Christopher_Gasper: Hey, everyone. We just wrapped up the Patriots media availability at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale. It was interesting as Randy Moss spoke about how he felt the Green Bay Packers didn't really want him, so he hung up the phone on them. Oops!
CaliforniaPDentist__Guest_: Chris, excellent coverage from you guys down there. Wish I was there! Anyway, don't you think it's ironic that the "No Fun League" bans end zone celebrations by its players, yet allows someone wearing a wedding dress into media day? Has this circus gotten out of hand?
Christopher_Gasper: Bear with me here. I'm on a little bit of a slow connection at the team hotel. Yes, media day is quite a spectacle, but for those of us actually trying to get work done it's just ridiculous. I think the NFL should spend less time supressing its personalities and more time reviewing its Super Bowl credential policies.
VTPatPatriot__Guest_: Bored of the SB chatter, so how about a Q about the future. What players were put on IR this year, and which of these players have a chance to make an impact next year?
Christopher_Gasper: I think the most obvious impact player would be Sammy Morris. He was the team's leading rusher before he was placed on IR after playing in six games. Also, don't forget about Rosevelt Colvin at outside linebacker.
leafman__Guest_: Chris, what are your thoughts on Randy Moss? Is he ready for a coming out party this Sunday or should we expect to see little contribution again this week?
Christopher_Gasper: I don't know. I think that if the Giants want to take Randy out the equation they will. Moss said admitted today that teams have taken him out of the game. He said that he doesn't care if he lights it up in his first Super Bowl as long as he ends up with a ring. I think it's been proven that he's dangerous as a decoy as well.
Chris_Can_t_He__Guest_: Tom Brady appeared to be in a really good mood for media day yesterday. And, he certainly wasn't shy talking about his ankle and how great it feels and his lone incompletion in practice. I think this should quell the media storm surrounding his ankle. Do you agree?
Christopher_Gasper: No, I don't. It's tough to tell with Brady and the ankle. When he arrived here I didn't even notice a limp. But it was heavily wrapped on Mon. for practice. Today I thought he stepped down from his riser a little gingerly. The bottom line is I don't think it should affect his play. He's certainly played with worse injuries.
e__Guest_: As a Pats fan, why should i be nervous? Conversely, why should I be confident?
Christopher_Gasper: Well, you should be nervous because your NFL MVP quarterback is not 100 percent. You should be confident because he's going to play and the Giants have already given the Patriots their best shot. I just can't see New York playing any better than they did in the regular-season meeting and I definitely think the Patriots have one great game left in them.
WTE__Guest_: In the week 17 matchup Ahmad Bradshaw didn't play. How much of a difference will the one-two punch with him and Jacobs make?
Christopher_Gasper: Another reason to be nervous. I really like Bradshaw. He's a slippery back and the Patriots have had some issues with run defense. But I have a feeling the Giants are going to try to come out passing and put the Patriots behind.
Internet_King__Guest_: Chris, how do you think young Gostkowski is holding up under the Super Bowl hype? Think he'll be able to give us a Vinatieri-like performance if need be?
Christopher_Gasper: I talked to Stephen today. I'd put my money on him to make a pressure kick. He was fantastic in the playoffs last year and I know he missed a 35-yarder against Jacksonville, but I think he just has the right attitude for the position. He seemed very relaxed. In fact, he laughed about all the Vinatieri questions he was getting.
Joefo49__Guest_: Another reason to be confident. Brady lots of SB experience, Manning none.
Christopher_Gasper: How much Super Bowl experience did Tom Brady have in Super Bowl XXXVI? The reason to be confident is that Brady at 80 percent is still superior to Eli at 100 percent.
InGlendale_PatsFan__Guest_: do you think the Patriots might be working behind the scenes with Asante Samuel's and Randy Moss' respective agents and maybe might even have a deal in place but are just waiting for the league mandated time when they can sign them?
Christopher_Gasper: I wouldn't put anything past the Patriots, but if I were a betting man I'd say this is Asante Samuel's last game in a New England uniform. Moss spoke today and said that hopefully something could be worked out with the Patriots. I know he really likes it here, but no way is he going to play for the money he did this season.
