Tiki Barber has tried to set up a face-to-face meeting with New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin in an attempt to bury the hatchet, but Coughlin won't accept one, the franchise's all-time leading rusher told ESPNNewYork.com's Ian O'Connor during an interview on ESPN New York 1050.

"We tried. He said no, through his agent, (Giants vice president of communications) Pat Hanlon," Barber said. "But one of these days I'm sure it'll happen, because as we know, time heals all wounds. And I think at the end of the day, Giants fans, despite their dislike of me at times, know that I was one of the guys that put (it) on the line every time I put on my uniform."

It has been well-documented how Barber never saw eye-to-eye with Coughlin during his playing days, and the two eventually had a falling out. Barber had said in the past that it was the Coughlin's militant and "demeaning" coaching style that drove him from the field into the broadcast booth. On Nov. 29, a day after the Giants were blown out by the Saints in New Orleans, Barber wrote an online column criticizing Coughlin.

"I took pride in what I did. I knew there were 52 other guys counting on me every week," Barber replied when asked why he was able to rise to the occasion on Sundays despite his rocky relationship with Coughlin. "One issue I've ever had with Tom is he never respected that. He always tried to vilify me."

One player who's earned Barber's respect is quarterback Eli Manning.

Barber, who once questioned Manning's leadership capabilities, said his ex-teammate has greatly improved in that department, and is no longer rattled by adversity.

Barber even thinks Manning has a chance to outplay Aaron Rodgers in Sunday's NFC divisional playoff game.