Super prediction

Page 2 of 7 -- Dan Klecko is playing in a Super Bowl in his first year in the league. His dad, Joe, who had a prolific career with the Jets, never made it to one. "We’ve talked about this week a lot. He’s been telling me to enjoy it and take it all in because he never made it to this game through a Hall of Fame career of 12 years. He never got here. I just need to take it all in because I might never be here again. He has just been real excited for us as a team, and I can’t wait for him to get down here tomorrow and enjoy it with me," Dan Klecko said. By the way, Joe Klecko is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Well, got to go. Back to work. Here are a few mailbag questions I was able to answer this week. Enjoy the Super Bowl!

As we all saw, Tom Brady was at President Bush's State of the Union address as First Lady Laura Bush's guest. Does this mean that our beloved quarterback is a republican? Oh the horror if this be the case!
-- Neri Kar, Amherst

A: Tom hasn't disclosed that. And he's wise not to.

Part of the fun for me with the two-week break before the big game has been trying to predict coach Belichick's game plan. He's a genius at creating a defense to take away the opponent's best strength, and crafting an offensive plan to make the opponent's strength obsolete. He also seems to dust off game plans from the past. Against the Colts for example, he re-used the strategy that worked in Super Bowl XXXVI against the Rams of being very physical with the receivers and dropping many into coverage. So, what do you think of my prediction that Belichick will re-use against Carolina the same strategy that beat Pittsburgh opening day last year -- a pass-heavy, no-huddle offensive attack (to negate the Panthers' strong run defense by spreading them out) and on defense 8-men in the box (to dare a shaky QB to try to beat us)?
-- Allen Baler, New Canaan, Conn.

A: I could see that one. I could also see the game plan of the 12-0 win over Dallas.

Is J.J. Stokes on the active roster? Will he see any playing time in the Super Bowl? What are the Patriots plans concerning J.J Stokes for the future?
-- Joe Gales Anacleto, San Jose, Calif.

A: J.J. is on the active roster. I don't think there are any long term plans for him at this time.

This isn't really a question. I am really ticked off at Warren Sapp for his comments. Tom Brady wasn't the QB back when Tampa Bay beat us so we can't wait to play them with Tom Brady. Sapp will retire in 2005 when we play them unless we play them before then. Please forward this email to Warren Sapp if you can. He is just jealous that he isn't a Patriot. Thanks.
-- Jolanta Borzymowska, Stoughton   Continued...