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Friday injury report

For the Patriots:

Probable
QB Tom Brady - right shoulder

**Jabar Gaffney (shoulder) has been removed from the report.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 5:12 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Patriots' Friday pool report

From the pool reporter Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune:

The Patriots concluded their preparations for Super Bowl XLII with a crisp workout in shorts and shells at Sun Devil Stadium that lasted an hour and 20 minutes Friday.

"We're ready to roll," coach Bill Belichick said. "We're ready as we're going to be."

Belichick said the team will not have a walk-through at University of Phoenix Stadium Saturday. The Patriots will go to the stadium to take a team photo.

Wide receiver Jabar Gaffney's shoulder injury has improved, and Gaffney was able to participate fully in practice. Quarterback Tom Brady's ankle continued to be a non-issue. So the Patriots look to be completely healthy.

Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown spoke to the team before practice at Belichick's request.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 5:06 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Celebrities pick the Pats

The Patriots will remain perfect, according to the majority of celebrities polled by Scripps Howard News Service in its annual Celebrity Super Bowl Poll.

Those supporting the 18-0 Patriots include Jack Nicklaus, Martina McBride, LeBron James, Dana Delaney, Chuck Yeager, Michael Phelps and Haley Joel Osment -- who apparently not only "sees dead people" -- but has correctly picked the last eight Super Bowl winners.

Posted by Pam Cotter  at 4:02 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Goodell on Spygate

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell held his annual state of the league press conference today, and as can be expected, he was peppered with questions about the Patriots' Spygate scandal, especially in the wake of today's news in the New York Times that Sen. Arlen Specter wants Goodell to explain to the Senate Judiciary Committee why he destroyed tapes and notes on other teams that New England submitted to the league.

He didn't offer much, offering that there were six tapes submitted, and that those tapes were from the 2007 preseason and 2006 regular season. He reiterated that New England's "spying" tactics did not influence the result of games, particularly their wins in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX.

Goodell didn't not say so, but he was clearly upset that one of the tapes confiscated -- the tape of the Jets' game when New England was caught filming -- was leaked to the public, and gave that as the reason he destroyed the materials rather than just lock them away.

"It was the best way to make sure the Patriots had followed my instructions," Goodell explained. "They certified to me in writing that they gave me all the tapes and notes."

Specter represents Pennsylvania, and the Philadelphia Eagles lost to New England in Super Bowl XXXIX; Goodell was asked if he will assure Specter that the Pats won the game fair and square.

"This incident is five or six months old; we've been forthright, and I don't believe it affected the outcome of any game," he said.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments 2

Bill & Bill

The relationship between Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells was strained in the wake of Belichick's resignation as head coach of the Jets in 2000; Parcells, who was moving to the front office for the first time, had named Belichick as his successor. But Belichick famously decided against taking the job, scrawling a one-line note saying "I resign as HC of the NYJ."

But Belichick and Parcells have smoothed things over the in years since. The relationship, which Belichick once termed "difficult," has improved, Belichick said this morning.

"That was the way it was characterized then and I’ve spent time with Bill since then. Bill and I shared a lot of success together and I think we’ll always treasure those victories and those good times. He’s tremendous coach, he’s done a great job, he’s had a tremendous career, a Hall of Fame career and I’m sure he’ll be there at some point. Unfortunately he’s back in our division as a competitor and I totally respect him and his football ability both as a coach and an administrator and a talent evaluator. Now we’ll be competing against each other again and I’m sure it will be very challenging."

Parcells has taken over the front office in Miami; he became the head coach of the Giants in 1983, when Belichick was the linebackers coach in New York.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 3:30 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

25 of 30 ESPN experts pick Pats

This was sent by the ESPN PR bunch:

SUPER BOWL XLII PREDICTIONS FROM ESPN

ESPN on-air personalities offer their predictions for Super Bowl XLII. Of the 30 ESPN picks, 25 chose the New England Patriots, while just five selected the New York Giants as the anticipated winner of this year’s Super Bowl game in Arizona:

PICKING NEW ENGLAND

Raul Allegre, ESPN Deportes NFL analyst and former New York Giants kicker
Patriots 31-21. I just don't see the Giants defense being able to stop the Patriots offense. Nobody is better at controlling time of possession than the Patriots and their arsenal is just too tough.

Russell Baxter, NFL research coordinator
Patriots 38-19. Thirty eight has been the Patriots’ magic number all year and 19 would be fitting since this would give them an undefeated 19-0 record.

