Projo Pats Blog

January 20, 2008 - January 26, 2008 Archives

This is the first edition in a six-part series by sports columnist Jim Donaldson. Jim, who has covered each of the Patriots' five Super Bowl appearances to date for The Journal (he'll make it six next weekend) looks back in these audio slideshows at each of the games, and his thoughts are accompanied by pictures from Bob Breidenbach, who has photographed each of the games. We'll get to the Super Bowl games themselves on Monday, but to start, here's Jim's presentation on Tom Brady, the Patriots' greatest Super Bowl hero. Click the play button below to see and hear the show.

In his brief time here in New England, it has become apparent that receiver Donte Stallworth is quite a character. He's admitted to having an on-field alter ego, whom he calls Nikko, is a student of psychology, and likes to tell a joke.

So today, when coach Bill Belichick was offering noting about the status of Tom Brady's ankle, Stallworth said it's not to worry: he'll be under center for Super Bowl XLII.

"Well, Bill actually brought me in his office earlier this morning and asked me if I wanted to move to quarterback, and we’re going to put in a whole new offense," Stallworth said. "He wants me to run the option. We brought in the coach from Nebraska, Tom Osborne, so I’ve met with him and we have the option going. Tom’s going to go ahead and let me take the reins for this game."

Not so fast, however. After Stallworth laid claim to the role, Wes Welker said it's actually his job to fill in for Brady:

"Well, actually, coach pulled me into the office and told me I was going to be the quarterback, so I don’t know where he’s hearing that from. I think he kind of overheard our conversation, and that’s actually going to be my role," Welker said.

So now there’s a quarterback controversy?, he was asked.

"A little bit."

Brady was not on field for the media-access portion of practice again today, but it completely within the realm of possibility that he is resting his right ankle as a precaution and will be raring to go once New England gets to Arizona.

Are you living in a house divided, a die-hard Patriots fan living with a family member who is rooting for the Giants?

If so, can you laugh about it, or will you be watching the Super Bowl on separate TVs — maybe even in separate places?. Send your stories — please be sure to include your name, address and daytime phone number — to sendus@projo.com. We’ll publish the best of the bunch the the day before the Big Game.

On what makes Wes Welker unique
I think his athletic ability is definitely underrated a lot. He’s very quick. He’s strong. He breaks a lot of tackles. He has a good feel for finding soft spots in coverage. He has great hands and he has a lot of courage and heart. That’s probably a big factor, too.

On what’s it been like having Welker on the team
I remember talking to him on his first day and he was very excited to be here, to be a part of what we’ve been doing and he’s fit right in. We wouldn’t be where we are today without his production week in and week out.

On whether this Giants team compares to the 2001 Patriots team
I don’t really want to get into the whole similarities, comparison stuff. We just have to go and prepare this week and have a good week of practice and then get down to Arizona, take care of business during the week and then go out and perform on Sunday.

On advice that he’s given to players that haven’t been to a Super Bowl
We get a lot of that sort of guidance from Bill [Belichick] and he does a great job and then, as veterans that have played in this game, whenever we can answer questions for some of the younger guys and just give them a little guidance, it’s better for everybody. We’ll continue to do that this week and I know Bill [Belichick] will continue to press on that. But I think everybody in the locker room understands what’s at stake here and this is a big opportunity for everybody whether you’ve been there or not. This is what we’ve worked so hard for all year and guys are going to make good decisions and be ready to play.

On the biggest challenge presented by going to the Super Bowl for the first time
I think, looking back, that was ’01 and everything happened so fast. There was no bye week leading up to it and you didn’t have much time to even think, ‘Hey, we’re in the Super Bowl.’ After Pittsburgh, we flew down to New Orleans on Monday and it was start working on the Rams, so we didn’t have much time for any distractions there.

On whether having a bye week before the game is better
Whatever. If there is no bye -- I’m not going to complain if I’m playing in the Super Bowl and there is no bye week, but the bye week does give guys a chance to rest up and get some extra preparation work in. It’s out of our hands, but we’ll make the most of it.

On the Giants’ kicking game
They’re extremely dangerous in the kicking game, as we saw the last time we played them. They’re a very physical group. They’ve got really good returners, good skill guys, guys that can cover, and it’s going to be a big challenge for us to player better than we did the last time we played them and be physical and control the guys that have the ball and get down the field and make tackles.

On how Super Bowl experience helps
It will all be determined by who plays the best on Super Bowl Sunday. That’s really-who wins the game is who plays the best. You don’t win the game because you had the most experience. Different factors play into each game and this particular game, this is what we all worked so hard for. I know the Giants, just because they don’t have any experience-I know that they’re going to be ready to play. You take your experience and you use that to your advantage, but what kind of advantage it is over someone who doesn’t have experience in the game, I couldn’t tell you. It’s just about going out and performing.

On talk of that they are the best team ever
That’s all to be discussed at the end of the year. We’re just working this week and going out and preparing and going out and taking care of business in the game

On his favorite memory for his Super Bowl trips
They’re all special. Just working through the season and accomplishing the goal that you set out to at the beginning of the year with some great teammates-it’s hard to pinpoint on thing in any of those games. I know that playing in Houston, my hometown, was somewhat special for me, but it would have been special if it was played in Iceland, too. Just to get to the game and to win it, that’s the goal you have every year and that’s our opportunity right now, and we just have to go and work this week and make things happen when we’re given the opportunity.

On giving advice to younger players
I haven’t really talked to guy, but this is one time that you’d rather be working than be off. I told Bill [Belichick] that today. This is one time that you don’t mind working because you’re in a good predicament.

On making adjustments
That’s one thing that I think every team does. Things that some teams have done against you, you’ll more likely see it again if it worked very well. That’s just things that you adjust to. You always work on your weaknesses. That’s just part of getting better.

On advice he’s given out to younger players about the Super Bowl
A lot of guys have come up to me and ask questions or a lot of players who have already been there and sort of know the protocol of how we handle things and, “What’s Monday like? What’s Tuesday like? Wednesday?” so I think we can give them a little bit of advice in terms of how it was when I was there before.

On what the best piece of advice is
I would just say to enjoy it, really. I think the first couple of days, you do have some time to enjoy it. We’ll arrive Sunday and guys are already planning to go out a little bit, have dinner together and enjoy each other’s company Monday, Tuesday - Media Day, that’s just a lot of fun - and realize that it is a game and a lot of stress can be built up for these games, but you still go down there to have a great time and realize you have a job to do still.

On how happy he was not to have to play against Wes Welker this year
We got him and we said, “How did that happen?” To get a player like that, to just give someone up like that. I don’t think he’s had a statistical year like he’s had this year, or even close to it in his past season, but I think we always considered him a threat and a guy that we had to focus on first and foremost when it came to the Miami Dolphins’ passing offense.

On what makes Welker so difficult to defend
Combined with his speed and his quickness and his good hands, I think the one word you could use is he’s savvy. He knows where to find the open hole against a zone coverage or a man coverage, you can just say that, but there are all these little tricks that players use and if you watch him closely, he has a lot of those in his bag.

