepped down as coach of the New York Giants back in January. That’s what we were told anyway.

But would a guy who simply resigned on his own after a fourth straight season without a playoff appearance say something like this:

“Don’t think that there aren’t some hard feelings there. There are. That’s just natural. I just try to control them when the moment is right.” That was Coughlin on ESPN Radio’s “The Michael Kay Show” on Tuesday.

Or this:

“Hey, do I agree with the move? Of course not. I don’t. It hurts, it hurts. ‘Former’ is not a good word. I don’t like the word. But, nevertheless, that’s the way it is.” That was Coughlin on Fox Sports Radio’s “Jay Mohr Show” on Tuesday.

Coughlin’s comments seem to make it clear that the decision to leave wasn’t his and that he’s not happy with the situation.

But the man who led the Giants to two Super Bowl victories as head coach and helped them win another as an assistant wanted to make it clear that he didn’t snub team co-owner John Mara at the farewell news conference — even though that’s definitely what it looked like.

“I did not snub Mr. Mara, if that’s what you are insinuating,” Coughlin said to Mohr. “That’s the way I leave the press conferences. Why should I hang around to answer one more less than glamorous question?”

He also told Mohr: “My relationship with Mr. Mara is the same it’s always been — very respectful, very professional, very, very proud to be a Giant.”