Super Bowl 2012: Giants and Patriots Face Tough Personnel Decisions

The New York Giants won the Super Bowl on Sunday, once again defeating the New England Patriots, this time by the final of 21-17.

In the days and weeks to come, there will be much rejoicing in and around New York, and much sulking in and around New England.

Then what?

Soon enough, both the G-Men and the Pats are going to have to get down to business. Both teams' string-pullers will retreat to their respective war rooms and lay out plans for the future. The tricky part will be determining who they want to keep around as they move forward.

The Giants' top priority has to be the contract status of head coach Tom Coughlin, who has led the team to two championships in a span of four years. He is signed through 2012, and there was some thought that he would decide to call it a career if the Giants won the Super Bowl.

However, Coughlin was asked Monday morning if he means to return to the Giants next season and beyond, and he said he wants to.

"I certainly hope so," Coughlin said, courtesy of ESPNNewYork.com. "That is my intention. We have some ownership that has to give approval. I'm looking forward to it."

When team owner John Mara was asked about the idea of Coughlin sticking around, he said, "Yeah, I think it is safe to assume that he has (ownership's approval)."

So thankfully for the Giants, it seems that they won't have to worry about replacing Coughlin any time soon.

The status of defensive end Osi Umenyiora is a little more uncertain. He's signed through the 2012 season, but it's no secret that he's looking for a lucrative contract extension. His quest for a new contract led to a tiff with management before the 2011 season, and he was briefly placed on the trading block.

“Whatever happens next season happens,” said Umenyiora after the Super Bowl, according to the New York Daily News.

Umenyiora is set to make just under $4 million in 2012. Barring a change of heart, it's a good bet he'll once again start campaigning for a contract extension, which could lead to him being put back on the trading block. Clark Judge of CBSSports.com has already reported that it is being speculated that this is what will happen.

Running back Brandon Jacobs is also due to become a free agent after the 2012 season, but he sounded much more optimistic about sticking around beyond 2012.

“I definitely would like to end my career as a Giant,” Jacobs said, per the Daily News. “There’s things that can be done. They want me around. They know what to do to keep me around.”

Meanwhile in New England, much of this offseason will be centered around the team's wide receiving corps. Star wide receiver Wes Welker is due to become a free agent and so is Deion Branch.

Branch is looking to stick around.

"This is where I want to be, this is where I want to retire," he said on Sunday, via Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. "This is why I came back, for the opportunity to play in this game. I'm pretty sure I will be here in this position next year." 

As for Welker, he would no doubt love to get a long-term extension with the team, but the Patriots have the option of using the franchise tag on him if the two sides can't agree to terms on an extension. 

One way or the other, NFL Network's Michael Lombardi has said the Pats aren't about to let Welker go.

Chad Ochocinco may not be so lucky. He's on the books for $3 million in 2012, and Reiss says it's "hard to imagine" Ochocinco being back with the team.

Beyond the team's wide receivers, the Patriots have some pretty big names on their list of players scheduled to hit free agency (Pro Football Talk has the list). Defensive ends Mark Anderson and Andre Carter are both on it, as are running backs BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Kevin Faulk.

Faulk, according to Reiss, will probably just decide to retire.

Unless the Pats find clever ways to bring their main guys back, it seems likely that the 2012 Patriots are going to be a little different from the 2011 Patriots, for good or ill.

It's going to be an interesting offseason for both teams. The big game is over, but a game of an entirely different sort will soon begin.