A nice recovery by Brady

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady reportedly was very sick the night before he helped make the Pittsburgh Steelers look ill in the AFC Championship game.

According to this week's Sports Illustrated, Brady had a 103-degree fever Saturday night and took intravenous fluids in his left -- non-throwing -- arm while battling chills in his hotel room.

Sunday, with the temperature at Pittsburgh's Heinz Field 11 degrees, Brady went 14 for 21 for 207 yards and threw for two touchdowns with no interceptions to lead New England to a 41-27 victory and its third Super Bowl appearance in four years.

The opposing signal-caller, Steelers rookie Ben Roethlisberger, said yesterday he broke a couple of toes on his right foot during the game.

Roethlisberger said he believes he was hurt while stumbling on a 13-yard run late in the first half, and he refused to blame the injury for his less-than stellar play.

PETE GOODWIN