On completing an undefeated regular season
I think we were able to soak in that moment before the last game of the regular season because we realized we were on the cusp of history and an undefeated regular season, but now that we’re in the postseason it’s really about advancing. We haven’t been thinking about 17-0, 18-0, or anything like that. It’s about beating the Jaguars to move on to the AFC Championship and then beating the Chargers and possibly moving on to the Super Bowl. I’d rather look at this game as if we prepare well and we beat the New York Giants, hopefully we’ll become World Champions. That’s what we have to look at. It’s a game that we have to win to achieve our goal, not some record, number, or something like that.

On what it’s like going back to Arizona where he played in college
Yeah, this one’s a little bit more special for me than all the others in terms of where I’m going. I have fond memories of the state of Arizona where I played college football at the University, about an hour and a half south of where we’ll be. Coming back from the stroke that I had in 2005, there are a lot of things that I can sort of smile at and realize that I’m back in the Super Bowl and it feels really good to be here.

On all of the hype of being in the Super Bowl
I think it has just all the tension that is coming with the game, the Super Bowl game, the final game . Whether it be the media, whether it be from friends and family it is just a lot that is going on but I think the veterans are doing a real good job of keeping us focused and the coaching staff really just getting our game plan to us early so we can focus on the game and know our assignments, because when Sunday comes it is just going to be another game.

On whether he’s excited for his first Super Bowl
I am. I am very excited. Again, this is everyone’s dream, to play in a game such as this. There are 30 other teams at home watching us, so it is a gratifying feeling just to know that we have made it this far. All year long we came together and made it to this point so it is definitely a special feeling.

On dealing with so many off the field distractions
We’ve been through the ups and the downs and we’ve been through it as a team and as an organization, together, so that makes us feel good that we stayed together through thick and thin and we’ve made it this far. Again, we know that the coaching staff and the veterans have really led us in the right direction to this point and letting us know that if we stay together, we can make it this far and we have.

On treating the Super Bowl as just another game
I think once the game -- Once the kickoff comes and all the emotions after the first couple of series, it is just a game. It’s just a lot of attention that comes with the Super Bowl, so we’re just trying to get adjusted to that. Once the week comes and we’re starting to practice leading up to the game, then we’ll understand that it’s just a game.

On whether there’s a moment to realize the magnitude of the Super Bowl
I think, with me, it’ll probably happen with the first kickoff or the first kickoff return because [the veterans] say that you’re supposed to close your eyes the first second after you kick the ball off just because of all the cameras and lights, so that’ll be an experience. But I really feel that after kickoff and the first couple of series, all the adrenaline will start to wear off and we’ll just focus on our assignments.

On the importance of special teams
Again, special teams are vital in every game so I know how important it is. I’m just going to be excited that I’ll be one of the first players that runs out on the field and just contributes on the team or special teams play. I’m excited about it and I’m anxious to prepare all week and put that into the game.

On which veterans he’s talked to this week
I’ve been asking Troy Brown a lot. I’m probably bugging him with so many questions that I’ve asked him, just whether it’s how to prepare myself, whether it’s what going on out at the Super Bowl and what can I not expect. He’s doing a good job and guys like [Tedy] Bruschi and a couple of other different guys. We’re just real excited about the opportunity and the experience.

On the best piece of advice he’s received
The best piece of advice so far I’ve got is don’t eat too much and go into the game overweight. They said that there’s a lot of food out there so you can kind of tend to stray off and eat a little bit more than you should and you don’t want to go into the game overweight. That’s been some good advice and other advice is just to stay focused mentally and don’t get strayed off by outside attention.

On what he expects in this game
It’s a different game. It’s a different team and it’s a different game, so what we’re going to do is work today and position ourselves to go to game day and hopefully execute. That’s really the key factor.

On playing against Wes Welker when he was in Miami
Pound for pound, Wes is probably the toughest football player in the league. The guy is a hard worker, number one. He has all the intangibles of being a great player, which he is, and he has a passion for the game and he needs -- There are different types of players in the league: guys that want to be great and there are guys that need to be great. He’s one of the need guys, so I tip my hat off to him.

On the New York and Boston Rivalry
I can’t read, so I’m out of that. I look at pictures and that’s about it.

On the photos newspapers have been running
I can’t make them all out. I can’t make them all out.

On his concern about the status of Tom Brady
Tom’s been great. He’s been doing it for so many years. It makes for a great story. You guys can jump on that and blow it up and do whatever you need to do, but as far as getting between the lines and going out there and competing, there’s no better competitor out there than Tommy. He’s proven it.

On the biggest difference between the last time he was in the Super Bowl
It is what it is. It’s a great game, and as time goes on and you find yourself 18-0 and the record plays a part in all the hype and what have you. We have to just minus all that and carry on with our day.

On if that is what makes this team special
It’s only special if we can finish it. The 18-0 record is nothing without finishing.

On his mentality coming back two years ago as opposed to this year
You’re more into the game plan and obviously you know your surroundings, you’re more comfortable and more familiar with everything else. The guys know your personality and you’re able to adjust quicker, but other than that, it’s just the game of football.

On if he will play for a few more years
I’m going to live one day at a time, just one day at a time. That’s all I can do.

On the perfect way to end his career
The end isn’t here. We’re about eight days away, so until we get that done--then we can answer some more questions.

On Kelley Washington’s acceptance of his role this year
In order to be a part of this locker room you have to be unselfish and he is definitely one of the prime examples of a player coming in with high hopes of going out there and being the great receiver that he is, and finding out that he has to play a different role. He is definitely a prime example of a guy that really wants to win and he’s been able to do that, and he’s been playing great for us on special teams.

On what that does for players
We respect everyone that puts on a jersey; that never changes. When someone goes out there and does what he does, outside the box in a different realm on special teams rather than the position that he plays, it definitely is a special feeling that we have for him. We respect him.

On getting excited for this game
Yeah, I won’t get excited until we get there, and probably in the latter part of the week. Right now it’s game plan, so all of this is work: trying to get everything down, all of our checks down, being familiar with what they do great and what they do best, and getting into situational football. But for the most part, it’s just basically one day at a time. Again, it’s a workplace.

On his 1994 trip to the Super Bow
There were a lot of fireworks, I know that. But the game was over before, obviously, eight minutes into the first quarter, so it’s not something I really tap into.

On using that experience in this Super Bowl
We’re doing it now. It’s one day -- Every day is a different challenge.

On what 16-0 meant to the team
I can’t remember. I can’t remember. I don’t want to go back [on] the kind of emotional roller coaster as to what it meant. We’re 18-0 now and we’re going to go from here.

On Adalius Thomas
You have to be a smart in order to be part of this crew. Obviously, he’s a special talent and what he’s been able to do here in Boston in the short time that he’s been here has been great…just by him taking over Rosie [Rosevelt] Colvin’s outside position and really solidifying that outside position in terms of turning everything in so we can do damage inside: containing and pass rushing and doing the things that he does. There are so many facets of his game you can look at and marvel.

On if they talk about winning a championship
There are some things you don’t even have to talk bout. There are some things you just don’t have to talk about. It’s understood. And that’s the type of relationship we all have.

On coming to New England and seeing the lack of selfishness
Belichick doesn’t allow it, number one. And whenever you have a leader such as Belichick, you have enough veterans around that have been around his teaching, they breed it. And when they start breeding it in the locker room, it’ contagious. It’s not a big surprise.

