You’ve got to hand it to the Giants. They made it here the hard way, winning all three road games. I still don’t think they are in the class of any of the final four AFC teams, though.

I’ve always been a closet Eli Manning fan. I think it’s because he’s always been crapped on for not caring enough, which isn’t true. I see his disintrest as a positive quality that helps him remain calm when he needs to deliver. He doesn’t have the charisma of his brother, but when all of the chips are on the table, I’d take Eli over Payton and his anxious feet when you have to come from behind in the fourth quarter of a playoff game.

I don’t think Eli has the weapons around him to win his next game, though. Burress has come up big in the playoffs so far, but in my opinion the lack of a good check down option for Eli is going to be the Achilles heal for the Giants offense. Despite Shockey’s mouth and antics, his hands are going to be missed when they need to complete a third and seven with Plaxico and Toomer covered. I think the Pats will allow Steve Smith some opportunities to make big catches before they start worrying about a rookie in the Super Bowl beating them.

This time Pats’ will have the right side of their OL back, and we see what that has meant for Maroney in the past two games. They also don’t have to force the ball to any specific receivers in order to break those pesky records. Brady will have the full buffet of receivers to choose from, so I’d be surprised if we see the fourth down kicking units make five appearances like they did in week 17.

Take the Over, Not the Underdog.

Everybody loves the underdog, from David to the Little Engine That Could.

Pundits cite the ‘01 Patriots or the ‘90 Giants as examples that yes, your team too can do the impossible. (Of course, they never mention the one element those teams had in common.)

Why not the ‘89 Broncos, the ‘92 Bills or ‘94 Chargers? They were big underdogs, too, and so good at it, they never broke character through their respective Super Bowls. Updated rule: Everybody loves the underdog, until the underdog loses.

But let’s not insult these Giants. They’re a nice team. They put it all together at the right time, and made a legendary march on the road through the playoffs. They feature an embattled young quarterback, an enigmatic wide receiver, a sack-happy defense, and an NFL lifer at coach.

They’re the ‘85 Patriots. What’s not to like?

(Editors Note: Throughout the afternoon, we’ll be bringing you last-minute thoughts from the members of our esteemed Patriots Roundtable, as they prepare to watch their team take the field for its fourth Super Bowl of the last seven years.)

I am excited about this game. I have read a lot of the pre-game stuff, and been talking with my friends and family about it a lot. I have gotten my ire up at the surprsingly talkative New York Giants. I’m ready to go. Which surprises me a bit. All the winning the Patriots and Red Sox (who I am also a fan of) have done the past few years spoils you a bit. And as a result, I think you lose the passion as a fan to some degree. Not that I don’t follow it closely and I still attend every game. You never lose your fandom or interest or happiness when they win. But I think that feeling you have, perhaps before the first one, that it would absolutely crush you if they lose and pure joy if they win diminishes when you get into dynasty territory. Then I think it becomes more like admiration or appreciation than pure adrenaline rush. But I think I am more fired up for this Patriots game than I have been for awhile. And more so than before their last Super Bowl win. Maybe its the history they can make by going undefeated. Whatever it is, I’m ready to go and I think most Patriots fans are. This isn’t just a mundane champion of the year that the NFL crowns every year they’re going for here. It’s a chance, as Junior Seau says, to be a part of ever. And that is special. And a great reason to get fired up. 6:18 p.m. can’t get here soon enough.

by Scott Benson
scott@patriotsdaily.com

There are no words left.

Two weeks with Super Bowl XLII under the microscope, and there’s nothing more to say. Everything has been laid bare, up to and including the final walkthrough of Super Bowl XXXVI. Now, almost incidental to the madness that surrounds it, only the game itself remains.

Forty years following this stuff and I don’t remember a more emotionally exhausting season. Eighteen straight wins and, incredibly, I have to think hard to remember if we had a good time during any of it. Because there was always some assault coming from somewhere, from the traditional media, from the new media, from rival executives, rival players, and always from the miserable supporters of the other 31 teams.

First, they and their Nixon-ian coach cheated to win. Then, when they weren’t cheating anymore, they won by too much. And then they weren’t winning by enough. And then they were dirty. And…..there was always an ‘and’.

Naturally, the moments before Super Bowl XXXVI would not be any different. Once again, Angry America and the media that satiates it moved stealing football signals to the forefront of the perpetually overwrought national debate, ahead of OJ, shark attacks, Gary Condit, Anna Nicole Smith, and even Britney Spears. A congressional investigation, complete with whistleblower, just happen to arrive in the nick of time.