Skip Bayless, First Take and 1st and 10 commentator
Patriots 38-17. Plaxico Burress lost this game for the Giants before it was played by saying the Giants receivers may be better than New England’s and by predicting the Giants would win by scoring 23 points and holding Tom Brady’s offense to a mere 17. Big mistake.

Ray Buchanan, 1st and 10 analyst
Patriots 28-24. Eli being hot will keep this game close and I don’t think the Patriots defense will be able to slow down the Giants offense.

Colin Cowherd, host of ESPN Radio’s The Herd
Patriots 31-17. It'll be close early but then the Patriots will do something in the 3rd quarter to pull away -- whether it's creating a turnover or converting on a big third down play. Tom Brady will be named the game MVP.

Jay Crawford, First Take and 1st and 10 co-host
Patriots 38-21. Not going to stop the Patriots offense. The difference in the game is that New England has been there, done that, while the Giants are taking video of everything like it’s a trip to Disney.

Hank Goldberg, Correspondent
Patriots 30-27. They always win by three points. Just look at their last three Super Bowls.

Mike Golic, NFL Live analyst and co-host of ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning
Patriots 31-24. Their versatility will be the key. They always find a way to get it done and they will again this time.

Jemele Hill, ESPN.com Page 2 writer and 1st and 10 commentator
Patriots 38-31. Tom Brady goes to quarterback immortal.

Gary Horton, ESPN Scouts Inc. Insider
Patriots 31-20. With two weeks to prepare for Bill Belichick - and with field conditions being perfect - as much as I respect the Giants, they can't keep up with the Patriots. Tom Brady will find 4-5 match-ups that he will exploit.

Tom Jackson, Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown analyst
Patriots 31-21. Hard to imagine the most prolific offense in NFL history coming all this way and not winning. There is also something to be said for the Patriots’ experience, being in this position before and winning three times.

Ron Jaworski, Monday Night Football and NFL Matchup analyst
Patriots 41-21. The key will be the Patriots three down linemen -- Seymour, Wilfork and Warren -- who will be able to collapse on Eli, forcing him backward which is not his strength.

Keyshawn Johnson, Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown analyst
Patriots 35-17. New England has had two weeks to prepare for this game, and the lights might be too bright for Eli.

Erik Kuselias, ESPN Radio host
Patriots 34-20. This game was over when Brady took off the boot and squeezed into a cleat…too much offense.

Steve Levy, SportsCenter anchor
Patriots 34-21. The Giants won their Super Bowl in Green Bay.

Chris Mortensen, NFL Insider
Patriots 41-31. Perfect climate, perfect game, perfect season for Tom Brady.

Sal Paolantonio, Correspondent
Patriots 31-24. Giants defense still won't have an answer for Tom Brady.

Sean Salisbury, ESPN NFL Live analyst
Patriots 34-17. The weather is not a factor and on a fast track and with all those weapons, I don’t think the Patriots can be beat.

Mark Schlereth, ESPN NFL Live and NFL PrimeTime analyst and three-time Super Bowl champion
Patriots 31-27. The Patriots do the best job in the NFL adjusting. They are chameleon-like in who they are and what they do. They can totally reinvent themselves during the course of a ballgame on the offense and defensive sides of the ball.

Stuart Scott, SportsCenter anchor
Patriots 34-20. The Giants will play them tough for a half, but the Patriots passing game is built for a dry, fast field.

Emmitt Smith, Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown analyst and three-time Super Bowl champion
Patriots 35-24. The bye week hurt the Giants by taking away their momentum. Belichick is a genius at breaking down tape and he had a second week to prepare.

Mike Tirico, Monday Night Football play by play commentator
Patriots 32-23. Too much offense, too much experience, too much to deny the perfect ending.

Marcellus Wiley, NFL Live analyst
Patriots 38-23. They have had a perfect season. Why bet against them now?

Trey Wingo, NFL Live and NFL PrimeTime host
Patriots 41-27. No weather problems, perfect fast track. They are going to unleash the full arsenal. I can’t see the Giants stopping the Patriots, If the Giants don’t score 30, they will get blown out.

Steve Young, Monday Night Countdown analyst and three-time Super Bowl champion
Patriots 42-10. Eli Manning is not a Hall of Fame quarterback yet. Brady will get the upper hand.

PICKING NEW YORK

Lomas Brown, 1st and 10 analyst
Giants 27-24. Giants win the first overtime game in Super Bowl history.

Mike Ditka, Sunday NFL Countdown analyst
Giants 31-28. I haven't picked the Patriots all year, so why should I start now?