Bill_A__Guest_: Sorry for joining late - everybody asking, no one knows - Doyou think Troy B. gets activated for this game?
Christopher_Gasper: I'm getting this one a lot. Honestly, I just don't know. I don't think that Chad Jackson will be active. Ellis Hobbs let it slip during the playoffs that Brown was ready to go in at defensive back and Mel Mitchell is on IR now and he was among the gameday active. It might setting up for a storybook ending for Troy.
pbruin__Guest_: Are Moss, Welker, and Gaffney our WRs for the future? Who else might be considered?
Christopher_Gasper: Well, both Moss and Gaffney are free agents after the season, so they have to be resigned. It's possible that the Patriots could have a very different receiving corps next season if they can't sign those two. Unless, Stallworth renegotiates his contract he's gone. No way is he getting an $8 million bonus. Troy Brown is going to retire. Chad Jackson has not lived up to expectations.
Skippah__Guest_: What is the status of Eugene Wilson? Do you have any information as to why he has dropped so far down the depth chart?
Christopher_Gasper: Wilson is a free agent after the season and I don't think he'll be back. He's just not durable. This was the third season in a row that injuries derailed him and when he came back James Sanders had beaten him out. Now, his primary role is on special teams as it seems that Brandon Meriweather has pulled ahead of him as well. His decline in play since 2004 is puzzling.
FLApatsFan__Guest_: Do you think the Pats will use the shotgun more so Brady doesn't have to drop back as much? What about the no huddle too?
Christopher_Gasper: I could see the Patriots opening the game in their spread set with Brady in the shotgun and Kevin Faulk back to pass protect. It buys the offensive lineman a little extra time and might save Brady's ankle a bit since he'll have to make a shallower drop. I like the no-huddle idea and the biggest thing with that is that if you have a mismatch that you're exploiting it prevents the other team from subbing in players to elminate that mismatch.
Chili_Palmer__Guest_: I'm curious where you are sitting and typing this. Are you in the lobby or in your own room? Or is there some media room where fifty people are all typing and connected to the Internet?
Christopher_Gasper: I'm in the media hotel. In fact I just saw Robert Kraft walk by and he offered a hearty hello.
foxboro_fan__Guest_: Chris, good work! What do you think of the stadium down there. Looks great. What are you impressions?
Christopher_Gasper: The stadium is really nice on the inside. It feels almost like a really large basketball arena the way it's layed out. On the outside it looks like a spaceship that landed in the middle of nowhere, but architecture is a subjective thing. I think it will be a great setting for the Super Bowl and should come through well on television.
donanu__Guest_: Chris, welcome to Arizona. Hope you're enjoying our city and beautiful Sonoran desert. Do you think the Patriots tentatiuvely scheduling the parade for Tuesday will be fodder for the Giants, as the Eagles' (obviously premature) plans were last time? You'd think the Pats would no better than even to mention a parade.
Christopher_Gasper: Why should it be? People have been expecting the Patriots to have a Super Bowl parade since training camp. If the Patriots lose it will be because they didn't play their best game and were outplayed not because the Giants were aware of their parade route.
Lin_Dawson__Guest_: Strategically, how much risk do you think Giants coaches are willing to endure at the outset?
Christopher_Gasper: Well, the Giants MO has been to blitz, so I would expect them to do some of that, but you have to mix it up. I think if you're going to beat the Patriots you have to be willing to empty the playbook and also go for it a few times on fourth down when conventional wisdom would dictate you should punt or kick a field goal.
LeonGray__Guest_: So much focus on the Pats O, what about the D? Given the advanced age of the LB crew, any worries about the Giants running Jacobs early to wear down the D, and then Bradshaw coming in when the D is tired?
