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Home , Aaron Ross, Adalius Thomas, Adam Koets, Ahmad Bradshaw, Amani Toomer, Antonio Pierce

+ SECTION D, PAGE 6 NFL THE BLADE: TOLEDO, OHIO t SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2008 + Skins’ all-pro pair hall of fame picks Monk, Green to join 4 others on Aug. 2 “This is incredible. This is so PHOENIX — Like the two old special,” Green said when in- friends they are, formed of the vote. “This is out and Art Monk chatted about the of this world.” latest news in their lives: making Receiver was not the Pro Football Hall of Fame. elected. Carter fi nished his Never mind that thousands 15-year career second on the of people were listening to the career list in receptions and TD conference call after yesterday’s catches. announcement. This was simply Inductions will be at the Pro two former Washington Redskins Football Hall of Game in Canton sharing verbal hugs after receiv- on Aug. 2. ing the sport’s highest honor. “I looked forward to the day RETUERS REUTERS “May I just say to you when we are going to Canton,” Green I fi rst came to Washington, you said. “Hopefully, there are sev- Patriots has a big edge in and the Giants have won all of had just won the Super Bowl, experience. He’s 3-0 and has been MVP two times in the game. their playoff games on the road. eral hundred thousand hotels you guys worked me over for there, and several hundred nine weeks and I hated all of thousand tickets.” you,” Green told Monk, drawing Perhaps the most surprising laughter. outcome was that Tagliabue, Matchups heavily in favor of Patriots “I appreciate your words,” again, did not get elected. Monk told Green, who covered In his 17 years, the NFL ex- Monk in practices for years. “I Blade sports columnist Dave Hackenberg breaks the Super Bowl into 16 position comparisons and now knows why the New perienced no labor stoppages, was trying to hear some of the England Patriots are favored over the . Hackenberg gives the Patriots the edge in eight areas and sees the Giants as while its revenues from TV con- comments that you made and I having the upper hand at only two spots. There are six positions where the teams are rated even. tracts skyrocketed. There also feel the same way.” were expansions to Jacksonville, OFFENSE OUTSIDE For the second straight year, Charlotte, Cleveland and Hous- Patriots: disrupts opposing back- former commissioner Paul ton under his watch. fi eld and is going to the , while Adalius Tagliabue failed to be elected. But many, including some re- Patriots: Tom Brady is cool, rarely throws a bad Thomas is equally good vs. run and pass. Other players joining Green porters on the 44-member selec- ball, and has zip on the deep routes. He threw an Giants: makes plays all over the and Monk included New Eng- tion committee, found Tagliabue NFL-record 50 passes. This is his stage. fi eld and has scored two on returns. land , unapproachable. Giants: has had a fi ne month, not is OK, but not in same class. San Diego/ defen- Also failing to get in were Red- with big numbers, necessarily, but by making no big Edge: Patriots. sive end Fred Dean, Minnesota/ skins guard Russ Grimm, Buf- mistakes. He can’t afford any in this game either. Denver falo Bills receiver Andre Reed, Edge: Patriots. INSIDE LINEBACKERS and senior committee choice, Oakland Raiders Ray Patriots: and have both Kansas City Emmitt RUNNING BACKS Guy, linebacker lost a step, but neither has lost passion or the desire Thomas. Randy Gradishar, Bears Patriots: Back-to-back 122-yard playoff games to win, especially in this game. Monk fi nally was chosen in defensive end Richard Dent, for ; ’s contributions Giants: is a wild man. He led the his eighth year of eligibility. He come mostly in the passing game. Dolphins guard Bob Kue- Giants with 63 solo hits and with 116 total tackles. concluded his career after the chenberg, Vikings guard Randall Giants: is a downhill runner at Teams must double-team him to run the middle. 