Breaking it all downThough the Patriots’ loss in Super Bowl XLVI still smarts for players and fans, the coaches and front office staff have little choice but to turn the page toward the 2012 season. The Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Game, the two events that typically kick off draft season in earnest, have already been held, and the annual NFL Combine will begin Feb. 22.
Fateful pass a rare type for WelkerIt will be replayed and argued over in New England for the next 50 years and perhaps beyond.
On balance, all things are not equalIn the aftermath of something like this, the truth sits somewhere in the rubble, buried in piles of questions and missed opportunities. Sifting through the debris can take some time, and in the NFL, there is rarely any rest for the weary.
Manning, Coughlin are contentINDIANAPOLIS - With two Super Bowl wins (both over the Patriots) and two game Most Valuable Player awards, Giants quarterback Eli Manning has bragging rights over his older brother, Peyton, who was named MVP when the Colts beat the Bears in Super Bowl XLI.
In the end, Giant difference in talentINDIANAPOLIS - The Patriots didn’t lose Super Bowl XLVI. The more talented team won it.
Giants return homeEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Smiles were the order of the day, as the Super Bowl-champion New York Giants returned home, victorious once again.
Lasting impressionsFOXBOROUGH - On a personally and professionally painful day, Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick took a few moments to reflect on a Patriots’ season that was at a crossroads at the midway point but ended with the team as AFC champions, and a crushing Super Bowl defeat.
Situation hard to grasp for WelkerINDIANAPOLIS - No Patriot, at least visibly, took Sunday’s Super Bowl loss any harder than Wes Welker.
BC program well-representedBoston College football alumni certainly had to be beaming after last night’s Super Bowl.
Izzo sees big difference from other sideLarry Izzo didn’t see it. The former Patriots special teams captain didn’t understand how anyone could characterize last night’s Super Bowl as a rematch from four years ago in Glendale, Ariz.
Welker tries to get handle on key dropWes Welker’s voice was barely audible. He leaned forward in his director’s chair as he sat at a podium in the Patriots interview area at Lucas Oil Stadium, taking questions about his role in the Patriots’ 21-17 loss to the Giants last night in Super Bowl XLVI.
Sequel has same endingGroundhog Day was last week, but for Tom Brady it was four years ago. Same opponent, same stakes, same outcome.
Small role for this big targetRob Gronkowski insisted that his sprained left ankle was fine last night despite mountains of evidence to the contrary. He patiently repeated that he was “100 percent’’ and “good to go’’ several times when asked whether the injury limited him.
Peyton's place? Saga looms large in IndyThe zip lines are a huge hit, and Madonna seems to excite everyone. Hosting the Super Bowl has given local politicians a chance to puff out their chests, show off their beautiful new stadium, and declare this is a big city after all.
Green-Ellis wears impact gear\Years ago, BenJarvus Green-Ellis found himself in the same position as thousands of youngsters with a passion for football: His mother, fearing serious injury, didn’t want her son playing the sport.
He saves his best for last once againWhen Eli Manning and the Giants offense took the field with 3 minutes, 46 seconds left in Super Bowl XLVI, trailing, 17-15, Patriots fans around the world no doubt were sharing similar unpleasant thoughts, either verbally or telepathically: There’s too much time left, they’ve done this to us before, they’re going to do it to us again.
History repeatsFour years after watching their perfect season implode in the desert of Glendale, Ariz., the Patriots were again beaten in the Super Bowl by the New York Giants, this time by a score of 21-17.
Once again, team's deferment plan paid big dividendsThe Patriots have elected to defer when they win the coin toss, dating to a couple of seasons ago.
Among the elite, Manning states caseIt would have been impossible for Eli Manning not to hear it. He was surrounded by it from the second the Giants bus pulled into the Indianapolis Downtown Marriott last Monday.
Bradshaw is a reluctant hero after late TDWhen the Giants broke the huddle Eli Manning knew there was something he had neglected to say. The quarterback knew he should have talked to Ahmad Bradshaw . So he started yelling.
Assistant living right where Pope wants to beMike Pope had to reach deep into his memory banks to count all the head coaches he’s worked for in his 29 years in the NFL.
Rookie Mallett taking it all inRyan Mallett sat out the 2008 season after he transferred from Michigan to Arkansas, so the frustration of practicing all week without any hope of playing is familiar to him.