Mike Greenberg, co-host of ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning and SportsCenter anchor
Giants 24-23. Just a little magic the Giants have working now. Call it a funny feeling.

Merril Hoge, NFL Live and NFL PrimeTime analyst
Giants 31-30. The Giants’ defensive scheme matches well with Brady and the Patriots because they attack the quarterback and challenge the wide receivers.

Shaun King, NFL Live analyst
Giants 34-26. Confidence.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 3:05 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Super Bowl XLII is Belichick's biggest game of his career

PHOENIX -- New England coach Bill Belichick is the only coach in the history of the NFL to win three Super Bowls in a four-year span (2001, 2003, 2004).

He has a 15-3 (.833 winning percentage) winning percentage as the Patriots head coach in the playoffs which includes three Super Bowl victories.

He has a 100-28 record (.781 winning percentage) as the Patriots head coach since 2001. He’s coached in a lot of big games, but he said earlier today that Sunday’s Super Bowl will be the biggest game of his coaching career.

“I think it is the biggest game of all for our football team because it’s the next game,” said Belichick, who is hoping to become the first coach in NFL history to lead a team to a 19-0 record.

“It’s the next game and it is the Super Bowl. It is for the championship so I can’t think of a bigger game than that. We are here and that is what we are here for. We have worked all year for this game. We are happy to be a participant in it and it is a privilege to be in it. Of course it is a big game – it’s a huge game.”

Posted by Rob Lee  at 1:48 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Belichick not concerned about Brady's ankle

Journal photo / Gretchen Ertl

PHOENIX -- Bill Belichick is not concerned about star quarterback Tom Brady’s high-ankle sprain.

When asked if he was worried about Brady’s ankle at his morning press conference, Belichick said, “No. Tom Brady is one of the most consistent, well prepared, dependable and steady players I have ever coached.”

According to the Chicago Tribune’s Dan Pompei, the designated pool reporter, Brady wasn’t limping noticeably and his ankle wasn’t taped during practice at Arizona State in nearby Tempe on Wednesday and Thursday. On Monday, Brady was limping and his ankle was taped.

Brady said yesterday that his ankle is fine.

“I don’t think it’s a problem going into the game,” Brady said. “I don’t think the ankle is truly a problem.”

Posted by Rob Lee  at 1:36 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Belichick rooting against old team

PHOENIX -- Bill Belichick coached for the New York Giants for 12 years and he and he won two Super Bowls with them as their defensive coordinator (1986 and 1990).

As much respect as he has for the Giants organization, Belichick said that there is no way he is going to rout for them on Sunday.

“When I was with the Giants, the fans were very supportive and they still are; they are great fans,” Belichick said. “I have all the respect in the world for the Giants fans, the Giants organization and their football team. I am on the other side of the field this week so there is no way I am pulling for them.

“Those 12 years were great there and I appreciate everything that happened during those 12 years with the Giants; from the organization to the players, team, fans and community. But, that being said, I have moved on and I know they still love their team and they should. I love our fans and the support we have received in New England and I am proud to be a New England Patriot. We are going to go out and do our best against the Giants on Sunday.”

Posted by Rob Lee  at 1:23 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Perfectville

PHOENIX -- Among the many reasons to root for the Patriots to win Super Bowl XLII is that, if they win, you'll never again have to hear from Mercury Morris and the '72 Miami Dolphins, who currently are the only NFL team in the Super Bowl era to finish a season undefeated.

The mouthy Morris was one four members of the '72 Dolphins -- the others were Jim Kiick, Larry Little, and Garo Ypremian -- to hold a press conference here Friday morning in a room at the Convention Center that featured a large, green-and-white sign declaring: "Welcome to Perfectville, Pop. 1, Founded 1972."

Just a hunch, but the population of Perfectville could double by Sunday night.

Morris, trying to get in what we can only hope is the last word, announced his candidacy for mayor of Perfectville.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 1:19 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Belichick does what's best for the team

PHOENIX -- Everyone has a role to play on Bill Belichick's team, he says.

That role sometimes changes week-to-week depending on matchups.

"I will put it this way: I think you try to do what is best for your football team, and best for each individual player," Belichick said. "That is not necessarily the same each week and it is not the same for each player and it is not the same in different situations. It aries and you have to kind of take it how it comes, and in the end do what you think is best for all the parties involved.