On whether it only takes a couple of guys to buy into it
In any business in order to insert your personality, your identity, you want to make sure you have a nucleus of guys that carry it through. It all works well then.

On Randy Moss’ play the last few weeks
It’s not about catches and stats. There’re times when I may only make four of five tackles, but if we win -- It’s all about wining. Coach Belichick, whether you’re a free agent, a draft pick or a guy that’s been here for five [or] eight years, he tells you [to] check your ego at the door, and that’s what Randy’s been doing.

On the pressure to win the Super Bowl
It’s a one-game season. I think you have butterflies, but I think the pressure goes away each day that you come out here, you prepare, you work hard, and you get more familiar with the New York Giants. So I think for the last eight weeks--that confidence that you’ve built with those games--you use that as confidence for the big one. I don’t feel like we feel any pressure. Not at all.

On if anyone on the team can be 100 percent healthy at this point in the year
Yeah, probably Brandon Meriweather [at] 21 years old. He’s running around like he’s 21 years old, so I think those young guys are probably 100 percent, but us old guys have got some mileage.

On if he came to New England to win a Super Bowl
I just wanted to be part of a team and I’ve said that before, to just be part of a team where the coaches wanted me, the players liked me, and I just wanted to show my ability and that was the main reason. Once I got here I understood the philosophy and I understood exactly what they were trying to accomplish, then it was easy for me to join forces because the only thing I ever wanted to do was win.

On being part of the kickoff team in the Super Bowl
It’s intense, man, because I know I‘ve been a part of that, playing on the kickoff team. You just see a million flashes and you’re just like, “Wow,” as you’re running down and, “I’m actually part of this.” I’m the same kid who watched the Chicago Bears in ’85 win the Super Bowl and I always dreamt of something like that, and the opportunity to be able to go down there and be a part of that is special.

On if he will close his eyes to avoid the flashes
No. If you close your eyes you’ll get your head knocked off.

On if the New York and Boston rivalry has intensified
Probably through the media it has. With us, it really doesn’t matter who we play. We are going to have to do what we have to do to prepare, work hard, and go out there and make plays. So I don’t think it being New York or if it was San Francisco or whatever -- It doesn’t matter. We’re just trying to do one thing and win a ball game.

On Mike Vrabel
He’s one of the brains behind the operation. [He’s] a smart, intelligent guy that just makes huge plays, makes big plays, sacks, forced fumbles. [He’s] just a tremendous leader on our team and he’s really the quarterback of our defense.

On Eli Manning
[He’s] a guy that’s composed, a guy that’s playing a heck of a lot better than what he played in the middle and the first part of the season. [He’s] a guy that just looks like a veteran quarterback, making smart decisions about turning the ball over, very accurate and just really taking the Giants offense on his shoulders and just leading them.

On advice he gives to less experience teammates
I say take care of your business here before we get on that plane and focus on one thing and that’s wining football games. You’re going to enjoy your time with your family, but parties and all the sideshows and events are not important. The only thing you want to do is focus. The worst part of the situation is going out there on Sunday and laying an egg and losing.

Six years in the league. I assume this is what you came here for?

Yeah, this is it. This is the biggest game of the best sport in the world and this is what you fantasize about growing up as a little kid, playing in your backyard and things like that. This is it. [We’ll] try to get a good week of preparation this week and go down to Arizona with a plan and be all about business once we get down there.

Thinking back to your rookie year, you mentioned your team was on the verge of making the playoffs and then lost five of the last six.

We started off the year 7-2 or 6-2 and we had to win one of our last four, and those lost four games were against - record-wise-against the worst teams, all the worst teams in the NFL, and we lost every game. I’ve always understood after that year taking it [the] one game at a time approach that Coach [Bill] Belichick preaches here so much, as it’s paid off for us up to now.

Following up on that, yesterday and today is just scratching the surface of what Super Bowl week is about. What’s your anticipation of going through that for the first time?

I’ve always been a big football fan, NFL fan, since I’ve been a little kid, so I’ve seen the whole circus that goes on. It’s all fun and good, but we all understand what’s really at stake here and what’s most important. Guys have family issues, as far as tickets and getting your family down there and hotel rooms and all of that stuff. We’ve tried to get all of that stuff taken care of before we even leave to go to Arizona. The most important thing is just focusing on the game, especially, like I said, this week during the game preparation of this week, and then once we get down there it’s definitely all about business. I’m focused. I already left a voicemail on my phone, in the locker room after the game, after we won the game here Sunday, saying, “Hey, I don’t have any tickets. Don’t call here asking me.” And I haven’t gotten any calls, so that’s good. I guess they got the point.

When other teams scheme to take away Randy Moss, how do you and the other receivers react to that?

You just have to step up. You know that Tom’s [Brady] going to find the open guy every time, so you just have to know that whatever situation it may be, if it’s first down, first series, or it could be late in the game on third down, Tom’s going to find the open guy. Every play, you just have to do your job and try to get open.

Seeing as how you studied psychology, can you define what pressure is or what psychologists would say pressure is?

You know what? Bill made a great point about this about five, maybe six weeks ago. I’m trying to remember exactly how he described it. He said, “Put a 2x4 on the floor and walk across it. Do you feel any pressure? No, you don’t. You put it 300 feet up in the air [and] walk across the same 2x4, do you feel any pressure then? You shouldn’t, it’s the same 2x4, but your mind is letting you know, hey, if I slip or I fall, any miscalculation of a step, that’s it for you. You stay focused on walking across that 2x4 and then there’s no pressure.”

Why do you suppose it is - and some people in the locker room have said this - as the season goes on and you perform well and have accomplished more, that pressure actually increases. Why does the pressure go up when you perform well?

It starts with the media. I think with us winning every game this year, which hasn’t been done before, people were talking about it midseason, as far as us being able to go undefeated and all this other stuff, but I’ve always felt like pressure is what you allow it to be. It’s pretty good - a really great description, I would say, what Bill gave us a couple of months ago about that 2x4. Pressure is only what you allow it to be, and these guys here have played in… I think it’s 109 Super Bowls now. So I don’t think they’ll be worried about any pressure. They’ve done a good job here of just keeping distractions away. We had a couple days off after the game to get all of that stuff out of the way and most of the guys were able to do that. Like I said, right now we’re focusing on the game, focusing on our preparation.

Yesterday Plaxico Burress had a press conference in New Jersey and he said they felt their wide receiving corps was just as good, if not better than yours. Do you have any take on that?

No. Plaxico is a really good receiver. I know him personally. He’s a competitor. He’s a great player, and he’s out there to make plays for his team, just like we’re trying to do for our team. We’re not playing against those guys. I’m not going to be covering Plaxico or anything like that any time soon, so comparisons don’t mean anything right now.

Is this the best receiving corps you’ve played on, though?

Yeah. Obviously when you have a guy like Randy [Moss], and Wes [Welker] is being able to work the slot really well, and Jabar [Gaffney], it’s not only the receivers. It’s the whole team. We wouldn’t be able to do what we’re doing if the guys up front weren’t giving Tom a whole lot of time, and obviously Tom getting us the ball, so it’s not only receivers. But talent-wise, we’re pretty deep in talent.

