On the Mets beat

Giants coach Tom Coughlin is getting the $20-million extension, but he might want to send a thank-you note and maybe a fruit basket to manager Willie Randolph, who apparently fixed his quarterback in the midst of that march to the Super Bowl.

"I met Eli [Manning] right when they were on that run," Randolph said today. "Not that I want to take credit for it, but I guess it sounds like that, I gave him a nice little pep talk. I saw him at a jewelry store. He got hot after that and never stopped, so that was kind of a cool. He’s a nice kid."

As for today's visit by Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce, Randolph was thrilled to have some of that Lombardi Trophy magic in camp.

"I hope that vibe wears off on us, man," Randolph said. "It's good to be around champions. It seems like that’s sometimes contagious. In Boston, with the Celtics playing well, the New England Patriots and the Red Sox. I’m a beleiver that sometimes that good vibe can rub off on you. I just wanted to rub up on him a little bit and get some of that good mojo.