The scintillating subplot created by the one-year-too-early decision of Giants running back Tiki Barber to retire has created plenty of ammunition for debate and conjecture.

For Ian O’Connor, one conversation on the matter had enough substance to generate two columns — one for the Bergen Record and one for FOXSports.com.

Tiki recognizes that the timing of his retirement and his habit for speaking his mind has given him an unwanted role in the still-unfolding drama.  “I’m Public Enemy No. 1 if you’re with the Giants,” Barber said.  “With every heroic story there has to be a foil, and I’m convenient for that.  I am the f—k ing foil in a Shakespearean play.”

Tiki also claims partial credit for saving Tom Coughlin’s job.  Of course, if Coughlin had been fired Tiki necessarily would have had less insight into the team for which he played, and thus less value to his current employer.  So we doubt that it was a completely altruistic (thanks, Tiki) gesture on his part to want Coughlin to stick around.

On a separate note, why in the hell is O’Conner suddenly the president of the “Forgive Tiki” club?  Barber screwed things up in 2006 by letting it be known in midseason that he would retire, and then he tried to screw things up in 2007 by calling out quarterback Eli Manning.  It’s far too late for Tiki to try to erase those realities.

It’s not surprising, however.  It’s classic behavior of a narcissist.  The only thing that shocks us at this point is that Tiki hasn’t also claimed that his preseason attack on Manning caused the quarterback to toughen up, laying the foundation for his stellar postseason performances.