Was there ever a time when you had to reconcile the expectations you had when you came in as a free agent and then the role you had with Wes Welker and Randy Moss?

No. No, I think that whatever role it was that I was going to have to play here, I was fine with that. I knew that the main objective was I was tired of being home for New Year’s and being home for the holidays. I’ve been playing pretty much up to this point, as far as through the holidays and things. Now I’m in the big show, so everything that’s gone on, I’ve had a good time. I think now is the ultimate payoff, so [you] just continue to work hard and try to study your opponent as well as you can and try to leave Arizona with a good feeling.

Are you guys the least bit concerned about Tom Brady and his ankle?

Well, Bill actually brought me in his office earlier this morning and asked me if I wanted to move to quarterback, and we’re going to put in a whole new offense. He wants me to run the option. We brought in the coach from Nebraska, Tom Osborne, so I’ve met with him and we have the option going. Tom’s going to go ahead and let me take the reigns for this game.

On Sunday you said you weren’t sure if you wanted to bring Nikko with you to the Super Bowl. Have you made a decision on him yet?

Yeah, I’m going to leave him here for awhile. He’s the one that goes out and plays in the game. I’m not really an overly aggressive person, but he is, so I’ll let him handle the game. I’ll take care of the preparation and let him play in the game.

After the AFC Championship game a lot of guys said if you don’t complete a perfect season, it was all for nothing. Do you feel that way?
At this point, yeah. We’re down to our last game and we need to make sure that we’re coming out ready to play and make sure that we’re hitting [on] all cylinders.

When you were on the Dolphins and looked at this organization from afar, was coming here what you expected?
Yeah, absolutely, and probably more so. The organization has been great, the coaches, the players, everybody works together. Ultimately, it’s gotten us to this point and we just have to keep it going for one more.

Do you ever reflect and think of what the record was there and what it is here?
Not really. I think I get asked more about it than I think about it. I don’t really think about it that much. I just concentrate on the here and now and make sure I’m ready.

What has it meant to you personally, the way you’ve emerged as a player with a new team here?
It’s been great. Anytime you can come into a new team like this and be able to get the confidence of your teammates and go out there and make plays week in and week out, it’s been great. I feel like the offense really suits me, and having Tom Brady back there doesn’t hurt, either.

Was a season like this something you though you were capable of earlier in your career?
I don’t think so. I was in my first year in my career in the NFL returning kicks and punts. That was it, so I didn’t even have a playbook or anything like that. It was get back there, return kicks and punts. I thought I’d do that for the rest of my career and then I just worked hard and tried to develop the rest of my receiving skills, and it’s kind of come to this.

People point to you as not the biggest or strongest guy in the word, but given a chance… Do you mind that at all? Does that shortchange you at all?
Nothing really bothers me. I know my capabilities and I think the coaches know. We try to play to those strengths and from there I just go out there and execute my plays. I don’t really worry about the size, the speed, anything else. It’s a matter of me going out there and executing, and making sure I’m doing my job.

When teams try to take away Randy Moss, do the other receivers enjoy that at all?
Yeah, I mean, anytime you get singled up out there as a receiver, you want to win, so that’s a great opportunity, whenever you get singled up like that.

In some respects, you stand here as a rookie - a Super Bowl rookie. What are your thoughts and anticipations going into this experience?
I tell you, I think it’s been a media hype around here all season, so I don’t think it’s anything new for us. I realize it’s kind of picked up a little bit, but to tell you the truth, it’s kind of been a circus around here all year. We just have to take it in stride and remain on the same course we’ve been on all year, make sure we’re concentrating and focusing on the game and are ready for our execution out there on Sunday.

With all of the experience in that locker room of people who have been through this before, are you picking anyone’s brain?
Yeah, a little bit. Really, not so much about the game as much as, hey, you know, even after we won the AFC Championship, how many tickets do we get. Talking to the guys, what do you do about families? What did you do before? Stuff like that, and just try[ing] to get that stuff settled and taking care of it as early as possible so I can just get ready for the game.

I remember talking to you before about what you expected for the playoffs and you said you’d never been in a playoff game. Now that you’ve played in a few, was it what you expected?
I think it prepared us really well. I feel like even towards the stretch of trying to keep on winning games here towards the homestretch, it was pretty intense games. We did have a lot of teams [who] it was kind of their Super Bowl and we were making sure that we had to bring it each week. It’s no different in the playoffs, and it’s definitely stepped up some. You can see guys flying around and putting the extra effort [in] out there on the field.

Donte’ Stallworth said he’s taking over at quarterback and you guys are going to run the option. What are your thoughts about having him play quarterback?
Well, actually, Coach pulled me into the office and told me I was going to be the quarterback, so I don’t know where he’s hearing that from. I think he kind of overheard our conversation, and that’s actually going to be my role.

So now there’s a quarterback controversy?
A little bit.

Journal photo / Gretchen Ertl

How is it going this morning? Good, huh? OK, well, we’re plugging along. The Giants are a tough team to get ready for. They do a lot [and] they do a lot of things well. This is probably one of those games [where] if we had a month to get ready for them, we’d still be working on them, but we have to schedule, kind of pace our way through it. We’re going to try to do the best we can, but they do a good job in a lot of areas - really, all areas - so it’s a lot to get ready for, but we’re underway. It was good to be out on the field yesterday and we have a couple more days here before we take off on Sunday.

Is their defensive line comparable to any you’ve faced already?
They’re pretty good. They’re pretty good. They’re strong, they’re athletic. The two ends are real good and they’re good inside. [Barry] Cofield and [Fred] Robbins do a good job. [Justin] Tuck goes in there. They bring the linebackers up inside quite a bit, too, so you have to deal with them. One time you’re blocking a big, 300 pounder, the next play you could be blocking a real athletic, quick type of athlete in there, so it’s a real challenge for our linemen and certainly the two ends do an outstanding job in everything, not just the pass rush. They’re very good in the running game. [Michael] Strahan is… We could stand up here and talk about him all day. For a guy that’s not that big, he has exceptional power and he’s a great leverage player, good technique player, smart… He’s a hard guy to block. So is Osi [Umenyiora].

Can you say whether Tom Brady will practice today?
Not now. We’ll see. [I’ll] let you know after practice - Or does everybody have a deadline before then?

Is your experience going through Super Bowl games more important to the actual game itself or handling the hype and pacing yourself?
Probably both. It’s a process. The whole thing is a process. I don’t think you want to not utilize - Well, I think you want to maximize everything you have. Whatever time you have available, you want to maximize it to be efficient and productive toward your goal, which is playing well and winning, and not get distracted, not get burned out, not get... To have your timing right so that when the game starts, that’s when you’re at your peak. You don’t want to be there before. You certainly don’t want to be there after. You want to be well prepared and well rested both physically and mentally going into the game. Getting to that point is important, doing it during the game is important. I mean, one could offset the other, so I think they’re both up there.

