http://www.news4jax.com/sports/2744763/detail.html
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Tom Coughlin reached an agreement Tuesday to become the New York Giants' coach.
"I look forward to working with these players and re-establishing the New York Giants' tradition of physically controlling the line of scrimmage," the former Jacksonville Jaguars coach said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.
Lawyers were reviewing the four-year contract worth more than $11 million before either side would officially announce the deal.
"The T's haven't been crossed and the I's haven't been dotted," Gary O'Hagan, Coughlin's agent, said. "We're still working on it.
The contract was negotiated Tuesday, a day after Coughlin met with the Giants for a second time.
A former Giants assistant under Bill Parcells, Coughlin was 72-64 in eight seasons with the Jaguars, twice leading them to the AFC title game. He was fired after 2002, his third straight losing season.
"I am really looking forward to getting back into the competitive part of it," Coughlin said.
Coughlin was the only candidate granted a second interview for the opening created when Jim Fassel was fired. Fassel was 4-12 this season.
New England Patriots coordinators Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis, and St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith also were interviewed.
Of the last 11 Giants coach, eight have been former assistants with the team.
The Giants offered Coughlin their head coaching job in 1993 after firing Ray Handley. Coughlin turned them down, saying he wanted to complete a rebuilding program he started at Boston College.
Coughlin was first interviewed by the Giants last month, shortly after Fassel was fired with two games remaining.
A disciplinarian on the field, Coughlin said he's changed a little in his year away from football and is willing to accept not having total control off the field.
"I don't need to draw the line," Coughlin told The Associated Press last month. "I certainly can work in an organization that has a division of labor."
Coughlin has stayed in touch with the NFL. He watched games on a satellite dish at his home in Jacksonville on Sundays and broke down tape and stats the next two days.
"I'm a football coach. I had an opportunity, and I'd like another one," he said.
He is now going to get it with the Giants.
