GLENDALE, Ariz. - If it weren't for the flurry of moves the Patriots made last offseason, they probably wouldn't be in Super Bowl XLII. But even as they try to win their fourth championship in seven seasons, they're planning for this offseason.
The Patriots must make decisions on free agents such as cornerback Asante Samuel, who can't be franchised again, record-setting wide receiver Randy Moss, and linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who could retire.
They also must decide what to do with the No. 7 pick in April's draft.
"That's why I was late coming down here," said vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli. "I spent Sunday with the college scouts going through the Senior Bowl, which just ended. We had to spend some time at the Senior Bowl. And I spent all day Monday with the pro scouts preparing for free agency.
"Right now, we're six weeks behind everybody else. This [game] is fabulous, but we're six weeks behind. There is another season coming next year. We have to finish this and we have to take it one game at a time, but there's also other planning that has to go on."
Pioli said that he and coach Bill Belichick would discuss such issues on the plane ride back after Sunday's game. He wouldn't get into specifics on either Samuel, who deflected questions about his status, saying he was focused on the game, or Moss.
Moss, who took a large pay cut when he was traded to New England from the Oakland Raiders, lowering his base salary from $9.75 million to $3 million (he earned another $2 million in incentives), said yesterday that he'd like to remain a Patriot.
"As a New England Patriot, I would love to finish my career just for the fact that they have everything you want in a football organization," said Moss.
Pioli, who has had opportunities in the past to leave New England, expressed similar sentiments.
"This is a good situation," he said. "We're winning football [games]. Because of what my title is, people have a perception. I know how things go inside. I'm happy with the situation and the way things are right now. We're up for our fourth Super Bowl. We've been here eight years. It's a pretty good situation."
Issue is not in play
Moss refused to address the temporary restraining order against him that was extended Monday in a Broward County (Fla.) courtroom. Moss was not present at the court hearing.The order was granted to Rachelle Washington of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Jan. 14, stemming from a Jan. 6 incident at her home. Washington claimed that Moss, with whom she said she has had an intimate relationship since 1997, battered her and denied her medical attention.
Moss has vehemently denied the charges. Yesterday his focus was solely on the Super Bowl.
"I don't really want to get into the question you are asking," he said during his one-hour session with the media. "I don't want to get into that.
"I think where I'm at now stays as No. 1. I am trying not to take away from that, so any questions of any off-field, you know, problems that I've had in the past, I am definitely going to stay away from.
"It's the Super Bowl, man, so I really don't want to take away from being here at the Super Bowl."
The bold type
The Patriots reacted to Plaxico Burress's bold guarantee of a 23-17 Super Bowl triumph for the Giants."I mean, that's confidence," said Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork. "If you have somebody making a prediction and all that kind of stuff means that they are very confident. Like I say, anything that people say leading up to the game, before the game, or on the field won't matter when we get in between those lines."
Safety Rodney Harrison said words don't win football games, plays do.
"What are predictions? Just words, right? You have to do it on the field," said Harrison. "It doesn't matter what you say, or what he says, or what they say, it doesn't matter. It is how you execute and who makes the most plays on Sunday."
Cherish is the word
Sunday's Super Bowl could be Samuel's last game as a Patriot, but the cornerback wasn't in much of a nostalgic mood. He said he won't savor this more because of that."I'm going to cherish the Super Bowl anyway, just because it's the Super Bowl," said Samuel, who has two Super Bowl rings with the Patriots. "There are a lot of guys on the team that have never been to the Super Bowl or never won the Super Bowl. So you've just got to enjoy making it here.
"You cherish the moments and enjoy the festivities because this is one of the biggest events in the world."
Under the hood
Mike Vrabel on Bill Belichick's ubiquitous hooded sweatshirt: "That is his little woobie. That's his little security blanket. He has got that pouch and he keeps all of his stuff in it. You would like to see what is inside that pouch, I bet." . . . The Patriots did not practice yesterday . . . Wes Welker on the huge differences between New England and Miami: "Weather. Women. Wins."Kevin Paul Dupont of the Globe staff contributed to this report