1995 with Philadelphia, McDaniel, and Kansas City line- 264 pounds. Speedster has come Edge: None. but spent 13 years with the Red- on in the playoffs. He missed fi rst meeting vs. Pats. backer Derrick Thomas. skins as one of the NFL’s premier Tippett was considered the Edge: Patriots. SAFETIES Patriots: is one bad dude, even receivers. Monk held records for best linebacker in the AFC dur- FULLBACKS after 14 years in NFL. James Sanders led Pats’ sec- most consecutive games with ing an era when Patriots: is the lead blocker for Ma- ondary with 73 tackles and is tough against run. a reception (164) and career ruled the other conference. roney. Patriots will hand him the ball when they need Giants: missed three games and still catches (820). Both have been Although he weighed only a yard, and he’ll pick it up. had 96 tackles and four . James Butler surpassed. 230, Dean was a fearsome pass Giants: is a 266-pound bat- will have to help corners on deep routes. “Whether I deserved to play rusher because of his speed and tering ram who is a pure blocker in power attack. Edge: None. in the NFL or deserve even to be agility; blockers struggled to get Hasn’t carried the ball once this season. in Hall of Fame, I just loved the their hands on him. He starred Edge: None. game, loved to play, loved being with the Chargers from 1975-81, Patriots: may be the best lock- out there,” Monk said. WIDE RECEIVERS then the 49ers from 1981-85. down corner in the league. Young con- Green, one of the NFL’s speedi- Zimmerman was a standout Patriots: Best deep threat in the game in Randy tinued to get better and had big AFC title game. est and most skilled cornerbacks for the Vikings from 1986-92 Moss. Best possession receiver in . Giants: and are solid, for two decades, spent his entire and the Broncos from 1993-97, Then add in Donte Stallworth and Jabar Gaffney. but backups R.W. McQuarters and career (1983-2002) with the Red- winning a Super Bowl in his fi nal Giants: is the big-play guy. Am- have fi ve interceptions in postseason. skins. He holds the record for season. ani Toomer still has some miles in his tank. Rookie Edge: Patriots. consecutive seasons with an in- was a superb Steve Smith is capable of a big game. terception (19), and had 54 picks bump-and-run and coverage Edge: Patriots. SPECIAL TEAMS for 621 yards and six TDs. Green cornerback for the Chiefs from TIGHT ENDS made seven Pro Bowls. 1966-78. Patriots: is a prime target and KICKERS is huge in the red zone. can catch it, Patriots: With high-powered offense, Stephen too, but is known more for blocking skills. Gostkowski kicks a lot of extra points, not so many Giants: With out it’s all up to fi eld goals. Missed only three in 24 attempts. DEPTH CHARTS . Pretty good blocker, but only four Giants: ’ 47-yard FG catches in three playoff games. Has to be a factor. at was dead solid perfect, but he’d NEW YORK GIANTS (13-6) Edge: Patriots. missed two previous tries. Has some range. Offense OFFENSIVE LINE Edge: None. t WR: 17 Plaxico Burress; 85 ; 87 t Three starters — center Dan Kop- PUNTERS LT: 66 ; 79 Patriots: t pen, tackle , and guard Chris Hanson doesn’t exactly get a LG: 69 ; 77 Patriots: t — have been selected for the Pro Bowl. lot of work. He does OK when called on, but has C: 60 Shaun O’Hara; 65 t They are no-names, but as a unit they’re kicked just 49 times in 18 games. RG: 76 ; 77 Kevin Boothe Giants: t very good. Tackles Kareem McKenzie and David makes fi rst Super Bowl ap- RT: 67 Kareem McKenzie; 61 Giants: t Diehl are the real deals. Grind-it-out line. pearance in 20 years in NFL. Few are better at kill- TE: 89 Kevin Boss; 88 Michael Matthews; 86 t Patriots ing the ball inside the 