EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Jim Fassel didn't use any timeouts in the final minutes of the New York Giants' season-ending loss to the Green Bay Packers because he was concerned about possible injuries.

A couple of Giants players wondered after the game whether Fassel had given up at the end of a frustrating season when he didn't use any of his three timeouts with the Giants trailing 34-25.

New York didn't call a timeout during the Packers' final possession, which started with 2:46 to go.

Fassel also told quarterback Kerry Collins not to call any after the offense got the ball at its own 6-yard line with 1:02 to play in a season that saw the Giants (7-9) miss the playoffs a year after playing in the Super Bowl.

An annoyed Fassel refused to discuss the situation after the game.

He did on Monday, noting that trainer Ronnie Barnes influenced him by walking up to him four times during the game.

The first time was to tell him defensive tackle Keith Hamilton sprained his knee. The same news was later relayed about safety Shaun Williams. Receiver Amani Toomer sustained a concussion late in the third quarter and halfback Tiki Barber injured a shoulder midway through the fourth quarter.

The mounting injuries caused Fassel to weigh the limited chances of success in a meaningless game against the future of the team.

"The first guy who flashed through my mind was Kerry Collins," Fassel said Monday. "It that guy tears an ACL and I am trying to salvage something that I have a very small chance of happening, and he misses the first 10 games, I am not only wiping out this year, I am wiping out next year."

Fassel said he never considered pulling Collins and letting either Jason Garrett or rookie Jesse Palmer finish.

Had the Giants used their timeouts, Fassel said they probably could have gotten the ball back with two minutes to play.

Since the Packers had good field position, New York probably would have had to go 80 yards to score. It then would have had to recover the onside kick and kick a field goal.

Fassel said the chances of that happening were limited.

Still, it raised questions that some in the organization didn't want to touch.

"I don't want to get into it," general manager Ernie Accorsi said. "Let's leave it at that."

Veteran tackle Lomas Brown also was interested in why Fassel didn't push it to the end.

"I don't know if he figured we couldn't get it done," Brown said after the game. "I don't know what happened. Coach has his reasons."

Fassel on Monday was more interested in looking toward next season. He told the team that the offseason training program starts March 25 and he expects everyone there.

Cornerback Jason Sehorn (knee) and punter Rodney Williams (wrist) will have surgery in the next few weeks.

"We have to go back to work," Fassel said. "There is nothing we can do about the past."