In the words of Larry Johnson - lemme ask you a question. After five months, assistant golf pro Matt Walsh arrives on the doorstep of SB 42, the single most watched sporting event in the world, and he’s doing this out of some altruistic concern for the integrity of the NFL?

Come on. Nobody has used a lick of common sense in this whole thing, right from the beginning. Not Bill Belichick, who probably could have avoided all this. Certainly not Roger Goodell, who just made it worse. Certainly not the disgraceful Senator Arlen Specter, who is so hopelessly out of touch that he would make a Federal case out of a football game while average Americans can barely heat their homes, fill their gas tanks, and stock their cupboards. Who is so staggeringly arrogant that he would remain invisible as American mothers and fathers bury their dead soliders yet make himself so noticeable now.

And absolutely no common sense by the media, so caught up in competing with each other and mugging for ever-decreasing attention that they long ago disabused themselves of any public trust.

Anyway, that’s over now, if you use good sense and find something else to do with your day once ESPN and Fox begin their pre-game programming. Which flat out sucks, because of all times, we should be enjoying these most of all.

Let’s hope the Sunday papers take it easy on us; this is going to be a long day.

In the Globe, Mike Reiss has Andre Tippett becoming the second player to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame after playing his entire career with the Patriots. What a thrill to see a Patriot be so honored yesterday, on this of all weekends. And we have none other than Ron Borges to thank for it. Borges made the case for Tippett in yesterday’s selection process, and in the strangest twist of all, fans of the local entry owe a tip of the cap to their longtime adversary for providing the only feel good moment of the last few days.

Reiss and Christopher Gasper also have the league and the Patriots denying they taped the St. Louis Rams walkthrough the day before their legendary Super Bowl XXXVI win. Key line for me: Matt Walsh’s “employment ended abruptly” in 2003. By the way, Matt, you had 2002 in your own wedding announcement.

Turning our attention to the field, Gasper correctly notes that one way or another, the Pats will make history today. Gasper also correctly notes that 18-0 won’t mean a thing if the Pats can’t close the deal. Jim McBride says no worries - the Pats will prevail 37-10.

And now its time to get Up Close and Personal with the key players behind the Patriots’ success. Mike Reiss profiles Robert Kraft (who is firing back on Spygate), Kevin Paul Dupont takes on Bill Belichick, and Bob Hohler catches Ernie Adams pulling the strings. On the field, Jackie MacMullen says Laurence Maroney has persevered to become one of the best players on the field over the last month. Michael Vega looks at two things that never get old - going to the Super Bowl, and Rodney Harrison. Frank Del’Appa visits with jack of all trades Heath Evans, who should be remembered in any assessments of the Patriots and free agents.

Briefly glancing at the other sideline, John Powers has Mass native and Giants DC Steve Spagnuolo facing a tall order today. Jim McCabe looks at Giants GM Jerry Reese, and in his notebook, rookie TE Kevin Boss. Mark Blaudschun focuses on LB Antonio Pierce.

On to the Herald, which had a quiet day yesterday.

John Tomase has the league and team denials of his Saturday report. He includes a comment from then-Rams QB Kurt Warner, who remembers working on red-zone offense at the walkthrough that was allegedly filmed. By the way, red zone trips by the Rams in SB 36: one. Result: touchdown. So what did this tape do, again? And the Patriots had just played the Rams in November, for crying out loud. The lessons learned in that game led to a changed approach and the win (”Slants, and in-cuts! That’s the game!”). That’s in the history books already, for Pete’s sake. None of that’s true? It all came instead from a hand held camera on the weekend of the game?

Common sense, people. Common sense. Take Tomase’s report yesterday, and his story of “what happened” according to his source. Plenty of detail - employee stays behind, tapes Rams walkthrough, not asked for credentials or interrupted in any way, blends into the media crowd and even rides their shuttle back to the hotel. Seem like a first person account to me. So what happened to the tape? Oh, that’s “not known.” Strange how the story just trails off there, doesn’t? Is somebody holding back the punch line looking for the best offer?

One more thing. Secret Agent Man rode back with the media? Were they watching the walkthrough too? Sounds like the Rams were working on some top secret stuff. Common sense. Shoudn’t it be applied at least once before we start ‘tainting’ this or that? It’s okay to slap that tag on Belichick, Brady, and all the others, but it’s not okay to hold Walsh and Tomase’s ’source’ to an equally high standard, providing they aren’t one and the same?