20. WR: 81 ; 12 Steve Smith; 83 Edge: t Edge: Giants. QB: 10 Eli Manning; 2 Anthony Wright; 13 t RB: 27 Brandon Jacobs; 44 Ahmad Bradshaw; 22 Reuben KICK RETURNERS Droughns; 26 Danny Ware Patriots: Ellis Hobbs set NFL record with 108- t FB: 39 Madison Hedgecock INTERIOR LINE yard return this season and averaged 26 yards per Patriots: Pats play 3-4, so nose tackle Vince Wol- attempt. Defense fork is the only guy inside. He’s headed to Pro Bowl Giants: Domenik Hixon had a career game t LDE: 92 Michael Strahan; 71 on strength of a 70-tackle season. against Pats in regular-season fi nale — eight returns t NT: 96 Barry Cofi eld; 99 Russell Davis; 75 Manny Wright Giants: Tackles Barry Cofi eld and , for 221 yards, including 74 yards for a touchdown. t DT: 98 Fred Robbins; 93 very active for a 320-pounder, are pretty solid an- Edge: None. t RDE: 72 ; 91 chors and shut down the running lanes. t RETURNERS SLB: 53 Reggie Torbor; 51 Zak DeOssie; 52 Tank Edge: None. Daniels Patriots: As a receiver or punt , ENDS t MLB: 58 Antonio Pierce; 57 Wes Welker gains about 10 yards per touch. t Patriots: has had a nice year, but WLB: 55 Kawika Mitchell; 59 Giants: Giants are in Super Bowl because heads- t battled an injury that cost him LCB: 31 Aaron Ross; 25 R.W. McQuarters; 35 Kevin up Hixon recovered an R.W. McQuarters on Dockery seven games and neither has many sacks. a punt return in NFC title game. t Giants: Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, and RCB: 29 Sam Madison; 23 Corey Webster; 33 Geoffrey Pope Edge: Patriots. t SS: 37 James Butler; 43 backup Justin Tuck have 152 tackles and 32 sacks t between them. They must harass Tom Brady. FS: 28 Gibril Wilson; 43 Michael Johnson Giants. Edge: HACKENBERG’S PICK: Patriots 34, Giants 20 Special Teams t P: 18 Jeff Feagles t PK: 9 Lawrence Tynes t to encourage parity and dis- Kyle Brady, played on a Penn There are some people who H: 18 Jeff Feagles t courage dynasty, the Patriots, if State team with the same record will want an asterisk inserted KC: 93 Jay Alford t successful tonight, would surely in ’94. PC: 51 Zak DeOssie Hackenberg if they get it. The early season t complete the greatest single They are joined by receiver Spygate, where Belichick was KR: 87 Domenik Hixon; 44 Ahmad Bradshaw Continued from Page 1 t PR: 25 R.W. McQuarters; 31 Aaron Ross season in league history. But no (Marshall, 15-0, caught breaking NFL rules by more. 1996), Wilfork (Miami, 12-0, Now, this has been done be- fi lming opposing coaches’ sig- (18-0) fore in the NFL. The 1972 Miami There is a school of thought 2001), offensive lineman Russ nals, is still a sore subject. Dolphins did it, but it was a 14- that going 19-0 would make the Hochstein (Nebraska, 13-0, “Guys put a lot of time, a lot Offense game regular season then. When Patriots the NFL’s all-time great- 1997), David Thomas of effort, and a lot of hard work t WR: 83 Wes Welker; 18 Donte Stallworth; 80 ; 17 Chad they polished off Washington est team. Let’s not go there. We (Texas, 13-0, 2005), and quar- into the game, and all we heard Jackson t 14-7 in Super Bowl VII to end a can’t conjure that type of per- terback (USC, 13-0, were people asking how it feels LT: 72 Matt Light; 65 Wesley Britt three-game playoff run, it added spective. Different eras lead to 2004). t LG: 70 Logan Mankins; 71 ; 74 Billy Yates to be labeled a cheater,” said t up to 17-0. apples and oranges. “It was college,” Wilfork said. C: 67 ; 71 Russ Hochstein New England linebacker Mike t If this is different, and it Just as we can’t compare “To be at this level and do it at RG: 61 ; 71 Russ Hochstein; 74 Billy Yates Vrabel. “I wanted to stand up t seems to be, it is only because Tiger Woods to Ben Hogan, or this level is almost unheard of. RT: 77 ; 68 Ryan O’Callaghan and knock the crap out of them. t the number is different. Muhammad