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+ 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 ASSOCIATED PRESS “This is incredible. This is so PHOENIX — Like the two old special,” Green said when in- friends they are, Darrell Green formed of the vote. “This is out and Art Monk chatted about the of this world.” latest news in their lives: making Receiver Cris Carter 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 quarterback Tom Brady has a big edge in Super Bowl Defensive end Michael Strahan 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 down 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 New York Giants. 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 LINEBACKERS For the second straight year, Charlotte, Cleveland and Hous- Patriots: Mike Vrabel disrupts opposing back- former commissioner Paul ton under his watch. QUARTERBACKS fi eld and is going to the Pro Bowl, 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: Kawika Mitchell makes plays all over the and Monk included New Eng- tion committee, found Tagliabue NFL-record 50 touchdown passes. This is his stage. fi eld and has scored two touchdowns on returns. land linebacker Andre Tippett, unapproachable. Giants: Eli Manning has had a fi ne month, not Reggie Torbor is OK, but not in same class. San Diego/San Francisco 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 tackle Gary Zimmerman falo Bills receiver Andre Reed, Edge: Patriots. INSIDE LINEBACKERS and senior committee choice, Oakland Raiders punter Ray Patriots: Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau have both Kansas City cornerback Emmitt RUNNING BACKS Guy, Denver Broncos linebacker lost a step, but neither has lost passion or the desire Thomas. Randy Gradishar, Chicago 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 Laurence Maroney; Kevin Faulk’s contributions Giants: Antonio Pierce is a wild man. He led the his eighth year of eligibility. He come mostly in the passing game. Miami Dolphins guard Bob Kue- Giants with 63 solo hits and with 116 total tackles. concluded his career after the chenberg, Vikings guard Randall Giants: Brandon Jacobs is a downhill runner at Teams must double-team him to run the middle. 1995 season with Philadelphia, McDaniel, and Kansas City line- 264 pounds. Speedster Ahmad Bradshaw 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: Rodney Harrison 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 Lawrence Taylor Patriots: Heath Evans 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: Gibril Wilson 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 interceptions. James Butler surpassed. 230, Dean was a fearsome pass Giants: Madison Hedgecock 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. CORNERBACKS game, loved to play, loved being with the Chargers from 1975-81, Patriots: Asante Samuel may be the best lock- out there,” Monk said. WIDE RECEIVERS then the 49ers from 1981-85. down corner in the league. Young Ellis Hobbs 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 Wes Welker. Giants: Aaron Ross and Sam Madison 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 Corey Webster career (1983-2002) with the Red- winning a Super Bowl in his fi nal Giants: Plaxico Burress 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- Emmitt Thomas 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: Benjamin Watson is a prime target and KICKERS is huge in the red zone. Kyle Brady 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 Jeremy Shockey out it’s all up to fi eld goals. Missed only three in 24 attempts. DEPTH CHARTS Kevin Boss. Pretty good blocker, but only four Giants: Lawrence Tynes’ 47-yard overtime FG catches in three playoff games. Has to be a factor. at Lambeau Field 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 David Tyree; 87 Domenik Hixon t Three starters — center Dan Kop- PUNTERS LT: 66 David Diehl; 79 Guy Whimper Patriots: t pen, tackle Matt Light, and guard Logan Mankins Chris Hanson doesn’t exactly get a LG: 69 Rich Seubert; 77 Kevin Boothe 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 Grey Ruegamer t They are no-names, but as a unit they’re kicked just 49 times in 18 games. RG: 76 Chris Snee; 77 Kevin Boothe Giants: t very good. Tackles Kareem McKenzie and David Jeff Feagles makes fi rst Super Bowl ap- RT: 67 Kareem McKenzie; 61 Adam Koets 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 Jerome Collins t Patriots ing the ball inside the 20. WR: 81 Amani Toomer; 12 Steve Smith; 83 Sinorice Moss Edge: t Edge: Giants. QB: 10 Eli Manning; 2 Anthony Wright; 13 Jared Lorenzen t RB: 27 Brandon Jacobs; 44 Ahmad Bradshaw; 22 Reuben DEFENSE 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 Dave Tollefson on strength of a 70-tackle season.