It isn’t? Not according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, who is so anxious to see the worst befall the Patriots that he’s decided to accept Walsh’s story at face value, and blame Patriots fans for any inconsistencies in his story. So much for due diligence when it doesn’t support our preferred end. And get this: Florio’s a lawyer. Hopefully not a defense lawyer.

In happier news, Rob Bradford has the report on the Tippett HOF nod, and Steve Buckley reflects on an emotional day for the Pats great.

To the field, Tomase predicts a blowout for the Pats. Karen Gurgeian says the controversy just provides further incentive for the Perfect Pats. Tomase adds five things to watch. Tony Massarotti profiles the unequaled leadership of Tom Brady. Donna Goodison gives us some good material with which to give Laurence Maroney a hard time next year - hey man, are those the Goofy Grapes?

This being the Herald, they have to give equal time to the New York Post, which ought to be taken out into the alley and given two in the hat. Steve Serby should drop dead, working ‘Bill Belicheat’ into the second paragraph. This being Boston-New York, Massarotti can’t just let it go for once.

In the ProJo, Robert Lee says this is the Pats shot at immortality. Shalise Manza Young outlines a Giant task for New York. Jim Donaldson says you can’t overhype this Super Bowl, not with all that’s on the line. Yes you can, Jim, but that’s a nice sentiment anyway. SMY looks at Andre Tippett, and Lee says Ellis Hobbs must be a Little Big Man against the Giants BIG RECEIV-UHS! today.

Elsewhere, the Courant has pulled out all the stops with a special Super Bowl edition, so check out the work of Dom Amore, David Heuschkel and Jeff Jacobs. Glen Farley of the MetroWest Daily News looks at the key move in the construction of the Patriots dynasty - luring Bill Belichick to New England.

From earlier this week, Ron Hobson looks at Belichick and his partner in team building, Scott Pioli. And my pal Chris Price has been cranking them out for the Metro all week. Chris has the Pats confronting history, and their offensive line as the key to the game. Have Randy Moss and Tom Brady become a package deal? Will this be Tedy Bruschi’s last game?

Check back throughout the day as members of our Patriots Roundtable share their final pre-game thoughts as their team tries to cap the first perfect season of the sixteen game era, and grab their fourth world championship in the last seven years.

by Scott Benson
scott@patriotsdaily.com

You know how on your clothes dryer, you have that big screen that collects up all the lint? Every couple of loads, you got to pull that thing out and collect all that gray matter from the screen with a kind of cotton candy-like move?

The following is like that.

Anklebiters

That’s why it’s best to just shut up when something happens. On Tuesday I worried about some videotape of a slight limp at the first practice. By the end of the week, Brady was throwing and moving well with no apparent extra support on his ankle. Waste of breath, basically. Who’s better than Tom Brady with the Super Bowl ankle injury? I am really depending on a Grade A Brady on Sunday, by the way; it’s really the linchpin of my whole “28-0 in the first quarter, then slowwwwwwly pull away” strategy.

Big Shoulders

Jabar Gaffney is entirely off the injury report, which pleased me, and caused me to reflect how far he has come in 18 months. After four respectably productive years in Houston, Gaffney was basically out of football - cut by the Eagles, who had signed him as a free agent. Yet today, if he had been limited, or shelved entirely on Sunday, one of the most productive offenses in the history of football would have assuredly felt the absence of Jabar Gaffney.

Arlen Specter is Tired of Playing Second Fiddle Specter to Some Crazy Gun-Wielding Record Producer

Let me get this straight. Sen. Arlen Specter, architect of the Single Bullet Theory, is insinuating that a hurried investigation has ended with more questions than answers, and a wounded public now ever skeptical of their leaders. He would know, I guess.

Apparently, frequent Philly sports radio caller Specter (R-PA) just happened to drop a note on the same matter just before his beloved Eagles tangled with the Pats in November, and also wondered if there might be further inquiry as to the outcome of Super Bowl XXXIX.

We’ve officially bottomed out.
 
Hold On, This Just In

You haven’t officially bottomed out until you’ve had a Dan Shaughnessy Super Bowl Moment. Guess what - Dan-o flew all the way to Phoenix to tell us Boston will always be a baseball town no matter what the hell happens. No word yet on if this column was any different than the fifty times he’s run it before.

