Super Bowl XLII: Thursday Notebook

By Tom Torrisi and Jim Ralabate
SportsTicker Staff Writers

PHOENIX (Ticker) - Stephen Gostkowski has some enormous shoes to fill. Try size XLII. A victory over the New York Giants on Sunday would give the New England Patriots four Super Bowl titles in seven years and ratchet up the talk of a dynasty. It's almost easy to forget that the Patriots have won each of those championships by a mere three points - and the first two came on two of the most unforgettable clutch kicks in the history of the game. Each was delivered courtesy of Adam Vinatieri, who nailed a 48-yarder as time ran out to beat the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, and split the uprights with a 41-yarder to sink the Carolina Panthers two years later. Considered the game's greatest clutch kicker, Vinatieri departed New England as a free agent to sign with the Indianapolis Colts in 2006. He connected on 14-of-15 field goal attempts and earned his fourth Super Bowl ring in the Colts' run to the championship. Should the Patriots be in position to win Super Bowl XLII against the Giants with the field goal on Sunday, it will be up to second-year kicker Gostkowski to supply what Vinatieri did so routinely in his 10 seasons in New England. Gostkowski, a fourth-round pick out of Memphis in 2006, insists he is up to the challenge. "I am always pretty relaxed out there, whatever the situation," Gostkowski said. "It doesn't matter what situation, I have to be relaxed and focused on what I have to do. There is pressure on every kick I have to make every week. Just because it's the Super Bowl, that's not going to be on my mind when I am on the field. "This is a game. It's a game we have to win. That is how I am approaching it. I don't think of it any differently." Gostkowski converted 21-of-24 field goals during the regular season, including 3-of-5 from over 40 yards. He has had just two attempts in the playoffs this season, missing his first but hitting a 35-yarder with 6:39 to play to put the game out of reach in the divisional round win over Jacksonville. Of course, Gostkowski said he will not complain if he's not called upon at all on Sunday. "I just want to win, whatever it takes to win," he said. "If we win 45-0, I don't care. It doesn't matter what it is for me; I just want to win. Whatever helps the team out and if it comes to (a game-winning kick), I want to pull through for my team." Gostkowski showed he could handle postseason pressure a year ago, converting all eight of his attempts in three games, including three over 40 yards. "(He) did an excellent job last year and this year, both in his kickoffs and his field goals," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "We have a lot of confidence in him. He's kicked in all different kinds of conditions this year. I think that's something that has been a little more challenging for him this year than it was last year, but he's made some big kicks for us in the last couple seasons." There could be no bigger kick for Gostkowski on Sunday if the Patriots are staring at a situation similar to what Vinatieri faced at the end of the 2001 and 2003 seasons. A Super Bowl title is pressure enough, but also riding on Gostkowski's attempt would be the second perfect season in league history and a chance to become the first team to go 19-0. Gostkowski said his mentality is to feed off what the Patriots have accomplished. "It's contagious. When everybody on your team is hitting in baseball, you're going to get a hit too," he said. "That's the way I feel when the team is playing well. It's makes it feel like I am going to play well. You don't want to be the guy who messes it up for this team. I think everybody feels that way. "Coach Belichick tells us all the time, 'Do your job and trust that the guy next to you will do his.' I am not worried about anybody's else's job. I am just worried about mine, so they don't have to worry about me."
PRACTICE: The Giants held their second practice since arriving in the Phoenix area, and Plaxico Burress once again was a no-show Thursday. After missing the previous day's workout due to his chronically injured right ankle, Burress was sidelined Thursday due to swelling and soreness in his left knee. "He has an ankle that always has been a problem, but he also has some issues with a knee that off and on in the past has bothered him," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "That's the thing right now. Between the two of them, that's why he's not working. He comes out and tries to go and can't go." Left guard Rich Seubert (knee) and reserve cornerback Kevin Dockery (hip) both were full participants Thursday after taking half the snaps the previous day. Aside from Burress' absence, Coughlin seemed pleased with the overall workout at the Arizona Cardinals' facility in Tempe. "The energy level has been really high," Coughlin said. "They were obviously flying around pretty good. I thought the execution was OK. We're moving toward the game. We're getting there. We're sure getting there." The Patriots also are getting there according to Belichick, who said his team has nearly completed its game preparation. "We're pretty close," Belichick said. "We'll review some stuff tomorrow. There won't be hardly anything new - just reviewing situations. "We're as ready as we're going to be. We could spend four weeks preparing for the Giants. But we'll be ready to go." Tom Brady looked ready to go Thursday, participating fully in New England's practice while showing no negative signs from a right ankle injury which sidelined him last week. The reigning league MVP, New England's star quarterback did not appear to limp and was not wearing any medical tape on or around his right foot. Patriots receiver Jabar Gaffney was limited in practice due to a shoulder injury.
AWARDS: Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson received the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year award Thursday. Selected via a fan vote, Peterson beat out linebacker Patrick Willis, running back Marshawn Lynch, offensive tackle Joe Thomas and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders also was honored Thursday, receiving the GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Year award. Sanders edged a group of finalists that included defensive ends Patrick Kerney and Mario Williams, linebacker Mike Vrabel and cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Players' union executive director Gene Upshaw on hopefully negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with NFL owners - "I just don't want the owners to believe that somehow there's a Santa Claus."

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the high 50s.