Coughlin looks like he will survive as Giants coach

[faba]

UPDATED 8 MINUTES AGO New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin pulls on ...

CALDWELL, N.J. - Tom Coughlin will return to coach the New York Giants after the team decided Wednesday that two straight playoff appearances outweighed a sub-par 2006 season and a second consecutive exit in the first round of the postseason, according to a team official.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the team was to make a formal announcement during a noon conference call.

It was not immediately known whether Coughlin was given a contract extension or he will be work the final year of a deal that he signed in January 2004. He was to be paid $3 million under terms of that contract.

Gary O'Hagan, Coughlin's agent, declined to comment when reached by The Associated Press.

The decision came three days after the Giants (8-9) capped a disappointing season with a last-second 23-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC wild-card game.

Coughlin, who has posted a 25-25 record with the Giants, probably will make changes to his coaching staff. What he does to improve the lackluster performance of quarterback Eli Manning remains to be seen. He also has to hope that Brandon Jacobs can step in and replace retiring halfback Tiki Barber.

The Giants started the year with expectations of a legitimate shot at playing in the Super Bowl after winning a division title in 2005. Despite a 6-2 start, that hope turned into a season of discontent, injuries and a second-half collapse that saw New York lose seven of nine games.

Fans were so upset by the team's performance in a 30-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Dec. 24 that they shouted "Fire Coughlin" before walking out early in the fourth quarter.

A year earlier, the no-nonsense coach could do little wrong in leading the Giants to an 11-5 record and an NFC East title.

Coughlin started to run into problems with a 23-0 loss to Carolina in the opening round of the playoffs a year ago. Barber said after the game that the Giants were outcoached. The halfback and coach settled their differences quickly.

The complaint, however, resurfaced early this season when Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey also said the team was outcoached after a one-sided loss in Seattle.

While it created headlines, the stir was short-lived when New York went on a five-game winning streak to reach the halfway point in first place. It seemed a second division title was on the horizon.

Injuries to receiver Amani Toomer, seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan and offensive tackle Luke Petitgout contributed to the free fall that saw New York lose four of its final seven games despite having the lead or a tie in the fourth quarter.

The slide also seemed to indicate that Coughlin's disciplinarian style was wearing thin with the players.

Coughlin made one move down the stretch, relieving offensive coordinator John Hufnagel after the Saints' game and giving quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride the play-calling job.

Barber carried New York to a playoff berth days later with a team-record 234 yard rushing performance in a win over Washington. It gave New York a .500 record, which was good enough for the postseason in the weak NFC.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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[nj meadowlands]

Good... more misery from the other locker room next year

[justincredible]

Man, I wish the Jets would strive to be more like the Giants. Why can't we have a coach that no one on the team respects?

[Maxman]

Man, I wish the Jets would strive to be more like the Giants. Why can't we have a coach that no one on the team respects?

Coles is that you? I think you left out the winkey smiley.

[justincredible]

Coles is that you? I think you left out the winkey smiley.

Haha.