Giants' Coughlin Puts Focus On Field Ahead Of Big Game

By: Kevin Garrity

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New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin says he's trying to keep his players' focus on the turf as Sunday's big game fast approaches.

Done with media obligations, the players are hitting the field for their final practices.

The big news out of Indianapolis Friday was that Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski practiced for the first time since suffering a left high ankle sprain in the AFC Championship.

He's expected to play Sunday.

With players on both teams expressing some bravado in meetings with reporters this week, Coughlin says it all comes down to preparation.

"Our team has played good football against great football teams and we always quote to our team, ya know: 'Humble enough to prepare confident enough to perform.' And that's the way we look at it," said Coughlin.

Over 16 years as a head coach in the NFL, Coughlin has had his ups and his downs. He has survived rumors of being fired, won a Super Bowl and is now on the brink of his second Super Bowl victory after another season where many had him on the chopping block.

There's also talk of a future in the Hall of Fame if he wins his second title on Sunday.

Coughlin, who has always been known as a strict disciplinarian, has also changed over the years, adjusting to the ever-growing number of ego's in today's NFL.

"You better have an ability to self-analyze, make it honest, try to adjust, try to do the things that you think will make your presentation, your team respond better to you. You better do that on a yearly basis," Coughlin added.

"You always hear speculations of, you know, 'We're not doing so good, so Coach Coughlin might be here. And it's something that I take, you know, extremely personal. Because Coach Coughlin's not out there playing the game, we're out there playing the game," said Giants Safety Antrelle Rolle.

The Giants finished poorly the last two years so Coughlin decided to come up with a theme this season and it was one simple word: Finish. And that is the message Coughlin says he plans on instilling all the way up until game time.

Sunday's kick-off time at Lucas Oil Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m.