GIANT NOTES

One day after the Giants were eliminated from the playoffs, defensive coordinator Tim Lewis began the interview process, as he was expected to speak with the Lions, Packers and Rams for their head-coaching vacancies.

In addition, Jets GM Terry Bradway said he has asked the Giants for permission to speak with Lewis.

“I wish him the best,” said linebacker Antonio Pierce, whose ankle injury severely weakened the middle of Lewis’ defense. “I’ve been around Marvin Lewis and Gregg Williams, guys who went on to be a head coach and you can see the desire and he deserves it because he’s a good man. You can see the qualities in him, but you never know, sometimes you go into a bad situation and it doesn’t bring the best out of you.

“He’s a good communicator, he’s a pretty good motivator, he knows how to push certain guys’ buttons. Maybe they go the wrong way sometimes but that’s how it is, you can’t please everybody.”

Tom Coughlin was reticent to speak about Lewis while the Giants were alive, but after their 23-0 loss to the Panthers he spoke up.

“He’s certainly well-qualified, well-prepared for these opportunities that will come his way,” Coughlin said. “I’ll give him every support I can in his quest to become a head coach in this league. He’s done an outstanding job for us.”

If Lewis leaves, his replacement will almost certainly be Dom Capers, a close friend of Coughlin’s who was fired last week by the Texans.

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Tiki Barber and Osi Umenyiora were named to the NFL’s All-Pro first team. Michael Strahan was selected to the second team . . . Three defensive starters – CB Will Allen, LB Nick Greisen and DT Kendrick Clancy – are set to become unrestricted free agents. The Giants will likely welcome them back, but only at the right price. Greisen started 13 games and was on the one constant with the battered linebacker corps. “I think I’ve shown I’m a starter,” Greisen said.

The Giants signed five players from their practice squad to reserve/futures contracts for the 2006 season: DT Jonas Seawright, OT Jonathan Doty, TE Wade Fletcher, CB Gabe Franklin and LB Tyson Smith.