‘ All in’ team set to deliver

Giants buying into Coughlin’s methods

EAST RUTHERFORD, N. J. — The New York Giants’ are Tom Coughlin’s team.

The Maras and Tischs own the NFC champions. General manager Jerry Reese built them and made them Super Bowl ready.

This team though is all Coughlin. The expression the players have used in their recent fivegame run to the title game is “all in,” and it’s all in Tom’s way. They have bought in 100 per cent with their 65- year- old coach, and he is enjoying every single second of it.

When the Giants ( 12- 7) ended the Patriots’ 20- game regularseason winning streak at home in November, Coughlin was hoisted in the air by his players. He loved it.

When they went through a four- game losing streak right after that, he kept them together. And when they won Sunday, they all hugged.

Speaking on a conference call Monday, Coughlin said he has a special feeling and a special vibe for this team, which has overcome injuries and adversity to reach the Super Bowl.

“I talk about an atmosphere that has been created, the cooperation between the players and the coaches and the harmony that is a great feeling that exits,” Coughlin said. “It has been that type of feeling that has sustained us over the course of the year, but even more; that has seen people grow closer together.”

Coughlin senses a true bond among the players.

“On Saturday night they were locked in as well as any team that I have ever been associated with,” said the coach who led the Giants to a Super Bowl win over the Patriots in 2008. “You could hear a pin drop in the meeting rooms when I visited. It started out with special teams, then offence and defence. I walked around and I listened to the meetings. You could really feel and sense the focus and concentration.”

Looking toward the Patriots, Coughlin said the Giants’ last game with New England seems like it took place a long time ago. He also noted Tom Brady and company are riding a 10- game winning streak.

“They are an outstanding football team,” Coughlin said. “Without question to be able to play at home and beat a Ravens team that was playing so well and so physical and so on, they are playing very, very well.”

Defensive end Justin Tuck said the Giants came into the playoffs playing their best football.

“We were a team, I felt, going into the playoffs, that no one wanted to play,” Tuck said in an interview with WFAN. “We wanted to play the 49ers. We wanted to play Green Bay. We wanted the competition.”

Coughlin says his team knows what it wants.

“I understand young people and all that goes with that, but these guys have been able to really create a very strong business- like approach to what they’re doing,” Coughlin said.

The Giants will practise Thursday, Friday and Saturday and head to Indianapolis Monday for a second Super Bowl match in four years.

“For us, you relish it, because I’m four years older now,” Tuck said. “And when you first get there, you think you’re going to go every year. Now, you realize nothing’s promised to you. And it’s tough to get back. So, this is a special opportunity.”