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greatest Test batsman? Thats all subjective.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N. DaShawn Hand Lions Jersey .J. -- New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin will be going into the season with a little more job security. The Giants confirmed Friday that they gave the 67-year-old Coughlin a one-year extension, putting him under contract through the 2015 season. The agreement had been expected since the franchise has a history of not allowing its head coach go into a season as a lame duck. "The Giants have always done that," Coughlin told reporters at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. "That was always indicated to me. I didnt pay a whole lot of attention to it to be honest with you. Weve had a lot of work going on in our business and our building, as you know. So I had great confidence that it would happen, and it did." Coughlin said that his agent and the Giants never talked about getting a longer contract, which is not surprising. The Giants have missed the playoffs the past two seasons and three of four. However, his Super Bowl titles in 2008 and 12 earned him at least another season. Coughlin and the Giants had wanted to get the deal done earlier, but it was delayed while Coughlin reshaped his offensive staff. Coordinator Kevin Gilbride retired after the Giants (7-9) missed the playoffs and two other longtime assistants, running backs coach Jerald Ingram and tight ends coach Mike Pope, were fired. Coughlin also reassigned quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan and receivers coach Kevin M. Gilbride, with Ryan taking over the receivers and the younger Gilbride moving to tight ends. Former Packers assistant Ben McAdoo was hired as the offensive co-ordinator. Coughlin said making the changes was very difficult. "You have coaches that have, in many cases, been with you a long, long time with Kevin (Gilbride) retiring and with Mike (Pope) and Jerald (Ingram) -- they had been with me a long time," Coughlin said. "I have great respect for them. Its never easy. Its very difficult thing for a head coach to do, whether it be a player, whether it be a coach, guys I have respect for. "They were very, very good football coaches. I just felt like in those situations that I needed to make some other changes after Kevin retired in the best interest of our team. And in doing that, were back on track now trying to get ourselves ready for the spring." Coughlin said there will be some noticeable changes to the offence next season, but not everything will change. "I think definitely we would maintain a commitment to the run, and that will be a factor no matter what," he said. "And thats been agreed upon by all. But as far as changes, they may be subtle; there may be some drastic ones. "But the number one thing will be the players, the team, the opportunity to again get ourselves back on track the way we need to be, the ball security issues being first and foremost. The obvious questions being made about the offensive line, well see where that goes. Who knows what that would have been like last year had a couple of our guys been able to stay on the field." The Giants offensive line was decimated by injuries last season. Center David Baas and guard Chris Snee missed much of the season and left tackle Will Beatty broke a leg in the final game. Guard-centre Kevin Boothe is a free agent, backup Jim Cordle will be coming off a knee injury and veteran David Diehl retired. That leaves only tackle Justin Pugh returning healthy after an excellent rookie season. The problems up front had Eli Manning and the offence being described by owner John Mara as "broken" after the season. "Did I agree that the offence was broken?" Coughlin said of the comment. "I certainly agree that some things have to be fixed, lets put it that way. But I wouldnt have used that word." Detroit Lions Jerseys . The Brazilian-born strikers brace drew him level with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo as the leagues leading scorers with 17 goals apiece through 16 rounds. "The important thing is to help the team win, not the goals," Diego Costa said. After a first half dominated by defence, Atletico pressed Valencia into its area and Diego Costa did the rest. Devon Kennard Jersey . -- Athletics manager Bob Melvin is already starting to run out of superlatives to describe Scott Kazmir.Alastair Cook is the most mentally strong player ever to represent England, says Nasser Hussain, as the skipper approaches 10,000 Test runs... I dont think there is too much difference from the Alastair Cook with zero Test runs to the one closing in on 10,000.His technique hasnt changed much, while on and off the field he is the same lad - there is no massive ego, hes just the quiet Essex boy who goes about his business. But, for my mind, he is the most mentally strong cricketer England have ever produced.His great mentor, Graham Gooch, was very good in that regard, as were Graham Thorpe, a man who loved heading out of the dressing room with the pressure on, and Michael Atherton - but Cook probably pips it.He has had tough times in career but always responded, including against Pakistan in 2010 when he was almost in a last-chance-saloon situation ahead of The Ashes and scored a hundred.He always challenges himself, never takes the easy road, and is determined to prove people wrong, which is one of his greatest strengths. Cook scored a century on his Test debut in Nagpur in 2006 I have to say that when I first saw him he was this tall, gangly lad with a stiff leg and a heavy head who tended to fall over!It was Keith Fletcher who turned to me and said: Watch out for this boy, hes going to be an exceptional talent, and when I saw him again on his first Test appearance in Nagpur I realised what Fletcher was going on about.To fly out to India that week and get a hundred on debut showed what a good player of spin he was and how strong he was in the mind - I knew then just how special a talent England had and would have for years to come.Nowhere was that more evident than in Australia during the 2010-11 Ashes. Cook dominated Australia in the 2010-11 Ashes, scoring 766 runs at 127.66 Cook went out there under a bit of pressure having only scored one hundred, plus a 95, against Australia in 19 Test innings, but, boy, did he deliver - Brisbane, Adelaide, wherever he went, he smashed it.I doubt he will ever play as well as that.Alastair is one of the best players of a ball above waist high that I have seen in the game - he is exceptionall at cutting, pulling and clipping off his hip. DeShawn Shead Lions Jersey. Plus, his stubbornness means he is fully prepared take six hours to get a hundred, rather than the three that it might take someone like Ben Stokes. Is Cook Englands greatest Test batsman? Thats all subjective. What he is, though, is the best he could ever possibly be and thats what will give him the most pride. Nasser Hussain Is he Englands greatest Test batsman? Thats all subjective - youve got Joe Root now and youve had Gooch, Kevin Pietersen and Geoffrey Boycott in the past.What Cook is, though, is the best he could ever possibly be and thats what will give him the most pride - not being better than anyone else but being the best Alastair Cook.He is a phenomenal player who has worked incredibly hard and hell be around and breaking records for a long time yet.See if Cook reaches 10,000 Test runs when England play Sri Lanka in the first Test at Headingley, from 10am, Thursday, Sky Sports 2. Will England start their Test Match summer with a win over Sri Lanka? You can watch all the action live on Sky Sports from Thursday at 10am Also See: The 10,000 run club WATCH: Cooks career highs England fixtures/results Get Sky Sports Cheap Jerseys 2019 Wholesale NFL Autographed Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Discount NFL JerseysWholesale Jerseys 2020 ' ' '
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