Can you talk about what makes Kevin Faulk such a unique player?
Well, Kevin has a lot of versatility. He’s smart, he’s very instinctive, he has a very good feel for the game. He understands really all part of the game exceptionally well - pass protection, route running, receiving, the running game, blocking schemes, play action - all of those things, and he’s a good football player. He has good balance, he’s quick, he’s hard to tackle, catches the ball well, he has a good combination of quickness and power and he’s very instinctive. He usually puts himself in the best position or the best advantage to deal with whatever it is he has to deal with, and then he certainly has plenty of skill to execute a lot of different things on the offensive side of the ball and on special teams as well.

Did Rodney Harrison practice yesterday and are there any players you think won’t practice today?
I’d love to answer that. Maybe we can give you something after practice.

Why not answer now? Everyone’s here.
We haven’t practiced. I don’t know. We’ll see how things go at practice.

What’s your best guess?
I’ll let you know after practice. That injury report will be out next Wednesday, though, so it’ll have everything on it then.

As durable as Tom Brady has been at his position, how durable is your center? I know he had the one injury.
Right, two years ago, but Dan’s [Koppen] been great. Dan’s been very durable inside and he’s given us a very consistent level of play, really pretty much since he’s been here his rookie year, which is impressive, for a player to be able to come in as a rookie and handle all of the things, both physically and mentally that we ask an offensive lineman and especially a center to do. He’s been great pretty much from day one, and day in and day out he’s one of our most consistent, dependable players. He doesn’t make very many mistakes. He gives you a very consistent high level of performance.

I know all of those guys up front are pretty much the unsung heroes, but is he the unsung hero of that group?
You’d have to ask whoever… I don’t know exactly where that’s coming from. You’d have to ask them about that. I think they’re very good football players and they play well, so I recognize it. I don’t know about everybody else. Dan does a great job. Steve [Neal] and Logan [Mankins] are outstanding. Logan’s had a terrific year, and so has Steve. He’s missed a few games, but he’s played very well. Nick’s [Kaczur] been solid for us at right tackle and so has Ryan [O’Callaghan] when he’s hand an opportunity to play. I think Matt’s [Light] had a very good year at left tackle. And he’s had several before. They’ve done a good job and when Russ [Hochstein] and Billy [Yates] and Ryan and Wes [Wesley Britt] have had an opportunity to play, they’ve done a good job as well. I think we’ve had a good level of performance there and good depth.

When you look at Eli Manning, are there similarities to Peyton or are they completely different?
They’re in different systems, so that’s a big difference right there. But Eli, he’s done a good job for them. He’s god some mobility in the pocket, he’s able to avoid the rush, he’s an accurate passer, he’s made some tight games, especially - The Green Bay game was - The way he threw the ball last week was exceptional, given the conditions and the tight coverage that Green Bay had on him. There wasn’t much space to get some of those passes in there and he threw the ball very accurately, both on the intermediate and down the field routes and the receivers made some good catches. I think he brings a lot to the position. They do a lot of different things with him - screens, play action, downfield passes, intermediate passes, some moving pocket passes, like they scored on us against the sprint-out play and some bootleg plays, things like that. He does a good job in the things that he’s asked to do and they ask him to do quite a bit. He does a good job with it.

Osi Umeniyora said yesterday on HBO that Matt Light might have done a few things he shouldn’t have, some dirty plays after the whistle.
You’d have to talk to him about that.

Does that go both ways, though, usually in the trenches? If one side is doing it, the other side does?
Yeah… Can’t help you there. Really, honestly, when the play gets cut off - When we watch the play, the play pretty much ends when the guy gets tackled, so when they’re walking back to the huddle and all that, whatever does or doesn’t go on, to be honest with you, I don’t really get a very good look at. I guess you’d have to ask Osi about it for more details. I’m a lot further from that play than they are.

But is it motivating to have these types of remarks?
We’re playing in the Super Bowl. I mean, I hope there’s some motivation to win an NFL Championship.

How do Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs compliment each other and what kind of challenges do they present?
It’s a big challenge. Both of them are good. Jacobs is an outstanding back. I think we’ve all seen plenty of him. He’s a big, powerful guy with good quickness and speed and he’s broken plenty of long runs. He’s not a fullback, he’s a running back. He’s very elusive in the secondary and he’s made plays for them in the passing game, and so has Bradshaw. Bradshaw has shown it on kick returns earlier in the year. I think he did a real good job of that when he had an opportunity. He has good quickness. He’s probably a little - maybe a little quicker than Jacobs. Jacobs is obviously a little bigger. They have good complimentary styles, but they’re both good. I don’t think they really care. It’s not like one guy runs these plays and another guy runs those plays, or one guys runs those routes or another - It looks like they don’t really care who’s in there. They do both things with both players, and they look very comfortable with the assignments they have. And I think the coaches are very comfortable calling plays, regardless of who’s in there. I don’t think it really matters to them. Maybe it does, but it doesn’t look like it, because I think you have to defend the whole variety on both players. They do have different styles, and I think that’s important for us to know which back’s in the game and be ready to play him accordingly.

Obviously the magnitude of this game makes the preparation different than if you were playing the third game of the regular season, but can you think of anything in the last three Super Bowls you’ve been to where you said, “That wouldn’t have happened if we’d had our normal time to prepare.”?
Not right off the top of my head, no. I think we have plenty of time to prepare. I think what you have is, you’re playing an opponent that has plenty of time to prepare, too, and a lot of times they’ll throw a wrinkle in, as we will, to try to break a tendency or do something that’s a little bit different than maybe what you think they’re expecting, but still something that you feel you can do effectively. The toughest situation was the first one, against the Rams, on a short week. That was more challenging, but we had played that team in midseason, so at least we had some familiarity with them and that was - in terms of preparation, that was a plus. I think we did, as a coaching staff and the players, we did a lot better job of coaching and playing the second time we did it than the first time. But I think when you have two weeks you have plenty of time to prepare and do what you want to do, but even though you have a whole season’s worth of information, that’s way more than any team can do. You really have too much information. You have to boil it down and decide what areas you want to focus on, but at the same time it’s a little bit of a moving target because you know they’re going to make a few adjustments and changes, too, probably to something you haven’t seen or that you would spend very little time working on and then you have to adjust to that during the game. From that standpoint, I think the game is challenging because of the changes that the opponent makes in their attack of you, given the extra time they have.

But the event aspect of it doesn’t really have that much of an effect?
I’d say it’s like any other big game. I’m not saying it’s like - I’m saying when you have a big game, one of the things I think you have to guard against as a coach is that the focus is on the assignment and the execution, not the magnitude of the game, so when you’re playing those types of games, as you said, it’s a little different than playing the third game of the regular season and sometimes players might have a tendency to think more about the overall - the big picture, instead of just doing their job. It always comes back to that. Each of us has to do a good job of doing what we’re supposed to do during the game and not worrying about what everybody else has to do. Just get our job taken care of.

How does this compare to the last three Super Bowls you’ve been in?
They’re all special and they’re all different.

How is it different?
We didn’t go to Arizona before, we didn’t play the Giants before and we have a lot of different people on our team from the last time we went, so there are a lot of things that are different.

We are inside the Dana-Farber Fieldhouse, where the Patriots are stretching before their practice session begins in earnest.

Tom Brady and Ryan O'Callaghan are the players we didn't spot on the field.

Rodney Harrison, who missed yesterday's session, is back on the field.