New York, New YorkThe Giants ended the Patriots’ season in heartbreak for the second time in as many Super Bowl meetings, winning their fourth Vince Lombardi Trophy, 21-17, last night.
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Lockout a distant memory as popularity growsLess than a year ago, Tom Brady, Logan Mankins, Osi Umenyiora, and seven other players filed an antitrust suit against the NFL, a key moment in a convoluted and contentious labor dispute between the union and league that threatened to cut short - or even wipe out - the 2011 season.
Much-maligned defense wasn’t the problemThey did their part. And then some. When the book is written on the 2011 Patriots , the record will show that the much-maligned and much-talked about defense was not the Achilles’ heel of this team, like some thought it was.
Manningham's catch put them over the topMarion Manningham’s eyes were glued to her son as Eli Manning threw the pass. As the ball followed Mario Manningham to a spot where two defenders were closing in, with the sideline closing in, where the measure between immortality and forgotten was oh-so-thin.
Indianapolis has become city that doesn’t sleepIndianapolis was once called Naptown and India-No-Place for a reason.
In save situation, an opportunity lostAll year long, the question bugging anyone interested in the fortunes of the New England Patriots was this: In a game-saving situation, could the defense get the other guys off the field?
In the line of fire, a cool headTom Coughlin knew the drill. “You lose a game in New York, and you’re fired,’’ he said. “Or burned at the stake.’’
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Woodhead could be a big problem for GiantsDanny Woodhead could have a significant impact on tonight's Super Bowl.
He is still team’s little big manThe Patriots hit the jackpot when they traded for versatile slotman Wes Welker.
Reese’s pieces came together with sweet resultIn August, New York general manager Jerry Reese calmly and confidently said the Giants would improve and make a run in the playoffs. Boy, was he right.
We don’t really know him at allWe think we know the man inside the hoodie, the maestro of the monosyllable, the scowl on the sideline, the cold-blooded, humorless molder of champions.
Coach likes this group’s dynamicsEverybody wants to know why Bill Belichick has been so downright bubbly this week. The answer is simple. He loves this particular group, perhaps as much as any he’s ever coached.
Once again, Tyree open to lend helping handDavid Tyree , one of the heroes of the Giants’ Super Bowl XLII win over the Patriots , has been in touch with Giants receivers Hakeem Nicks , Mario Manningham and Victor Cruz , who will be playing in the Super Bowl for the first time.
Journey with hang timeNobody else who’ll be suiting up for the Super Bowl inside Lucas Oil Stadium tomorrow has made anything approaching the odyssey that Patriots punter Zoltan Mesko has made.
He’s in zone coverageKyle Arrington was asked the question, then asked for a moment to consider his answer, claiming he’s never thought of it before.
What they were thinking: Saluting the PatriotsEvery Sunday, Boston Globe photographer Stan Grossfeld asks the subject of one of his photos to explain what’s happening in the shot:
Another win streak gets squashedEighth in a collection of eight memorable Patriots-Giants games
Upon closer review, it’s all on the lineThe Giants are a much better team than they were in Super Bowl XLII. The Patriots likely aren’t.
Political footballDespite his high-profile name the conservative Republican is a long shot in the 10-candidate field that is seeking retiring Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s seat.
Giants win Super Bowl rematch over PatriotsThe Giants did it again. There was no perfect season on the line this time, but the New York Giants still ended the New England Patriots’ season in heartbreak for the second time in as many Super Bowl meetings, winning Super Bowl XLVI, 21-17, for the fourth NFL championship in franchise history.
Staff predictionsBOB RYAN
Martin receives Hall passThe Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2012 induction ceremony will have a New England flavor this year. Running back Curtis Martin, who was drafted and played three years with the Patriots ,was among five modern-era players selected yesterday.
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Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich vs. Giants right tackle Kareem McKenzieDuring the regular season, the 6-foot-2-inch, 255-pound strong-side outside linebacker and sub rushing end was seventh on the team with 62 tackles (46 solo) and third with 6 1/2 official sacks.
Odds are with their latest lineAfter using a three-man defensive front as his base package for years, Belichick went into camp this season focused on switching to a 4-3. The 3-4 is still part of the package, but in 14 of 18 games, the Patriots started with a four-man front.
Hot under the collarAll season, the Giants defense seemed like the kind of mess Perry Fewell couldn’t mop up. But in their last five games, the Giants have 20 sacks and 11 takeaways.
