PHOENIX - If the Patriots defeat the Giants in Super Bowl XLII tomorrow to complete a 19-0 season, they'll still have one more opponent left - the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who remain, at least for another day or so, the only NFL team to complete a perfect season.
That was the contention of Mercury Morris, who was joined by '72 teammates Larry Little, Jim Kiick, and Garo Yepremian at a Reebok press conference yesterday to unveil a "Perfectville" commercial the company made based on Morris's "call me when you're on my block" comment.
Morris said the Patriots benefited from luck to reach 18-0, but reluctantly gave them some due.
"If they don't call that timeout in the Ravens game we're not even here, but by the same token if the New England Patriots don't have the success they had, then we're not standing here," said Morris. "They made us relevant. They put the other end of this book[end] to show that now we have somebody to compare with, and they only have two more games to go, the Super Bowl and then the one that they're going to play against us for the rest of their lives."
None of the '72 Dolphins would acknowledge that the Patriots would be the greatest team of all time if they went 19-0, two more wins than Miami had 35 years ago in its perfect season.
"If they do go all the way we'll be 1A and they'll be 1B," said Little. "They'll be like our little brother."
And while defending the Patriots against Spygate, Morris made his opinion clear.
"Spygate for me personally means absolutely nothing," said Morris. "I don't count that for anything because they have so much talent on that football team and their ability to control the football game. They've met my test. I would not lend too much credibility to that at this point when they're at the threshold of becoming possibly the second-greatest team in the history of professional sports."
Kiick said comparisons are unfair.
"Everybody asks these hypothetical questions - Could you beat the Patriots now? Of course not, we're 60 years old and older," said Kiick, "But hypothetically if they had some game, my only question is which rules do we use? Do we use the rule that you can beat Randy Moss up all the way down the field or do you say you can touch him 5 yards and then not breathe on him? Do you put a skirt on [Tom ] Brady or do you take it off? It's a different game and you can't really compare teams."
None of the '72 Dolphins said they were rooting against the Patriots, but Kiick said, "I'm not rooting against the Patriots. I'm rooting for the Giants, but obviously, if I'm rooting for the Giants, I'm rooting against the Patriots."
Gaffney recovers
The Patriots removed wide receiver Jabar Gaffney from their injury report. Gaffney, who had limited participation in practice Wednesday and Thursday because of a shoulder injury, had full participation in yesterday's session, according to the pool report.Gaffney said Thursday he injured the shoulder during practice and is hopeful he will be able to play tomorrow. Brady (right shoulder, probable) remained the lone Patriots player on the injury report.
Pool reporter Dan Pompei, who watched the Patriots practice at Sun Devil Stadium, said Brady's right ankle "continued to be a non-issue."
Coach Bill Belichick seemed pleased with the team's final practice, which was conducted in shorts and shells.
"We're ready to roll," said Belichick. "We're as ready as we're going to be."
A great case
At least one Dolphin is ready to put the Patriots among the greatest teams of all time. Defensive end Jason Taylor, on hand as a nominee for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, said the Patriots have a strong case if they go 19-0."It's a remarkable feat to even get to 18-0, but they're not done," said Taylor. "If they win the next one you'd have a great argument for being the best team ever."
Taylor did say the Patriots were the greatest team he has ever faced. "I didn't play back in the day and not to take anything away from the '72 Dolphins, but this is the greatest team I've seen play," he said.
Taylor dismissed talk of joining the Patriots. "I'm under contract and I think that would be inappropriate to even talk about that," he said. "If I was a free agent would I talk to the Patriots? Well, I think everybody in the league would."
Time heals
Maybe there is hope for Eric Mangini. Belichick had kind words for his former boss, onetime Patriots coach Bill Parcells, who is the head football honcho for the rival Dolphins. Belichick was asked about his relationship with Parcells, for whom he served as defensive coordinator with the Giants and was his assistant head coach with the Jets and the Patriots. "Bill and I shared a lot of success together, and I think we'll always treasure those victories and those good times. He's a tremendous coach. He's had a tremendous career, a Hall of Fame career, and I'm sure he'll be there at some point . . . Unfortunately, he's back in our division as a competitor, and I totally respect him and his football ability both as a coach and as an administrator and a talent evaluator. Now, we'll be competing against each other again, and I'm sure it will be very challenging." . . . As has been his custom in past Super Bowls, Belichick ignored the Lombardi Trophy, which sat on a table to his left when he addressed the media. The coach didn't even steal a glance . . . Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown addressed the Patriots prior to practice at Belichick's request.Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com.
