INDIANAPOLIS -- The New York Giants are at the point in their offseason where they're working to bring back many of their key people. Right now, that includes their head coach and two top defensive players.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin spoke to the media Thursday at the NFL scouting combine and addressed all of those issues, including his own contract status. Coughlin has one year left on his contract, but as the Giants did last year, it appears they are working on a one-year extension that would keep Coughlin from heading into 2015 as a lame duck. A source close to the situation said Thursday that was the likeliest outcome, and Coughlin hinted that way as well.
"I think that part of it's underway," Coughlin said. "Hopefully shortly you'll have some information about that. I don't think it's any big mystery. You don't have to be overly concerned about anything secretive. There's nothing to it."
Coughlin also is well aware that a one-year extension to his current deal wouldn't mean he's safe if the Giants miss the playoffs again in 2015.
"There's 32 guys that coach one year at a time, and that's the way it is," Coughlin said. "I don't care how many years you've got on your contract."
As for the players, the Giants' top free agent is 26-year-old defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. The team is discussing a long-term deal with Pierre-Paul, but sources with knowledge of the situation have said several times over the past few weeks that the team is leaning toward using the franchise-player designation on him if it can't get a deal done by the March 2 deadline for designating a franchise player. The franchise number for defensive ends this year could be close to $15 million.
"We are convinced that we want him back, without a doubt," Coughlin said. "And there's been a lot of different discussions. Hopefully he's going to remain a Giant. The goal is for him to be a Giant and play as a Giant forever and retire as a Giant. How that works out is another issue."
As is the status of 32-year-old safety Antrel Rolle, who's also eligible for free agency after completing a very successful five-year contract that included a couple of years as a Giants team captain. The team has discussed a new deal with Rolle, who's clearly become a Coughlin favorite.
"He's an outstanding young man, and really to be honest with you, I've never come across a player that was more interested in his team and trying to help his team get better any way he could," Coughlin said. "I think countless Tuesdays, Antrel was in my office with, 'How can we get better? What can we do to get better?' Just thoughts going back and forth between coach and player in terms of how our team could improve. I don't think I've ever been involved with a player who was more sincerely interested in how his team could improve, and I admire that very much in him as a young man and as a leader.
"Certainly we'd like him to come back. We do have financial restrictions involved."
Free agency begins March 10.