Ali to Joe Louis, or, Only one other team did it. We TE: 84 Benjamin Watson; 88 Kyle Brady; 82 Stephen Spach But we fought through it as a t “I think it’s the biggest game for that matter, Brady to Terry still haven’t done it.” WR: 81 Randy Moss; 10 Jabar Gaffney; 15 Kelley Washington team, got through it together t Bradshaw or Joe Montana, it And, truthfully, there are de- QB: 12 Tom Brady; 16 Matt Cassel; 7 Matt Gutierrez of all our lives,” Brady said. and haven’t looked back.” t “We’re going to be remember- would be a dead-end debate to tractors who hope they don’t. RB: 39 Laurence Maroney; 33 Kevin Faulk And, now, they have landed at t FB: 44 Heath Evans; 38 ing this game for as long as we compare a perfect Patriots team And an opposing team that has the precipice of league history. to a perfect Dolphins team or, no intention of rolling over and live, win or lose. There aren’t too The precipice of perfection. Defense many teams in the history of really, any other not-so-perfect just letting it happen. “It’s about fi nishing, fi nishing t LDE: 94 Ty Warren; 90 the NFL — none, in fact — that but high-achieving team. “We’re used to being the un- what we started, and then see t NT: 75 ; 95 Rashad Moore have been 18-0 going into this But if the Bears were the team derdog,” said Giants linebacker what the historical ramifi cations t RDE: 93 Richard Seymour; 97 game. We’re going to have great of the 1940s, the Browns the Antonio Pierce. “The Cowboys are afterwards,” said linebacker t OLB: 50 Mike Vrabel; 58 Pierre Woods memories of this experience or team of the ’50s, the Packers the already had their tickets printed t ILB: 55 Junior Seau; 52 Eric Alexander team of the ’60s, the Steelers for the championship game. The Tedy Bruschi. “I’ve been in a lot we’re going to look at it as truly t ILB: 54 Tedy Bruschi; 53 the team of the ’70s, the 49ers Packers were already booking of big games, but all of us will a missed opportunity. We’re all t OLB: 96 going to do our best to hopefully the team of the ’80s, and the their fl ights. Now, the Patriots agree that this is the biggest game of our lives.” t LCB: 22 Asante Samuel; 21 make it the game we remember Cowboys the team of the ‘90s, are planning a parade.” t RCB: 27 Ellis Hobbs; 31 ; 28 Antwain Spann for all the great reasons.” then the Patriots can emphati- The Giants would like a little Center Dan Koppen agreed, and added: “We have to play a t SS: 37 Rodney Harrison; 23 ; 41 Ray Ventrone Added New England owner cally claim the fi rst decade of ticker tape of their own. And t FS: 36 James Sanders; 26 Eugene Wilson; 24 Mel Mitchell : “It is pretty special the 2000s. center Shaun O’Hara thinks the perfect game, and I don’t know coming here 18-0 and doing As rare as perfection is to crowd tonight “will probably be if the perfect game exists.” If it does, so will the perfect Special Teams something that we would not attain, it is ironic to note that 50-50. There’s always a certain t PK: 3 ; 6 Chris Hanson season. have believed would be pos- seven players on the Patriots’ amount of people that are root- t P: 6 Chris Hanson; 3 Stephen Gostkowski sible in today’s modern age. It is active roster have already expe- ing for the underdog and, at t H: 6 Chris Hanson; 16 Matt Cassel pretty special.” rienced it. Brady is one, having the same time, I’m sure a lot of Contact Blade sports columnist t LS: 66 ; 71 Russ Hochstein No question. And, consider- played for a 12-0 team at the people are rooting for the Pa- Dave Hackenberg at: t KR: 27 Ellis Hobbs; 83 Wes Welker ing the challenges of the mod- in 1997. triots because they want to see [email protected] vPR: 83 Wes Welker; 80 Troy Brown; 33 Kevin Faulk + ern NFL, a league that is built The Pats’ other Brady, tight end history.” or 419-724-6398. +

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