---

We can roll our eyes at the control Belichick and Coughlin exert over their teams, and we can seem sure that without independent thinkers like Tiki Barber and Jeremy Shockey and Drew Bledsoe around either team's locker room that it's going to be easier to stay singularly focused. Maybe. But I do know this: The Patriots have bought into Belichick and the Giants, now, have bought into the Coughlin way.

"He's great to me, and he's great for me,'' said Giants running back Brandon Jacobs. "He's one hell of a coach. He treats me like a man. He gets us prepared for everything. What it comes down to with coach is he just wants you to be good. He's going to cut out all the things that take away from your chances to be good."