Giants punter Matt Dodge still has a job after disastrous game

Who can blame Matt Dodge for hoping the turf would swallow him up? (AP photo)

Even though his punter did exactly what he was told not to do and punted to DeSean Jackson -- with disastrous results -- New York Giants Coach Tom Coughlin is sticking with the rookie.

"I told him to get his dauber up. We've got to move on," Coughlin, evidently an insect enthusiast, said. "That's over, you can't do anything about it. You've got to figure out how to do the things I ask you to do. He's no more to blame than me or anybody else."

It was a nightmare for Dodge, when Jackson fielded his punt (which should have gone to sideline) and returned it for the game-winning touchdown. Dodge's parents were in town to celebrate Christmas.

"It's good. I'm still here obviously," Dodge said when asked how he was doing. "I came in and my locker was still here. So that was good. I'm a confident guy, regardless. Football doesn't define me. I know it's my job and everything, and I didn't get it done. But I still walked out with my head high.

"I had family here, loving on me, and I actually had my pastor from back home here last night. So it was good. I had a lot of support."

He huddled with General Manager Jerry Reese and Coughlin, who did not indicate whether any punters might be brought in for tryouts.

"We didn't have much of a discussion about that," Coughlin said. "We had some things we talked about. We went down as we always do, Jerry and I, every game. That was one facet of it but no more than any other facet of it. As I said there were plenty of opportunities to win the game."