Super Bowl 2012: Offseason Checklists for Giants and Patriots

Now that the Super Bowl has passed us by, each of the 32 teams in the NFL will get down to business preparing for the 2012 season.

The New York Giants and New England Patriots are at a slight disadvantage in this regard, as the other 30 teams in the league have gotten a head start in preparing for 2012. The Giants and Patriots have some catching up to do.

Both of these teams are in for busy offseasons, as the Giants will look for ways to continue their success and the Patriots will look for ways to patch up their fading dynasty.

Let's take a quick look at both of these teams' top offseason priorities. 

New York Giants

Extend Tom Coughlin

This is a no-brainer. Coughlin is only signed through 2012, and he said on Monday that he wants to keep coaching.

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

Giants owner John Mara says he will indeed sit down with Coughlin to discuss an extension.

The Giants really can't lose with a multi-year extension. Coughlin is one of the best head coaches in the NFL, and he proved this season that his advancing age certainly isn't making him lose his edge. As long as he wants to coach, the Giants should be glad to have him.

Deal with Osi Umenyiora

The Osi Umenyiora situation was an utter mess before the start of the 2011 season. He did his best to convince the team's management to sign him to a lucrative contract extension, but they wouldn't budge. At one point, they put him on the trading block.

Umenyiora is signed through 2012, but he could once again campaign for an extension, which means he could once again end up on the trading block.

But he's not thinking about that. Not yet.

"Honestly, I am going to go home and sleep, enjoy this victory and we will get to that," Umenyiora said after the Super Bowl, per ESPNNewYork.com. "I don’t know what is going to happen. I haven’t really thought about this. It will all be up to them. I have nothing to do with that."

If the Giants want to give Umenyiora an extension, they will. If they don't, they're going to have a tough decision to make.

Straighten Out Offensive Line

The Giants managed to win the Super Bowl with one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Just because they know they can do it doesn't mean they shouldn't try to patch things up.

More than anything, the Giants just need to get healthier and younger along the offensive line. Kareem McKenzie should be replaced, possibly by Will Beatty if he comes back and proves to be healthy enough after going on injured reserve with a detached retina.

Even still, the Giants would be wise to add some depth. Whether they get it in the draft or in free agency, patching up the O-line is a must.

Re-Sign Mario Manningham

Mario Manningham was the Giants' third-best wide receiver this season, but he ended up saving the day in the Super Bowl. He made a couple of catches in the team's final drive, including his brilliant grab up against the sideline.

Manningham is due to be an unrestricted free agent. Because Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks emerged as big-time playmakers, Manningham is an expendable asset that the Giants don't need to bring back.

But they should do everything in their power to bring him back. Manningham fits in perfectly next to Cruz and Nicks. If the Giants can keep a good thing together, they should.

New England Patriots

Make Sure Wes Welker Comes Back

Wes Welker is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Ian R. Rapoport of the Boston Herald reported in January that team owner Robert Kraft wants him back, but the two sides haven't been able to agree on an extension.

If the two sides aren't able to agree to an extension this offseason, the Patriots always have the option of using the franchise tag on Welker. If that's what it's going to take to keep him, the Pats should do it.

No matter how they do it, the Pats need to keep Welker.

Reshape Wide Receiver Corps

Deion Branch is also set to become a free agent. Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com reported that Branch wants to be back with the Patriots, and that he's actually hoping to retire with the team.

The Patriots won't miss Branch if they cut him loose, though. The same goes for Chad Ochocinco, who Reiss doesn't expect to come back in 2012.

What the Patriots really need to do is reshape their wide receiving corps. Welker can stay, but Tom Brady needs a little variety. New England's lack of a true deep threat limited what the team was able to do offensively, and that's something that the Pats should address.

If Branch and Ochocinco weren't good enough to get the job done, the Pats should find two receivers who are.

Bring Back Mark Anderson and/or Andre Carter

Defensive ends Mark Anderson and Andre Carter tied for the team lead with 10 sacks this season. Both of them are due to hit free agency.

The Patriots should try to bring back both if they can. If they can't, they should at least re-sign one of them. It's largely because of Anderson and Carter that the team had its best pass rush since 2007. That's not something they should want to give up, nor is it something that can be easily replaced.

Make a Decision on BenJarvus Green-Ellis

BenJarvus Green-Ellis has been New England's leading rusher in each of the last two seasons, but he too is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported a couple days ago that the Patriots probably won't match other teams' offers for Green-Ellis, but that's only if there is indeed an active market for Green-Ellis. Given some of the other running backs who could become available, it's not a foregone conclusion that teams will be chomping at the bit to land Green-Ellis.

The Pats don't have to re-sign him. They drafted Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen in 2011, giving them a couple running backs they could turn to if Green-Ellis walks.

But if he can be brought back at a reasonable price, the Pats shouldn't hesitate to bring him back.

Secondary Depth

New England's secondary was undermanned all season long. The Pats were able to get as far as the Super Bowl despite that, but they obviously weren't able to win it.

Bolstering their secondary should be one of the Patriots' top priorities this offseason. They could stand to add a couple new starters. At the very least, they need depth.

The Pats can address their secondary at the latter end of the first half of the draft, where they will have two picks. It's the best opportunity they're going to get.