He's on top of world again

For Coughlin, a super feeling

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Tom Coughlin wanted to talk about the future with his team. But before he did that, the New York Giants coach told his team the feeling he had 17 years ago when he was an assistant on a Giants team coached by Bill Parcells that won the Super Bowl.

"I told the players [Saturday] night that I had stayed away from any personal refrain," Coughlin said after the Giants' 17-14 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. "I told them about my experience in [1991], when you realize that you are the world champion, other than your family and your children and those type of things, professionally, there is no comparison to that feeling. You could walk around 6 feet high and it would be appropriate for our players. When you stop and think about Michael Strahan, when you stop and think about Jeff Feagles in his 20th year and only six times in the playoffs. You start to think about all our veteran guys who know we are world champions and experiencing that feeling for the first time, reinforcing the concept of team, that's the greatest thing in the world for me."

A year ago, more people wanted to bury Coughlin than praise him. His job was in jeopardy. The team seemed in turmoil. And when the Giants lost their first two games this season, that turmoil increased.

But the Giants started to win. They won at home and on the road. And they won in the playoffs - all on the road.

Coughlin, who coached three seasons at Boston College before jumping back into the NFL, knew his team had a chance to beat the previously unbeaten Patriots, even though almost no one outside the inner circle gave the Giants a chance.

"Every team is beatable," he said. "You never know. The right moment, the right time, every team is beatable. That's why it's so difficult and you have to guard against so many different things, emotions. There's no taking anything away from them now."

Old glory

When Feagles punted for the first time with 8:46 to play in the second quarter, he kicked his way into the history books as the oldest to play in the Super Bowl. Feagles, who will turn 42 March 7, began his NFL career in 1988 with the Patriots. He holds NFL records for punts, punting yardage, and punts inside the 20-yard line.

Hero inspires team

Whose name was most mentioned during the weeklong avalanche of Giants media sessions?

Maybe Eli Manning. Perhaps Strahan. Plaxico Burress would be a possibility. But if you opted for Greg Gadson, you'd have a chance at being correct. Gadson is a lieutenant colonel who lost both legs when his vehicle was attacked while serving in Iraq last May, but he has provided priceless inspiration to the Giants during their dramatic 2007 season.

The connection is Mike Sullivan, the Giants' wide receivers coach who was a classmate of Gadson's during their West Point days.

"Here's a guy who is a real hero," said Coughlin. "This is a man who has led soldiers in combat, who has sacrificed a great deal for all of us. He's given up [so much] so that all of us can sleep under the blanket of freedom."

In Week 3 with the Giants 0-2 and facing a game against the Redskins, Sullivan asked Coughlin if he could bring Gadson over from Walter Reed Hospital to meet the team. Coughlin thought it was a great idea and the talk Gadson gave is credited with helping the Giants rally for a season-turning win against the Redskins.

"He always puts the assignment above everything else," said Coughlin. "He has a great passion for his men."

How's the weather?

Coughlin revealed during the week that he had, indeed, screamed at Lawrence Tynes after the placekicker missed a crucial kick late in the NFC Championship at Green Bay. "I actually yelled out, 'How is the weather out there,' " said Coughlin. "Because over on the sidelines, it was cold." Coughlin drew a few laughs as he related the story, but he certainly wasn't happy with his kicker after that miss. The fact that Tynes came back in overtime to convert a kick and win the game tells a lot about his character. "Lawrence does a good job, as some of the veteran players do, of making sure they don't hear a word I say," said Coughlin . . . Tynes conceded during the week that he harbors the same fear all kickers do. "You guys crucified [Scott Norwood] for missing a 47-yard field goal on grass," said Tynes of Super Bowl XXV when the Giants beat Buffalo, 20-19, when Norwood's attempt to win the game went wide. "Everything else he probably ever did in his career was washed [out]. You don't want to be on that side of the story, but if you are, you deal with it." . . . Former Giants stars Lawrence Taylor and Phil Simms were in attendance . . . It was 21 years ago when Simms established Super Bowl records for most consecutive completions (10) and best completion percentage (88, 22 of 25) as the Giants steamrolled the Denver Broncos, 39-20, in the Rose Bowl. The mark was broken a few years later by Joe Montana, who completed 13 straight passes, but Simms still holds the best completion percentage . . . The Associated Press reported the Washington Redskins plan to interview Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo tomorrow about their head coaching vacancy . . . The Giants' inactive list included running back Danny Ware, defensive back Geoffrey Pope, tackle Adam Koets, defensive tackles Russell Davis and Manny Wright, wide receiver Sinorice Moss, and tight end Jerome Collins.

Manning Bowl II

Manning had a special rooting section, with brother Peyton and father Archie at the game. Archie, who watched Peyton win the Super Bowl last year with the Indianapolis Colts, said he hoped for success for his sons in football, but not back-to-back Super Bowl MVP awards. "I never thought about them even playing college ball, much less pro football, much less winning Super Bowls or MVPs," said Archie . . . Owner John Mara, who grew up watching his father, Wellington, run the team like a family business, was also ecstatic. "I'll tell you what, it's the greatest victory in the history of the franchise," said Mara. "Without question." . . . Backup wide receiver David Tyree picked a perfect game to catch his first NFL touchdown pass when he was on the receiving end of Manning's go-ahead TD with 11:05 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Giants a 10-7 lead . . . The Giants are the eighth team to win three or more Super Bowls. The other Giant wins came in Super Bowls XXI and XXV . . . Coughlin is the 26th coach to win a Super Bowl . . . Manning is the second to throw two fourth-quarter TD passes in a Super Bowl win. Joe Montana threw fourth-quarter TD passes to Jerry Rice and John Taylor to lead the 49ers over Cincinnati in Super Bowl XXIII.

Jim McCabe of the Globe staff contributed to this report.