Here’s the thing - why does it have to be a Red Sox town, or a Patriots town? Why is it that with the Patriots on the verge of what may be the first 19-0 season in the history of professional football, I have to pause and pay tribute to the Red Sox? Why is that, Dan? And by the way, isn’t there a basketball team with an illustrious past that’s well positioned to once again do what they used to do in their sleep - play for a championship? Isn’t Boston excited about that, too? And the Bruins - even in my little Internet world, there exists a hearty band of followers who track the team’s every move and hope - against hope, it seems sometimes - for a return to the days when the strode the Boston sporting landscape like no other.

And they may yet again - no, they will again. One of the benefits to getting older is the understanding that these things are cyclical, and one day, those dogs will have their day, just like the Red Sox and the Patriots are having theirs now. And people will be excited about it, and their blood will boil, and their hair will we raise, and their throats will grow hoarse, and their spirits will be lifted. Because Boston isn’t a Red Sox town or a Patriots town.

It’s a sports town.

On Second Thought

The idea that a United States Senator would be so frivilous as to use the legislative branch of the federal government to stage a last minute ‘look at me’ grab in the final days before the biggest sporting event on earth is, well, about the norm, I guess. What, is he hoping to get Belichick up there? “We addressed this at the time, Senator, and right now we’re getting ready for the St. Louis Rams.”

What do people think was on those tapes? Guy giving signals, scoreboard. Guy giving signals, scoreboard.

What were they doing with the tapes? Using them to steal signs. In the same game? That seems doubtful, given that they were to be syncronized with other tape and then studied, and then reported back. In the same season? Hell yeah. Over multiple seasons? I don’t see why not. 

What’s being covered up? How about this - that people have been ‘cheating’ ever since the President of the Green Bay Packing Company started a football team? That it’s part of the game, and everybody does it, then and now (apparently, some better than others)? That if the professional twisted skirts make a Federal case - literally - out of every scout that was minding his own business in a coconut tree, the NFL would have nothing short of a full-on clusterfudge on its hands. And for what? Stealing the sign for a blitz? Sounds like reasonable incentive to ‘move on’ for everybody.

You know what? I’m realizing that I ought to do exactly that - I’ve wasted my time even going through this subject again. Hopefully the Honorable Senator Comcast will come to the same realization.

Talking Heads

I’ve heard that the New York Giants have been making the most of their moment in the sun, boldly talking up their prospects to anyone who would listen. They are particularly proud of their last game of the season, which they lost. I can’t say I blame them one bit for living it up while they can. In two years, no one will even remember they played in this game.

Whew

I can’t tell you how glad I am to see this week end. Just so happens we’re in breakneck mode at the office, with at least four weeks before we will catch our breath. So to have a few deadlines met and a few people happy (well, moderately satisfied, anyway) as Friday drifts on toward midnight, well, it feels great. I hope you are equally carefree tonight, knowing of course, that like everything, it’s only temporary.

But for now, the game. All week, Brady’s been telling people that the Patriots were going to make history, win or lose. He’s said it in a ‘not that we’re going to lose’ way, but there’s truth in it anyway, especially for us, the witnesses. As you arise this morning to begin your weekly respite from the real world, this time real history awaits. Win or lose.

I gotta say, though, the ‘win’ history sounds like the better deal.

Patriots Buffet Table - Patriots vs. Giants, Super Bowl XLII
Patriots Daily Kitchen Staff
feedback@patriotsdaily.com

Here we are again waiting for a Super Bowl to arrive. The fourth in seven years. Never forget how lucky we are to be watching this team at this time.

This time the Patriots are looking to be the first 19-0 team in NFL history. They’re looking to put up the true perfect season. They’re looking to put the 1972 Dolphins speaking engagement tour out of business.

We’re changing our approach at the Buffet Table this week. We plan our menus around tailgating and we’re faced with a few problems. Not many of you will be going to Arizona for the game. Even if you do go, the host cities always ban tailgating at the Super Bowl.

Luckily for us people like to make a celebration out of the Super Bowl. This Buffet Table is planned with gatherings small or large in mind.

We’ll be looking at food and beverage that is easy to prepare. Food and drink that is customizable to a variety of people. And importantly, food that can be handled pot luck style.

If you’re hosting a party why should you do all the work? If you’re going to a party bring something along and the host will appreciate it.

Speaking of helping out at a pot luck. BSMW regulars and family have contributed their personal recipes and beer choices to this Buffet Table.

Appetizers:

Jennifer Blisard’s Reuben Dip
A reuben sandwich turned into a dip. Delicious and its a tip of the cap to the Patriots NY opponents.
Thanks Jennifer.

