Dan Shaugnessy gets the word from Larry Bird.
"I’m rooting for the Patriots,’’ said Bird before watching his Pacers beat the Nets Tuesday night. "I always go with the Boston teams, and I could never root for a New York team. Come on!’’
Patrick Chung speaks to the media on the chemistry in the secondary.
"Whoever is out there is going to play. Coach (Bill Belichick) has full confidence in whoever he puts out there. The (Giants) have a very good receiving corps. They have three different kinds of receivers that can make big plays. I think we have a good secondary. We matchup well. It's going to be a battle. We have to try and contain them. We can't stop all three, because they're that good. We're going to try and contain them and do the best we can."
Kyle Love on being at the Super Bowl.
"I never would have imagined this – playing football in the NFL – (having) not been drafted. It has just all come full circle. It is crazy to me. But to be here is a blessing. I enjoy playing for this team and playing my role as a player. Whatever Belichick asks me, (I'll do). I have so much respect for him and I love this team."
Jerod Mayo talks about the team's mood.
"I think this team is ready to go. Everyone is working hard. Yesterday after media day I saw guys in there watching film and they're still studying to prepare for this game. I think the sense of urgency is there and we've just got to keep it going."
"It's like counting down days before Christmas. Guys are very excited and anxious to get on the field."
Brandon Spikes addresses his style of play.
"I haven't changed my game one bit. I approach the game every time like, 'Just play hard,' like every snap is my last."
"I just feel like I'm caged up right now, pacing back and forth waiting. I'm ready. It's hard to explain. Like I said, I'm enjoying all this, you guys. It's fun; it's a great experience. It's something I can tell my kids a long time from now."
TEAM TALK
- Patriots-Giants Wednesday Injury Report.
- Andy Hart catches up with Brian Hoyer, who wants to play, sort of.
- Press Conference Transcript: Bill Belichick.
- Patriots Coaching Staff Quotes.
- Patriots Quotes: Offense and Defense.
- Patriots Today - Light, Vollmer appear ready. (1.50 min. video)
- Patriots Today - A look back 10 years - Wednesday. Remember Bledsoe-Brady debate?
- Locker Room Uncut - Reality setting in for Patriots. (3.03 min. video)
- NFLN Videos: Belichick talks TEs. (5.13 min. video)
- NFLN Videos: Brady reflects on AFC title game. (3.25 min. video)
- NFLN Videos: Welker talks contract situation. (2.33 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Tom E. Curran tells the truth: There's never been a better NFL quarterback than Tom Brady.
- Mike Rodak takes an in-depth look at how the 2011 Patriots were built.
- Mike Petraglia says Matt Light knows keeping Tom Brady upright will go a long way toward determining whether the Patriots win Sunday.
- Mike Reiss notes Matt Light keeps his quarterback safe and his Patriots teammates laughing.
- Ron Borges believes the Super Bowl will be decided along the line of scrimmage, in a cage match rather than a chess match.
- Greg A. Bedard looks at this matchup for Sunday: CB Kyle Arrington vs. WR Victor Cruz.
- Karen Guregian reports Tom Brady's place in history is already secured, but he always is after something more.
- Christopher Price reports Kevin Faulk is thankful for another trip to the Super Bowl, and the coaches and players are thankful to have him.
- Jeff Howe notes Brandon Spikes tries to model his game after the old-school guys who ''tried to rip your head off."
- Ian Rapoport reports Brandon Spikes hasn't forgotten his tough roots, and wants his on-field celebrations to be an example that you can make it out.
- Steve Buckley reports Julian Edelman is just following the Belichick mantra: "Ignore the noise and don't believe the hype."
- Kirk Minihane reminds us not to forget about Deion Branch, one of only two players in NFL history with at least 10 catches in two Super Bowls. The other is Jerry Rice.
- Peter Abraham talks about the relationship Vince Wilfork builds with his D-line brothers on and off the field.
- Christopher Price gives us five things we learned Wednesday: Led by Wilfork, the Pats' D-line is playing its best football of the year.
- Phil Perry reports the Patriots practiced for 2 1/2 hours Wednesday, with loud noise being pumped into the facility.
- Christopher Price points out New England has won all four times when facing a defense for the second time.
- Ian Rapoport reports the revenge factor is felt by the fans and ex-players, but it's not what motivates this year's team.
- Christopher Price has a terrific piece on Tom Martinez, who will be keeping an eye on Tom Brady from afar.
- Mark Daniels says the Combine couldn't measure all of Tom Brady.
- Greg A. Bedard focuses on Dante Scarnecchia, the one constant through all four owners, and six head coaches who all agree he's one of the smartest in the business.
- Mike Sando notes Josh McDaniels has made a positive impression with his return to the Patriots.
