A novel extrapolation method has been used to deduce directly the charged p
i NN coupling constant from backward np differential scattering cross secti
ons. The extracted value, g(c)(2) = 14.52(0.26) is higher than the indirect
ly deduced values obtained in nucleon-nucleon energy-dependent partial-wave
analyses. Our preliminary direct value from a reanalysis of the GMO sum-ru
le points to an intermediate value of g(c)(2) about 13.97(30).