Hey all --

Bill Belichick was asked about Tom Brady and his ankle about four different ways today, and none of the questions got any kind of answer that gave any indication about Brady's health.

After declining to say how much Brady will practice today, if at all, if Rodney Harrison practiced yesterday and if he anticipates that others might miss time today, and if he'd share how much -- or little -- Brady did participate in practice yesterday, Belichick grew exasperated.

After that last query, he looked to PR maven Stacey James and sighed, "Stacey, is that the last question?"

In between questions about the World's Most Discussed Ankle, Belichick talked about Kevin Faulk, Dan Koppen and the rest of the offensive line, comparisons between Eli and Peyton Manning, and the Giants' running back tandem of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.

The locker room was quiet at first, but in time, Junior Seau, Tedy Bruschi, Larry Izzo, Rodney Harrison and Adalius Thomas drew crowds to discuss all things New York and Super Bowl.

New England will hold another full-pads practice inside the Dana-Farber Fieldhouse this afternoon; we'll let you know whether or not Number 12 and his ankle are there.

shalise

Richard Seymour picked the Giants to get here in a pool with his friends. How about you?
We’ve been there. We’ve had those season before where you play well, you flash it and then it kind of goes away for a few weeks. Certainly when we played them the last week, they played their best ball when they needed to to do well in the playoffs in the National Football League - after Thanksgiving and on the road in the playoffs.

Is that how you judge your team, after Thanksgiving?
Well, there’s a few things I’ve learned from Bill [Belichick] and that’s one of them. Kind of take a look and see what teams do after Thanksgiving, see what kind of shape they’re in, what kind of plays they make, how they play, how tough they are. A lot of those early season number - I guess you want to win every game you play, but you can make a lot of hay after Thanksgiving.

Their toughness was demonstrated in that game. They didn’t need to beat you to make the playoffs.
It’s a physical football team. They’re built like that and I think Coach [Tom] Coughlin wants them - That’s the type of team he wants. That’s the type of team he had in Jacksonville and certainly with the Giants. Right across the front, they have big running backs, they have physical linemen, big receivers that’ll block, so we have our hands full.

What advice do you have for the guys that haven’t been to the Super Bowl?
I just think the biggest thing is when you come off the field for pregame warm-ups there’s about 50 minutes to where you’re just sitting there, as opposed to maybe 10 minutes in a regular season game. There’s a lot of time. I remember in 2001 Bill had been through it before and said don’t go out there and kill yourself in pregame warm-ups because you’re going to come back down and you’re going to cool off, then we’re going to have to stretch again and we’re going to have to get warmed back up again. Just little things like that, where you take it for granted where you think it’s a normal game, but really there’s a lot of logistical things that factor into the Super Bowl with TV and the time that we’re out on the field and coming back in. Then when you finally leave, then it’s two minutes. Then it’s the national anthem and they’re kicking the ball off.

Anything about the week itself?
I think everything with the hotel, it’s a road trip for us, really. We’ve actually stayed at this hotel, so it’ll be nice knowing the surroundings. When we played Arizona, I think we stayed at this hotel, so not too much [is different]. Practices are going to be the same, meetings are going to be the same. You’ll meet with the media, your day is done at 5:00 or 6:00, after you’re doing watching film and have watched practice.

Can you talk about how your relationship with Bill Belichick has evolved since you first came here?
Yeah, I think obviously I have a lot of respect for Bill and what he’s done with this football team and the decisions that he makes. I certainly don’t always agree with everything that he says or does, but I think ultimately the end result is very positive. I just think that he’s given me - He gave me an opportunity to come here. He said I won’t ever promise anybody a spot, but there’ll be an opening for you to compete and be an every-down player. And then from 2001 on, it’s kind of evolved. My role on the football team has kind of evolved, where the first year I just played first and second down and then the next year I played on third down and did a lot of other things. I just think it’s just expanded since I’ve been here. He’s not really caught up in the guys that are supposed to be good player or allegedly good players. He wants guys that are going to go out there and work, be smart and are dependable and consistent. Those are the kind of guys we have on this football team.

You’ve been able to joke with him - you have a good relationship. Has it been like that from the beginning?
I think that any time you have a certain comfort level with somebody, I think that certainly if he’s able to give it to us, I figured why not give it back to him.

You’ve been around long enough to understand the way fans think. Talk about the fact that it’s Boston/New York for the Super Bowl.
It’s no Yankees/Red Sox, but it’s going to be determined out on the field. It will be fun for the fans to go out to Arizona and to enjoy some good weather, I guess, and leave the east coast and go out there. I think the fans will have a great time. I know the players will enjoy it and, most importantly, I think we’ll have to go out there on the field and prove and fight to see who will be the champions.

All three Patriots Super Bowls were won by three points and the red zone becomes much more important in the Super Bowl. With three big red zone stops last week, is that something you hope to carry over to the Super Bowl?
Obviously it’s something we want to carry over. It’s something that just doesn’t happen. You just don’t go out and hope you’re going to stop them after you’ve given up an 80-yard drive and just hope that you’re going to stop them down in the red zone. So you have to put some time in it and work at it. You have to look and see what they like, what they had success with in the first game - which they did, and that was a big thing. It was the reason the game was so tight, I think, was their ability to convert on third down and their ability to score touchdowns in the red zone.

You talked about when you first came here and Bill Belichick calling you. Do you ever think about how close that was?
It was just between Pittsburgh - It was either going back to Pittsburgh and resuming the same role that I had with the Steelers, which Coach [Bill] Cowher welcomed me back. He said, hey, I totally understand you looking somewhere else and seeing if there’s an opportunity there. If not, give me a call and you’re welcome back here.

Adalius Thomas shifted from inside to outside. Can you talk about how he’s handled the role?
I think with AD, I think the expectations that everybody had of him coming in here were so great because he was such a sought-after free agent in the offseason, but he came in and I think just became one of the guys in the locker room. [He] put everything else aside and just learned kind of what we do here and how we do it, learning every position - learned inside, learned outside, and certainly in his flexibility, I think his talent has enabled us to do a lot of things. It’s enabled me to be outside and it’s allowed him to play inside and outside and also cover. He’s a great coverage linebacker. He doesn’t get enough credit for it, but he does a great job. He’s just a big athlete that we can put a lot of different places.

How fine a line is it between tough, hardnosed football and the dirty play that some fans or some people think they’re seeing?
It’s just like, you know, for a player or anybody, you just can’t throw out accusations. A guy - You come off the field and you win or you lose a game, emotions are very high. There are plays that happen to me, that happen to everybody out there that if you wanted to spin it another way, you could say, man, that was a dirty play. But, I mean, it’s football. There’s going to be some things that happen that aren’t by design, maybe certainly you didn’t want to do, but they happen. And so guys can come in after the game and if they say this guy’s a dirty player, then red flags go up. That’s a you-problem; that’s not our problem.

Can I ask you to reflect on your hometown of Equality, Ala. and how well you know Justin Tuck?
Actually, it’s funny you say that. [We] went to the same high school, our parents went to school together. [It’s a] small town. Most of the neighbors are either your aunt or your uncle or your grandparents. His sister is in the class with my sister now - I think that’s right. I know Justin very well. [We] grew up together. Again, he went to church down the street from where I went to school. I talked to him this week. They’re calling it the Coosa County Bowl instead of the Super Bowl where we’re from. It’s so funny, though - two guys from the same area, which is a very rural part of Alabama to play in the Super Bowl, so one family will be happy and one family will be kind of sad.