Ingredients:
1 cup sauerkraut, drained
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese
1 (6 oz.) shredded Swiss cheese
6 ounces diced corned beef
2 tbsp. Thousand Island Dressing
Crackers, or cocktail rye bread

Preparation:
Drain and rinse sauerkraut, mix with cream cheese and Swiss cheese. Add diced corned beef and Thousand Island dressing.
Cover and heat on low in the crockpot, until cheeses are melted, stirring occasionally to blend all ingredients.

Serve warm.

Jennifer Blisard’s Pepperoni Pizza Dip:
Not one but 2 recipes from Jennifer. Don’t try passing these off as your own people. Give credit where it is due.

Ingredients:
1 8oz. package of cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. oregano
Pizza Sauce (not pasta sauce!)
Reserve:
1/2 cup chopped pepperoni
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup mozzarella

Preparation:
Mix all ingredients except the sauce in pyrex or metal baking pan. Cover with pizza sauce, approximately 1/2 cup.

Add on top the 1/2 cup chopped pepperoni, 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup chopped green pepper

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes

Add 1/2 cup mozzarella and bake additional 5-10 minutes.

Serve with favorite crackers. Garden or vegetable crackers are really good with this.

Main Course:

Feejis’ Slider Bar
Small burgers offered with a variety of toppings. Each guest can customize to their own taste.

Ingredients:
Serves 4-5, the recipe can be easily multiplied
2 pounds Ground beef or turkey
1 egg
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
small slider sized buns

Other:
Wax or parchment paper

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350

Mix the meat, egg and spices, roll into a big meatball. Lay out a piece of wax paper or parchment paper on a cutting board. Throw that giant meatball down like Brandon Jacobs fumbling the ball. Place another piece of wax paper on top of it and use a rolling pin to roll it out. Make sure you use the wax paper, without the paper, the meat will stick to the rolling pin.

Aim for 1/4″ thick and a generally square or rectangular shape. Thicker if you can only find thick rolls.

Take the paper off the top, cut it with a pizza cutter. Size the sliders so they’ll fit well on the rolls you get.

Use a spatula to transfer them to cookie sheets or glass pans. Place them in your 350 oven for 6-8 minutes, depending on doneness desired and the thickness you rolled the sliders out to. If you still have your grill out, you can grill them as well.

Lay out the huge pile of burgers, buns and toppings for people to serve themselves.

As for those toppings, do whatever you or your guests like. Request they bring over burger toppings. Sauteed onions, Mushrooms, peppers. The typical mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomato. BBQ sauce, a few cheeses. Whatever you can think of.

Don’t forget the Half Smoke Chili from the Patriots-Redskins Buffet Table and the cheese sauce from the Patriots-Eagles Buffet Table.

Time for a drink!

So far on the Buffet Table we’ve profiled a particular beer style per week. With the variety of food we’re making, and with everyone having different beer preferences. We’re drinking the Boston Sports Media Watch/Patriots Daily Mix Pack.

Here’s old pal Joe Dokes and he brought Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA, some organic Wolavers, Pennichuck No. 5 and Geary’s Winter.

Theres TjM toting his favorite German import Becks.

Ed Hillel isn’t emptyhanded, thats a Smuttynose mix pack I spy. Great for watching games and taking hiking right Ed?

She’s sweet, but it looks like Suzy likes bitter beer. I can pick out those green labels from Sierra Nevada Pale Ale from across the room.

Everyone’s favorite crustacean lobstah is sporting Shipyard Prelude, Bar Harbor Real Ale and Coal Porter in his claws. Can you pop a top with those claws?

Feejis likes Coors Light and Killians with his sliders.

Someone needs to help Dan bring those in, what is that Sam Adams, Smithwick’s, Bud Light, and Michelob Light?

Hey! Chief made it up here, what do you have Magic Hat Circus Boy… weren’t you just saying you got burnt out on this and wished you had some way to get rid of it?

Looks like the Patriots Daily Round Table has let out, here comes Scott, and he’s carrying some Geary’s.

Lebron made it out as well. He loves his Colorado beers, but for football he brought some Moosehead. A good crisp Canadian lager, not too filling, but it still has great flavor.

This is a thirsty bunch, and they like a variety of frosty barley pops. If you don’t know what your guests like go out and buy a few variety packs. Sam Adams, Geary’s, Sea Dog, Harpoon, Redhook and countless others have 12 packs including 3,4 or 6 different beers.

That does it for the Patriots Buffet Table. You should have enough food and beverage to last you this offseason. See you all
next fall.

What are your Super Bowl food and drink plans? Let us know below in the comments.