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If you have been reading the tea leaves around the New York Giants lately the news that Tom Coughlin has been told he will return next season as head coach should come as no surprise.
Word filtered out Sunday that co-owner John Mara was "pleased" with the team's direction and was likely to retain the veteran coach. Coughlin said Sunday that he was "going to go about my business like I always have done until I'm told otherwise."
Looks like no one will be telling him otherwise. And that seems just fine with Giants players who commented on the coach during Monday's "Baggy Day" at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
Punter Steve Weatherford was probably the most eloquent in describing his feelings about Coughlin:
"He's the last person I would like to see go. Not only as a football player and a football team, I've grown so much through his leadership, his guidance and his mentoring. So selfishly I don't ever want to play for anybody else. I love him to death.
"You have to know that you're upgrading when you make a move like that, whether it's a player or a coach. I think he's the best in the NFL, I really do. For me I can't even think about how we would handle it or how I would handle it. I don't want to talk about it, I don't really want to think about it."
From Twitter, here are reactions from a couple of other players.
Prince Amukamara: "We really stand behind Coach Coughlin. We love him to death. I’m sure you would hear that from every player."
— Tom Rock (@TomRock_Newsday) December 29, 2014
Great to hear TC is here to stay! Never doubted!
— Prince Amukamara (@PrinceAmukamara) December 29, 2014
Jon Beason on Tom Coughlin: "He's the best motivator I've ever been around in terms of a coach."
— Ebenezer Samuel (@ebenezersamuel) December 29, 2014
There is also word that GM Jerry Reese is sticking around.
I thought this was clear by their lunch date, but ... A source confirms Giants GM Jerry Reese is returning for 2015, too.
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoNYDN) December 29, 2014
We will find out more Tuesday from John Mara on his reasons for this move, and whether or not Coughlin will receive an extension beyond next year. For now, let's vote. Right move or wrong move?