For Giants' Manning, what a difference a year makes

Photo: AJ Guel, Flickr 

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

When the Giants missed the playoffs in 2010, much of the blame fell on quarterback Eli Manning and his career-high 25 interceptions. But while New York fans were making offseason phone calls to local sports talk radio shows, Manning and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride were making adjustments.

Fast-forward a year, and Manning and the Giants are eyeing a second championship in four years, with much of the success due to Manning’s arm. New York will face the Patriots Sunday in the Super Bowl.

“The thing that we talk about all the time is that it (2010) was as good of a year as he has had with the exception of the interceptions,” Gilbride told the media Wednesday. “You can’t divorce the two, but do not lose sight of the fact that you threw for more yards, you threw for more touchdowns, you threw for more yards per attempt ... We are going to make some plays. Stay away from the bad ones.

"If that means you have to take a sack, which he loathes to do, he hates to do that. If that is the best thing to do on that play, then take it. Do those things ... I think that he was embarrassed by the amount of interceptions, and he was fully committed to trying to solve that problem.”

Safety Chung on Patriots' secondary: 'We're a family'

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The Patriots' secondary has faced a lot of criticism all season long because of its high number of passing yards against.

The Patriots' secondary doesn't care.

"People talk, people say what they want to say, but hey, we're winning games, we're playing well and now we're in the big game," Patriots safety Patrick Chung (pictured) told the Super Bowl media Tuesday.

New England's quote-unquote "ineptitude" is the most over-exagerrated and worn talking points in AFC East chatter -- Mark Sanchez, aside.

The Patriots boast one of the most lethal offensive attacks in the game, so New England, in turn, gives up a lot of yards, because its goal is to protect the lead and the goal line, not the stat line.

New England's defense, in fact, was tied for the second-most interceptions (23) in all of the NFL in 2011, and its red zone defense held tough when it mattered most.

Is Belichick going soft? Nah... Well, maybe a little bit

Photo: Steve Glass, Flickr 

BY SAM HOLLINGSWORTH

There's something different about Patriots coach Bill Belichick this season.

No, not just the fact that he led the Patriots to their first playoff win in four years this season. He's also apparently been a little bit more pleasurable to be around, believe it or not.

"We work hard all year to be in the situation that we're in to play in this game," veteran defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, the only returning starter on the defense from when the Patriots played in Super Bowl XLVI, told the media Tuesday. "All year (coach has) been like that. It's been kind of a relaxing year for all of us — just not knowing how much pressure he could put on us physically.

"Everything he's asked us to do, we've responded. It's been a fun season just seeing guys come to work each day. I think he appreciates that, and I appreciate that as a teammate."

Green-Ellis gets plenty of inquiries on his law firm

BY NICK ST. DENIS

BenJarvis Green-Ellis doesn't know exactly where his nickname came from. That doesn't mean he doesn't like it.

Green-Ellis, nicknamed "The Law Firm" because of his law-firm-sounding name, talked to the Super Bowl media Tuesday about, among other things, his moniker.

"I actually got it from the fans. I'm not sure between the fans and the ESPN people, the Trey Wingo's and Chris Berman's, somewhere in there," Green Ellis said. "I like it.

"I see people come up to me all the time that give me their cards and ask if they can join my law firm and stuff like that, so that's fun."

Giants know an injured Gronk is still a scary Gronk

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

The one thing the Patriots would love more than anything this weekend is for the Giants to overlook injured tight end Rob Gronkowski. Unfortunately, that won't be the case.

Missing practice Monday and officially listed as questionable, Gronkowski appeared in front of reporters during Tuesday's Media Day sans walking boot. Not that that surprised Giants players in the least.

“This is the biggest game of the year,” Giants safety Antrel Rolle told reporters Monday. “(New England) wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for him (Gronkowski), so he’s going to do whatever he has to do to make sure he’s ready for this game, and we understand that.”

Gronkowski has continued his role as Tom Brady's main target in the postseason thus far, amasssing nearly double the yards (232) of any other Patriots receiver, including three touchdowns. He was tentative to state Tuesday that he was definitely a go for Sunday's game, but explained that each day is better than the one before it.

Giants' Rolle: Patriots' Branch is "best in this league"

Photo: Beth Hart, Flickr 

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch was named MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX, making him the best player of that game.

Giants safety Antrel Rolle thinks Branch is currently the best in the game.

"People who prepare against him, they understand how good Deion is," Rolle told the Super Bowl media Monday. "Deion is the best in this league."

That's some heavy praise, and maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but Rolle was clearly trying to make the point that Branch has the respect of secondaries all over the NFL.

Ex-Jet Weatherford providing versatility for Giants

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Steve Weatherford won the Jets' punting job in a 2010 training camp battle with T.J. Conley, but Conley took over the position in 2011.

Weatherford then became a Giant, going from a team that promised to go to the Super Bowl to a team that actually went to the Super Bowl.

"We knew him as an excellent athlete and have done our homework on Steve," Giants coach Tom Coughlin told the Super Bowl media Monday. "Obviously, he’s a guy who comes very well prepared, energetic, an exceptional weight room worker, and a good example for a conditioning guy to be honest with you."

"All you need to do is look outside my office window and there he is; Mondays, Tuesdays he’s out there running and doing extra conditioning."

Weatherford averaged 45.7 yards a punt in 2011, booting a long of 62 yards and pinning offenses inside their own 20-yard line 25 times.

Marshall sets Pro Bowl record, leads AFC to victory

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Brandon Marshall took the NFL's All-Star game seriously. He played like an All-Star.

Marshall hauled in a Pro Bowl record four touchdowns Sunday as the AFC ousted the NFC, 59-41. The Dolphins wideout amassed 176 yards on six catches.

His highlight-reel performance was, well, highlighted by a third quarter scoring reception that saw Marshall fall on his back as two NFC defenders had a chance at the ball. The ball deflected off of Marshall's leg, and Marshall, already past the goal line, snatched it up.

Pats using Super Bowl bye to get mentally prepared

BY SAM HOLLINGSWORTH

As a mass of New England faithful sent the Patriots off to Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI around noon on Sunday, the AFC Champions prepared for their fifth Super Bowl appearance in a decade.

And, with the extra week between the conference championships and Super Bowl, most people would assume coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots are eating up the extra prep time heading into the game.

Patriots wide receiver and former Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch uses the extra time a different way, though.

"That's the most important thing about this game," he told the media on Friday. "There's so much down time. The Super Bowl should be the next week (after conference championships). Now we got to wait two weeks to play this game. I think that's for you all —the fans."

What if Fred Jackson finished the 2011 season?

BY NICK ST. DENIS

In honor of Fred Jackson's stellar first half of the 2011 season and the fact that he was ineligible for the Pro Bowl because of his injury, let's take a look at what could have been for the fifth-year Bills tailback.

Entering Week 11, Jackson was averaging 101.9 rushing yards a game, he had six touchdowns in the nine games and was gaining 43.6 yards a game via receptions.

Based on those numbers, here are Jackson's projections for the entire season had he played the last seven games:

Rushing yards: 1,630.
Rushing TDs: 11.
Receiving yards: 697.

While it's all speculation, and everyone misses time from at least the most minor injuries, those projected numbers would have put him atop the NFL in rushing yards, where he was before he got injured.