"The team is always number one. Whatever that is, that is what I will do. Whatever I feel is best for our football team, that is the decision I will make. Whether it is a game day decision, a personnel decision, a personal meeting with a player, a strategic move, a play to call or whatever. My priority is always to do what is best for this football team. That drives everything I do for the New England Patriots and whatever style it comes in -- that could be part of it too."

Posted by Rob Lee  at 1:15 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

More Important Things

PHOENIX -- Considering that the economy is on the brink of recession, the subprime mortgage market is a mess, and American soldiers are dying every day in Iraq and Afghanistan, it would seem that Arlen Specter, the Republican senator from Pennsylvania who's chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, would have much more important things to worry about than why NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell destroyed the videotapes the Patriots sent to the league office as part of the "Spygate" investigation.

It's no coincidence that Specter is raising the question this week. It's obvious that he's seeking publicity, as much as he's seeking to find out the not-exactly-pressing question of what happened to the tapes.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 1:11 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Few Close Games

PHOENIX -- Of the first XXXV Super Bowls, only two were decided by three or less points -- Super Bowl V, when the Colts' Jim O'Brien kicked a 32-yard field goal in the final seconds to beat the Cowboys, 16-13, and Super Bowl XXV, when Buffalo's Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal with four seconds to go as the BIlls lost to the Giants, 20-19.

Of the last VI Super Bowls, however, three of them have been decided by the margin of a field goal, and all of them involved the Patriots, who beat the Rams, 20-17, in Super Bowl XXXVI; the Panthers, 32-29, in Super Bowl XXXVII; and the Eagles, 24-21, in Super Bowl XXXIX.

The last two Super Bowls have been decided by 11 and 12 points, respectively, with Pittsburgh beating Seattle, 21-10, two years ago, and the Colts defeating the Bears, 29-17, last year.

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

New York City plans parade on Tuesday

NEW YORK (AP) - Would that be Super Super Tuesday?

The police commissioner says New York City is planning for a post Super Bowl parade on Tuesday - also known as Election Day, or Super Tuesday.

The plans, of course, are contingent on a New York Giants win over the New England Patriots on Sunday.

Commissioner Raymond Kelly says the parade would start at 11 a.m. Tuesday near Battery Park, followed by a City Hall Plaza ceremony at 1 p.m.

Asked Friday about the parade plans, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said:

"I have refused to talk about it - I am not going to jinx the Giants' chance."

Added hizzoner: "Go Big Blue!"

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Friday in Phoenix

Hey all --

Good morning from Phoenix, where we've begun our last day of media access before Super Bowl XLII. Patriots coach Bill Belichick has already held his final press conference, and Tom Coughlin will take the podium upstairs at the Media Center in about 10 minutes.

Probably the most interesting presser of the day, however, will be when Commissioner Roger Goodell talks in a little over two hours. The New York Times today has an article saying that U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter wants to call Goodell before Congress to have him explain why the league destroyed evidence in the now-infamous Spygate scandal. Goodell has been in office for about 18 months, and surely this is not how he envisioned things going.

We'll be back shortly with quotes from Belichick, who was asked about a variety of topics during his time at the podium.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments 0

Multimedia: Final predictions from Jim and Shalise

Jim Donaldson and Shalise Manza Young take a look at the keys to victory for the Giants and the Patriots in this multimedia show, and reveal their final-score predictions. Click the play button below to listen and watch. Shalise will file multimedia reports tomorrow as well.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments 1

Patriots Super Stories Part 6: Super Bowl XXXIX

This is the final edition in Jim Donaldson's six-part series. 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. Today's presentation focuses on Super Bowl XXXIX when the Patriots cemented their status as team of the decade by beating the Philadelphia Eagles.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 11:07 AM to Patriots Super Stories | Permalink | Comments 0

Download today's sports cover

On today's sports cover, Jim Donaldson profiles Stephen Gostkowski, the Patriots' kicker who carries the heavy burden of history (and particularly, the three Super Bowl-winning kicks by predecessor Adam Vinatieri) onto the league's biggest stage on Sunday. Robert Lee writes about Tom Brady's work ethic, and Kevin McNamara reports on the Friars' tough, tough loss at South Bend.

Click here to download the file in pdf format.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments 0

Times: Senator Specter wants answers on Spygate

According to an article in today's New York Times, Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, wants NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to explain why he ordered evidence destroyed in the taping scandal involving the New England Patriots.

Specter told the Times that the Judiciary Committee would eventually call Goodell to explain the league's antitrust exemption in relation to its television contract, and the destruction of the Patriots' tapes.

Click here to read the story.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 9:31 AM | Permalink | Comments 1