Richard Seymour talked about making picks with his buddies and he chose the Giants straight through, based on the fact that when he played them he thought they were a solid team. Do you think that?
I really didn’t know who would be here, because in the playoffs it’s always some kind of twist or something like that, but I knew that they had a great chance because of their road record, first of all, and the way that they played at the end of the year. They were starting to play well at the right time. A lot of times teams hit their all cylinders at the wrong point and then have a lull at the wrong time of the year. In the playoffs, you can’t have that, that lull at the wrong time of the year. They’ve done a great job of going on the road [and] playing games, winning on the road against very good teams, so they have the momentum right now. Eli’s [Manning] playing great. Their defense is playing well. Special teams is playing great, kicking off and making a short field for them. We definitely have our challenge cut out for us.

When you talked to Justin Tuck, can you give us a little bit of the flavor of it?
First of all, we congratulated each other. I congratulated him on his new deal, whatever, and we said we would just talk later on in the week and get together. But, you know, it’s not like we play against each other. Both of us are on defense, so I think it would be a little bit different if he was a running back or a wide receiver or something like that, but just hoping each other stay healthy. Other than that, [that’s] pretty much it.

You came in here and got basically immersed playing inside and then all of a sudden got shifted outside. Was there any impact?
No, it helps you learn the defense as a whole when you’re playing inside and then you go to outside. You understand now as you go through the calls what you may have to do at Mike as well as Sam or Will or Jack - whatever it may be. It just helps you understand the defense, which helps you as an overall player. I think that’s the biggest thing that it does for me.

Knowing that now, having played both, is it easier to shift outside or would it have been harder to go inside?
I don’t know. It really doesn’t matter when you’re dealing with a new system, because you have to learn both of them either way it goes, so being that I was the Mike I think it’s easier now to go outside, because you do know a lot about the calls because when you’re at Mike you deal with both sides, vs. when you’re a Sam or a Jack you deal with just one side.

The Patriots’ Super Bowl wins were all by three points and the red zone becomes very important in the Super Bowl. Last week you had three red zone stops. Do you think that puts you right on schedule?
It is. That’s definitely a momentum shifter, especially when you can give up three points. You don’t want to get them down there, first of all. You don’t want to major in red zone defense, but if something goes down and they’re down there - a long drive, a turnover or a kickoff or something that got them to that point, whatever it may be - you want to always be able to stand up and hold them to three points, and I think that is a big thing, vs. three points, you give up two scores, which is the same thing as one score - it’s six points. So I think that definitely helps as far as that goes. They’ve been great in the red zone, and so one of them is going to have to give. Hopefully we can continue to bring focus to that point and continue to play strong to that point, because that will definitely help us on Sunday.

When you were thinking about signing someplace when you were a free agent, was this in your mind why you signed here, the opportunity to be here and talk about the Patriots in the Super Bowl?
I knew it gave me a great chance to be here. Did I think it would be the first year? I really didn’t know, but I knew you had a great chance of being there. That’s all you can really ask for in this game, is to have a chance to play - to get an opportunity to get to the playoffs and play for a championship and go on to the stage that we’re on now. So that definitely was a big part of why I signed here.

Their two running backs are different styles. What kind of challenge does that present?
It represents a big challenge. Both of the guys run hard. [Brandon] Jacobs is a more downhill, big guy, run you over, but at the same time he has good speed. [Ahmad] Bradshaw is a cutback, cut - He can bounce outside. He’s a very, very hard runner, always keeping his legs pumping, and so you just have to gang tackle both of them. That’s the key. That’s the only common thing that they do have, is you have to gang tackle both of them because they’re very good backs.

Were you surprised at all the coverage Tom Brady and his walking boot got the last few days?
I didn’t know anything about it until I think yesterday. It was what it was. Tom gets enough coverage. I don’t know.

Do you feel pretty confident you’ll have him at 100 percent? Is this a non-issue for your team?
I’ll let Tom answer that. I don’t know anything about a boot or a cup or a shoe. I don’t know anything like that. I don’t know anything - slippers, I don’t know. His slippers cost more than my shoes, I don’t know.

Could you address the development of Eli Manning and what you’ve seen in him in the last month?
He’s just taking care of the ball. No turnovers in the playoffs. If you don’t turn the ball over, you give yourself a greater chance to win. He’s throwing the ball very well. Running the ball has been taking a lot of pressure off him as well, and Plaxico [Burress] has been running big, and when not throwing to Plaxico, the other guys have stepped up. [Amani] Toomer, [Steve] Smith and [Kevin] Boss. You really can’t just focus on one guy because he really is going through his reads and delivering the ball where it’s supposed to be delivered.

Some people grow up in certain areas and wish they were from somewhere else. Are you grateful for where you came from?
Of course. That’s what made [me] who I am. I don’t have any regrets. That’s one thing you can’t choose, is your parenthood and where they live. It’s a great I think motivation or encouragement for the kids that are from rural areas that are small areas. Nobody really knows where I’m from and it goes back to the old cliché it’s not where you’re from, it’s where you go. I think Justin and I are just two prime examples of guys that came from middle class families that worked hard. The one thing that both of us really had was great support from our parents, our mother and our father, his parents as well as my parents. I think that just goes to show a lot about the character that he has and I have as well.

You were injured for a short time this season --
What injury are you talking about?

The ankle injury that showed up on the injury report.
I think everybody could be on the injury report at some point, but I don’t think it’s really impacted - To a certain extent - I’m fine, as far as that goes. I didn’t miss any games, [or] anything like that, so I don’t think - It’s a non-issue.

You guys are pretty heavily favored in this game.
That doesn’t mean anything. It’s not like - Favored? Just like I guess Green Bay was favored. That doesn’t mean anything. The only thing that matters is when the ball is kicked off, when it’s time to play, you make more plays and go out there and play good defense and good team ball and try to win the game. That’s the only thing that matters. That favor doesn’t do anything but motivate the other team.

Has this season been more of a learning experience than you anticipated?
I knew it was going to be a learning experience because, again, you come into a new system, new players, new environment, it’s always a learning system, learning how things work on and off the field. It’s been a learning experience and I’ll continue to learn. Just learning from the guys, from Junior [Seau] and Tedy [Bruschi] and Vrabes [Mike Vrabel], those guys really showed me the way and so I continue to lean on those guys.

But here where the system is so complicated to play?
I don’t think so. I don’t think it’s very complicated to play. I mean, I think it’s a good system to play in.

Ready for the madness?
Absolutely. I think this is one of the reasons that you play the game, obviously to be in a situation like this. We work hard all year and we’ve put ourselves in a great position. Now it’s about finishing it.

What kind of advice do you give the guys who have never been to the Super Bowl before?
Well, I mean, I don’t want to give too much away because obviously our opponents will be listening, but I think in-house, I think we understand what we have to do in order to be successful in this game, and we know what we shouldn’t be doing as well. I’ll just keep that in-house, and talk to me after the game. I’ll give you all our tips.