Christopher_Gasper: Sure, that has to be a concern, but the Patriots linebackers have played well in the playoffs and if you go with a take-the-air-out-of-the-ball runnning game plan you better score every time you touch the ball because the Patriots are going to do that when they touch it. I do like Bradshaw though.
troy_brown__Guest_: with all the media hype on bill and kraft, one silent man behind this all! Scott pioli. Is he there with the team
Christopher_Gasper: Yes, Scott is here. He was available at media day yesterday and again today at the hotel. That's one of the cool things about Super Bowl week is that we get to talk to people that are normally not made available during the regular season like Scott or special teams coach Brad Seely.
Michael_C___Guest_: What are the rules on whether the dome is opened or closed?
Christopher_Gasper: This is a good question. I'll look into this with the NFL and try to put an answer in the paper. I would imagine it would be at the NFL's discretion on Sunday as to whether the roof is opened or closed.
PatsinAZ__Guest_: Is it just me, or is Eli Manning WAY overdue for a pick or two in a playoff game? How do you see Eli handling the insane amount of intensity playing in the SuperBowl?
Christopher_Gasper: Yes. I just can't see him going the entire playoffs without throwing a pick. What is amazing is that the Giants offense has not turned the ball over at all in the playoffs. I know they had a slew of fumbles against the Packers, but the only one they lost -- the only one they've lost in the postseason -- was on R.W. McQuarters interception return. That's just incredible.
mel__Guest_: the defense to me is a great concern, don't you feel that the giants attack on offense is the most balanced the patriots have faced in the playoffs? jacksonville's receivers are average, and san diego was kind of playing with one hand tied behind their back.
Christopher_Gasper: It's definitely the best receiving corps they've faced in the playoffs I'll admit that. Look, the Giants are good. They wouldn't be here if they weren't, but I just think the Patriots are a superior team. If the Patriots could hold Indianapolis to 20 points, I think they can defend the Giants if they execute.
LSCII__Guest_: Why has no one really mentioned how many players on the offensive line missed the last Pats Giants game? If they handled the giants rush with back ups, wouldn't it be a logical conclusion that they should be even better this time?
Christopher_Gasper: The Patriots did some things schematically to help out Ryan O'Callaghan on the right side at right tackle. Wesley Britt was in there a good chunk as a tight end to help him out. Don't sell Russ Hochstein short. He started eight games this year, that's half of the 16-0 season. I think where Stephen Neal improves the line at right guard is in the running game. He's just so athletic.
LSCII__Guest_: Is Bruschi all done after this game?
Christopher_Gasper: It would be a great way to go out. If I had to guess I'd say the answer is yes.
LSCII__Guest_: Do you have an early predicition on the game, as well as MVP?
Christopher_Gasper: I told Matt Cassel I had him in the Super Bowl MVP pool.
Christopher_Gasper: I did it again two questions in a row from the same person. We're going to have to make this a staple.
super__Guest_: This continued talk about an "asterisk" on an 18-0 season drives me crazy. They were caught in the first quarter of the first game, which to me means that they couldn't have cheated this year. The other Super Bowls could be in question, but not this year. Do you agree?
Christopher_Gasper: It's been surprising that no one from the national media has dragged up Spygate. I'll tell you the comments that Jimmy Johnson had about it yesterday kind of opened my eyes. I don't condone the actions, but I think this goes on a lot more than we, myself included, realized. Jimmy said that when he got to the Miami Dolphins, they told him they had a way to circumvent the 15-second cut-off for coach-to-quarterback communication. That's a huge advantage.
Joe_Namath__Guest_: If Bruschi and/or Seau retire, and because the Pats will never use a high draft pick on a linebacker, do you think they will target a free agent ILB? Any players jump out at you?
Christopher_Gasper: I think they would have to go outside the current roster. If the went through the draft, a few names would be Dan Connor of Penn State and Jonathan Goff of Vanderbilt. Goff played at St. John's Prep in Danvers.
big_dawg__Guest_: give us a final score please
Christopher_Gasper: Patriots 42, Giants, 28.
Christopher_Gasper: Okay, I have to head over to the Media Center in downtown Phoenix, so I'm going to sign off. I appreciate everyone who took the time to ask a question and I'm sorry I don't have time to answer them all. But enjoy the game -- it will be historic either way -- on Sunday.
