Trending
PHOENIX — Truth be told, the Giants have already been written off.
They’re only here to observe New England’s official coronation as one of the National Football League’s elite teams for the ages.
A lot of the Giants are buying into that theory and attempting to run with it. Plaxico Burress has gone as far as to guarantee an upset. His teammates, while not nearly that brash, appeared content to avoid the spotlight this week and permit oddsmakers to stay the course, installing the Patriots as heavy favorites.
“You have to believe that you have an opportunity, a chance to win or else you aren’t representing your team very well,” said Giants’ head coach Tom Coughlin. “We are going to play as hard as we can, we’re going to throw all of it out on the field and do the very best we can to try and win the world championship.”
Based on their Dec. 29 meeting at Giants Stadium, there’s amble reason to suggest tonight’s title match can be competitive. Aren’t these the same Giants who led New England 28-16 six minutes into the third quarter when Burress grabbed a 19-yard scoring pass from Eli Manning?
Manning went toe-to-toe with Tom Brady that Saturday night. The fourth-year pro who turned 27 one month ago today, completed 22-of-31 passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns. The former Ole Miss star was both sacked and intercepted just once.
But the Giants did lose that game. Brady made sure, directing a second half comeback culminating with a 65-yard bomb to Randy Moss which put New England ahead to stay.
Brady and his coach Bill Belichick intend to have no part of another close encounter tonight. By the time Tom Petty launches into “Free Fallin,” at halftime, the Patriots may well find themselves in a comfort zone.
Say what you will for Belichick and the methods that landed his franchise in hot water earlier this season. The man is a gridiron guru. He’ll likely hoist his fourth Lombardi trophy tonight.
This much seems certain: No man pays greater attention to detail. During his press conference the other day, Belichick reminded the media that Super Bowl XLII referee Mike Carey also worked the Giants-Pats regular season contest in late December.
“Through the course of a season, you usually have each crew at least once,” Belichick observed. “Sometimes, even twice. In this case, with it being an all-star crew, certainly, we have seen all of the officials. I think officials do a great job but they make mistakes just like coaches do. I respect the job they do.
“At this point. I’m more concerned about our job and how well we play and coach Sunday. We’ll let the officials do their job. If I have a complaint, I will throw a flag.”
Belichick was asked to divulge his magic formula for historically getting the most of his players. “I’ll put it this way,” he explained. “I think you try to do what is best for your football team and particularly, what’s best for every individual player. That may not necessarily be the same each week. It varies and you kind of have to take it how each situation arises. Whatever’s best for our football team. That’s the decision I will make.”
Belichick disclosed the most logical means is simply communication. “My players know that from day one,” he advised. “If it’s something that needs to be addressed behind closed doors..so be it. I’ve discovered through the years, the better your communication skills, the better you give yourself a chance for success”
His track record would confirm that.
SUPER LORE
BELICHICK was asked to comment on his relationship with Coughlin. “We both coach players in ways to make them better,” he noted. “Whether that be little things, technical things or in strategies that attack the opponent and create opportunites for your players. At the end of the day, you always try and put your players in position where they can succeed and be successful. You discover how you’ve fared through time. I think both Tom and myself have enjoyed some degree of success…”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell delivered his annual ‘state of the league’ evaluation during a Friday press conference. “By any measure this (2007) season has been extraordinary,” he declared. “The competitoon on the field..the ratings..the record attendance are all barometers that our league is extremely healthy and the interest continues to grow..”
Goodell also touched on a recent inquiry directed by Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Spector regarding “the inexplicable destruction of the skygate tapes.”
“I am more than willing to meet with the senator (if that’s what it eventually comes to). I think there are very good explantions for the reason why I destroyed the tapes or had them destroyed by our staff.”
The commish also downplayed speculation by some the Patriots’ act tarnishes a potential championship tonight. “I don’t think it taints their accomplishments,” Goodell exclaimed. “The action we took was decisive and unprecedented. It sent a loud message — not only to the Patriots — but to every other NFL team that you better follow the rules…”