Seeing Tom Brady walk around New York in a walking boot, are you at all concerned?
I think that’s something you have to talk to Brady about. I have just as much information as you, so I’m really not sure about that issue.

You know it’s the heat of the moment in games, but are you distressed at some of the words that have been aimed at you in terms of being a dirty player?
First of all, it’s not true, so I think the facts are the facts. Secondly, I can’t control what others say or think. The only thing I can do is control my actions, the way that I approach the game [and] the things that I’m able to do throughout the week. For me, that won’t change and I think the people that know me best know that’s something that’s totally bogus.

From your experience, these couple of days here, are they the most important days in terms of preparation before you get to the Super Bowl site?
I think it’s a combination of both. I think you have to be pretty balanced. I really can’t say one is a little bit more important than the other. Obviously the most important is Sunday, but we have to do a good job preparing for this team. I think they do a good job. They’re obviously road warriors and they do a lot of things well, and it’s the reason that they’re in this game. They went into some hostile environments [and] beat some really good football teams. Even when we played those guys, they played tough, they played hard, they play the game the way it’s supposed to be played. From a fan’s perspective, me and a couple of my buddies had our picks for the week, and I rode the Giants all the way there. I’m off of their bandwagon now, though.

What did you personally take from that last game?
I think obviously they’re a tough, physical football team and they’ve gotten better since that point, and we have, too. If you look at early in the year, Green Bay beat them pretty handily and they came back. It wasn’t the same team that played early in the year, so we understand that. And even from the last game of the season, those three games that they played in the playoffs, they’re a better team now than when we played them, and we are, too. We understand the magnitude of this game, but at the same time it’s still a game and you have to go out and have fun in doing it.

In what way are you better since that Giants game?
I just think recognition of plays, I just think a better tackling team, I think our red zone defense. I think we’ve stepped up in a few areas and we’ve made plays that we needed to make when we needed to make them.

The New York/Boston rivalry is well documented, obviously, from a baseball standpoint. How much do you recognize it now from a football standpoint?
I think it’s two cities that put a lot of pride in their sports. The fans are tremendously supportive in both regards, Boston and New York, and rightfully so. They pull for their teams. I think as a player you want to play in an atmosphere where people care. The fans that we have here, they definitely care, and I know the ones in New York do as well. We’re definitely excited about this match up.

Can you add to Nick Hardwick’s thing yesterday that you head butted --
I just addressed it.

The head butt thing?
I just addressed everything I’ve - I mean, I can’t. Yeah.

OK, but this one specific thing. He claimed you head butted a coach, although the tape --
I don’t - A coach? A coach that was out on the field? I mean, so…

When you look at Eli Manning, in the game against you he threw four touchdown passes. Do you think he’s used that as a platform?
Anytime when your quarterback doesn’t make turnovers and he has some targets to throw the ball to as well, and they have a good running game and also play well defensively - I think all around the board they do a good job. We’re excited about this match up, to say the least. I think if we just do our job individually, I think collectively as a group that we’ll be fine.

On your picks with your buddies, you picked the Giants.
Right. I rode the Giants.

Based on your game with them, did you have inside information?
Yeah, I mean, because I played them. I wouldn’t call it [an] inside scoop. I mean, I played them. I knew they were a good football team and it was just something fun. Me and my buddies got together and did that, but they play the game the way the game is supposed to be played. Defensively, they’re tough. They can stop the run, rush the passer, [they’re] good on special teams, they’re well-coached. They have really good players over there, so we understand what they have and I think that’s what makes this match up intriguing.

What kind of challenge do you face with the running backs?
I think obviously in [Brandon] Jacobs, he’s a big, pounding, bruising-type back. He also has the speed to take it outside and hit the home run ball. It’s a change of pace when the other back comes in. He cuts the ball back and gives us a different look defensively, so we definitely have two running backs in practice this week getting us prepared.

Did it surprise you the intensity that they brought to that last game of the regular season?
Well, we knew they were a tough, physical team, just watching them all week and it was a playoff atmosphere when we played down there. The sidelines were filled with people - I mean, it was a circus. They came out and they performed. It wasn’t a surprise. We saw all week long what they were capable of.

For standings, they were locked into their playoff position, so why would they go about it that way?
Well, they get paid to play. They get paid to play and the coaches get paid to coach, and that’s what they did. Obviously they made those decisions and we showed up and did the same thing.

With Adalius Thomas coming in over your shoulder, is it that unspoken thing you had with Rosevelt Colvin, where you instinctively know what’s going on behind you?
I think defensively it’s probably a little different than offensively where quarterbacks can look at the receivers and they kind of know, etc. I think defensively we all have a job to do and the coaches put the guys on the field that they feel like can get it done. Adalius has been doing a great job for us - all of our linebackers have. If you need your best game, this is the game to do it. If you want to be one of the best to ever do it, this is a primetime opportunity. The world is watching and [hoping we’ll] bring another championship back here.

You’ve often been cited for being a size/speed combo that’s rare, and so has Adalius. Beyond that, what strikes you about him?
He’s very athletic. He can go out and cover and do a lot of different things for us. He can rush the passer, he can stop the run, he can do some of the things that defensive backs do. He’s a guy that can move around for us defensively and also he’s a smart player. He knows how to break down defenses and understand what they’re doing in certain situations. He’ll be out there giving calls and making calls and, hey, watch for this, look for that, etc., etc. He’s an instinctive player. He’s a smart player. We’re definitely going to need him next Sunday.

The Patriots have placed safety/special teamer Mel Mitchell on injured reserve with a biceps injury.

Things have not gone exactly as Mitchell likely planned since he signed with New England before last season -- last year, he missed the entire season with an arm injury, and he this year he battled a groin injury before the biceps injury happened. In all, he played in 11 games this season and totaled 11 special-teams tackles.

New England now has 52 players on the active roster, though it would be surprising if the player chosen to fill Mitchell's spot is named before next week.

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
With no sign of Tom Brady, Patriot backup quarterbacks Matt Cassel, left, and Matt Gutierrez practice in the indoor field at Gillette Stadium today. Photos and video of Brady wearing a walking boot in New York City Sunday night sparked concerns over his health. Today, in a press conference before practice, Coach Bill Belichick had this to say (or not say):

Q. Can you comment on Tom Brady’s foot and any concerns you may have?
A. No. I don’t have any comment on it.

Q. Is he going to practice today, regular practice?
A. Well, we’ll go out there. I don’t know. The injury report will be out next Wednesday and we’re excited to give that to you. That form will be filled out completely and I can’t wait to give that to everybody. I know you’re anxious for it, so when it’s due on Wednesday, we’ll have it for you. Don’t worry about that.

The Pats leave Sunday, a week before they're due to play the New York Giants in the Superbowl in Arizona.

We’ve spent the past three days looking at the Giants. Even though we just played them a month ago, I think that they’ve certainly improved dramatically as a football team. The number one area I would say is in the kicking game. They’ve really done a good job there. I think they’ve pretty much had the edge in that phase of the game in all three of their playoff games, and not turning the ball over, offensively. That’s been very impressive, especially against the defenses they’ve gone up against. Tampa, Dallas and Green Bay are all outstanding defenses and they protected the ball perfectly, really, in those games and of cour