A competitive playoff appearance may have been the only thing that saved Tom Coughlin's job. The New York Giants gave the controversial head coach a one-year extension to attempt to turn around the Giants next season. After a decent season last year, the team was absolutely embarrasing this year, yet somehow made the playoffs still. They lost on a game-winning field goal to the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the playoffs this past Sunday.

"I think he knows we need to do better, that our expectations are much higher," said team co-owner John Mara on Wednesday. "I think we have enough talent on this roster to do better."

After the Giants finished last season as the NFC East Champions with an 11-5 record, the team started off at 6-2 this season. However, they finished the season losing six out of their last eight games. They would have missed the playoffs completely if Tiki Barber had not single handedly carry the team into the playoffs in Week 17 against the Washington Redskins.

"Tom Coughlin is our coach for 2007 and hopefully for many years after that," Mara said. "That is the final decision."

The Giants' owners want results. Coughlin was not surprised that he was retained.

"I did not have any feeling I wasn't going to be retained," Coughlin said in a conference call.

Although it didn't seem like it based on the constant lack of discipline on the field and disrupting player comments in the media, the player's "respect" Coughlin still, according to Mara.

"I don't buy that [players not having respect]," Mara said. "I think there is substantial support for him."

Of course, what else would you expect him to say? "We hired a guy that our coaches obviously don't respond very well to?"

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