- Rob Bradford notes Kurt Warner believes the Patriots-Rams Super Bowl might have been different if it were played today.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Kevin Fishbain (Pro Football Weekly) Patriots-Giants matchup of the day: Giants WRs vs. Patriots CBs.
- Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Quick hits from Patriots media session.
- Adam Schefter (ESPN) Patriots simulate 'halftime' break.
- James Walker (ESPN) Bill Belichick leaving no stone unturned.
- Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Some things about Giants-Patriots haven't changed.
- Hub Arkush (Pro Football Weekly) A different view of Belichick. Nice piece revealing a side of Belichick not many know.
- Alex Marvez (Fox Sports) Light set to handle load for Brady again.
- Jeremy Lundblad (ESPN Stats & Info) Both Pats, Giants have potent weapons.
- Mark Ambrogi (Indy Star) New England Patriots at Super Bowl 2012: Ground game is a pack attack.
- NFL Playbook (NFL.com) Secondary play could decide who wins Super Bowl XLVI.
- Pat Kirwan (NFL.com) Deja Blue? Giants must control trenches to beat Pats again.
- Video (ESPN) Stuart Scott, Tedy Bruschi and Trent Dilfer show how the Giants plan to get to Brady. (2.37 min.)
- Jim Trotter (SI) Higher stakes mean more pressure on kickers in playoffs.
- Kerry J. Byrne (SI) Shift toward offense culminates with upcoming XLVI fireworks.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) "Butterball" Vince Wilfork says people are surprised he can dunk.
- Jeff Legwold (Denver Post) New England Patriots struck gold in 2010 draft by selecting TE Rob Gronkowski.
- Jerry Sullivan (Buffalo News) Life's a fiesta for Pats' Gronkowski, day by day.
- Mark Maske (Washington Post) Patriots' Julian Edelman will be busy Sunday.
- Arthur Arkush (Pro Football Weekly) Jack-of-all-trades Edelman invaluable to Patriots.
- Doug Farrar (Yahoo! Sports) Not all Giants impressed by Julian Edelman's two-way play.
- Chris Burke (SI) Matt Light, Sebastian Vollmer ready to go on Patriots' O-line.
- Gary Mihoces (USA Today) New England rookie Nate Solder proves truly patriotic.
- Elizabeth Merrill (ESPN) 12 things to know about Tom Brady.
- Charean Williams (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Brady on brink of joining NFL legends.
- Les Carpenter (Yahoo! Sports) Memory of Brady's first QB coach lives on.
- Jon Machota (Dallas News) Steve Young: Making elite plays, Tony Romo equal to Brady, Brees.
- Martin Rogers (Yahoo! Sports) Wes Welker turns heads (and stomachs) with his garish trousers.
- Eric Edholm (Pro Football Weekly) Coordinators hold power to script opening plays.
- Greg Garber (ESPN) Remembering the Patriots' first lady.
- Eric Edholm (Pro Football Weekly) Evans rips Holmgren, praises Belichick for building teams.
- MJD (Yahoo! Sports) The top 10 Super Bowl quarterback matchups of all-time.
- Joe Fortenbaugh (Nat'l Football Post) Big Blue is the popular pick for Sunday's Super Bowl.
VIEW FROM NEW YORK
- Bart Hubbuch (NY Post) Giants' Canty making parade plans.
- Ralph Vacchiano (NY Daily News) NY Giants' Chris Canty latest to engage in Super Bowl XLVI trash talk, tells fans to 'get ready for a parade'.
- Mike Lupica (NY Daily News) Giants have their hands full against Tom Brady and Patriots in Super Bowl despite what has become prevailing opinion.
- Steve Politi (Star-Ledger) Tom Brady, Patriots' superstar, is caught in a chase for perfection.
- Jenny Vrentas (Star-Ledger) Patriots' Matt Light downplays bad blood with Giants' Osi Umenyiora.
- Steve Serby (NY Post) Giants hoping for repeat performance vs. Patriots.
- Mark Cannizzaro (NY Post) Roster full of castoffs pays off for Patriots.
- Todd Venezia (NY Post) Gisele e-mails friends, family asking for Super Bowl support for hubby.
- Paul Schwartz (NY Post) A fine mess for Umenyiora.
- George Willis (NY Post) Foot injury can't stop Ahmad.
- Bart Hubbuch (NY Post) Matchup to watch: QB Eli Manning vs. FS Patrick Chung.
- Brian Costello (NY Post) Giants, Patriots Super streaks launched with wins over Jets.
- Michael Eisen (Giants.com) Giants still preparing for Pats' Gronkowski.
- Conor Orr (Star-Ledger) Patriots' speedy RB Stevan Ridley hoping for chance to redeem fumbling problems.
- Conor Orr (Star-Ledger) Patriots' Sterling Moore used a few small tasks to make his way to big stage.