'72 Dolphins toast achievement

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Patriots became the NFL's first team to post an undefeated season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Last night, members of the '72 Dolphins acknowledged the accomplishment.

"My sincerest congratulations go out to the Patriots," tight end Jim Mandich said in a statement. "In this salary-cap era, free-agency era, I didn't think it could be done and the Patriots did it. They are a remarkable team. If somebody was going to tie the Miami Dolphins record in the regular season of going unbeaten, it's appropriate that it would be the Patriots because they are a class act."

"I want to congratulate the Patriots on going undefeated during the regular season," added quarterback Bob Griese. "I know Tom Brady well because he played at Michigan with my son, Brian. I've followed his career ever since then and have the greatest respect for him as a player. He is having one of the greatest seasons ever by an NFL quarterback, and his outstanding performance has been a major factor in the Patriots' success this year."

Guard Bob Kuechenberg wasn't as willing to spread the praise.

"They've done a heck of a job thus far but now the exhibition season is over and the real season begins," he said.

"Obviously, if they can win their first playoff game, beat an even more dangerous Colts team, and then Brett Favre or the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl, I will be the first to take my hat off to them. If they can pull it off, they will have earned it.

"But my heart is dead set against it. The '72 team is uniquely immortal in American sports and I don't want us to lose that special place."

Tom Brady's greatest attribute may be his durability. Last night, the Patriots quarterback started his 124th straight game (110th in the regular season), breaking a tie with former Eagle Ron Jaworski for the third-longest streak for quarterbacks in NFL history. Green Bay's Favre holds the record with 272 straight games and counting, and Indianapolis's Peyton Manning, whose streak is also active, has played in 171 straight . . . With Eckel out after injuring his ribs on kickoff coverage late in the second quarter of New England's 28-7 win last Sunday, the Patriots had just three healthy running backs: Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, and Heath Evans. "Like I told everybody all year, I'm just going to be patient because eventually we're going to need the running game and when the running game is needed I was going to let everybody know that we do have a running game," said Maroney, who last night had 19 rushes for 46 yards, two touchdowns, and a 2-point conversion. "The line did an excellent job of blocking."

Veteran wide receiver Troy Brown, who made his season debut last week against the Dolphins, was among the inactives for the Patriots. He was joined by wide receiver Chad Jackson as a healthy scratch. Out with injuries were right tackle Nick Kaczur (foot), right guard Stephen Neal (shoulder), who missed his fourth straight game and eighth of the season, fullback Kyle Eckel (ribs), and cornerback Willie Andrews (elbow).

Second-year lineman Ryan O'Callaghan made the start at right tackle in place of Kaczur, who had started all 15 games up until last night. The Patriots also used backup tackle Wesley Britt as a tight end to help out O'Callaghan against the Giants pass rush, which entering the game led the league in sacks with 52 but had only one last night.

Tight end Kyle Brady, who missed his second straight game last night after injuring his ankle Dec. 16, remains optimistic he will recover in time for the playoffs.

Brady described his status as "progressing," and he'll have an extra week to heal since the Patriots have already locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye.

Brady's status highlights what has been an ongoing issue on the roster: a shortage of tight ends. Starter Benjamin Watson, who returned to the lineup last night and had four catches for 38 yards, injured his left ankle against the Steelers Dec. 9 and was inactive the previous two games.

That left Stephen Spach, who was signed as a free agent Dec. 13, as the only tight end on the roster.

An escalator malfunction injured at least five people at Giants Stadium shortly after the conclusion of the game . . . Brady who entered the game with 4,450 yards passing, eclipsed Drew Bledsoe's franchise mark for passing yards in a season (4,555) on an 8-yard completion to Kevin Faulk in the second quarter. He finished with 4,806 yards this season . . . The Giants played the second half without center Shaun O'Hara, who suffered a knee sprain on New York's final drive of the first half . . . New York lost starting weak-side linebacker Kawika Mitchell to a knee sprain in the first quarter and safety Craig Dahl to a knee sprain in the same quarter.

Material from the Associated Press was used.