FOXBOROUGH - Preparations are beginning in earnest for Super Bowl XLII at Gillette Stadium but not just for the Patriots players and coaches. Once the Patriots plane lands in Arizona, the team’s official website, Patriots.com, is gearing up to offer visitors an unprecedented amount of content with an emphasis on exclusive video.

Starting the Sunday prior to gameday, the crew from Patriots Today, the team’s daily half-hour webcast, will offer on-the-scene video podcasts throughout each day leading up to the big game called “Patriots Now.” The podcasts will feature host Kristina Akra and field reporter Brian Lowe bringing fans into the action from everywhere the Patriots are and beyond. The sights and sounds of Super Bowl XLII week will be covered like never before.

In addition to “Patriots Now” podcasts, Patriots.com is teaming up with Kraft Sports Productions to offer live, simultaneous press conference coverage everyday in a dynamic user interface. It will be a fan’s dilemma trying to choose which press conference to watch live but with the beauty of the web there’s no fear; all of the pressers will be archived for on-demand viewing as well.

Patriots.com’s coverage doesn’t end with “Patriots Now” and live press conferences. Here’s just a sampling of the other content fans will find in Patriots.com’s Super Bowl XLII section:

• Daily Patriots Today shows hosted by Kristina Akra.
• Updates from Patriots and Giants headquarters.
• Photo features from all the Super Bowl event locations in Arizona.
• Blogs from the writers of Patriots Football Weekly (beginning Monday, Jan. 21).
• Patriots.com Radio featuring PFW in Progress, (Tues.-Fri, 12-2pm EST).
• Win a trip for two to the Super Bowl! Check out www.patriotsproshop.com for details.

LaDainian Tomlinson may some day break all of Emmitt Smith’s rushing records but he’ll never have the heart and toughness once possessed by the current all-time leading rusher. Smith’s greatest game was when he helped beat the Giants and win the NFC East title back in 1994. Playing with a third degree separated shoulder, Smith racked up 229 total yards and led Dallas to a 16-13 overtime victory and a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Cowboys would go on to win the Super Bowl that year, thanks in large part to Smith’s heroics. It was his defining game.

On Sunday, LT had his defining game. While Philip Rivers played on one leg and Antonio Gates hobbled around on one foot, Tomlinson bowed out after one series with a “sore knee.” It was bad enough that LT couldn’t fight through pain to be on the field in the biggest game of his life. But what made things even worse was the way he acted on the sidelines. While his quarterback was doing everything he could on a knee that is going to most likely require surgery this offseason, LT sat on a heated bench wearing his helmet and a parka. Not once did he get up and cheer on his teammates or provide support to the injured players who actually had the guts to stay on the field. Instead he sat on the bench like a whiney little baby.

Ronnie Lott once had the tip of his finger amputated so he could play in the NFC Championship Game. When asked about it years later, Lott said that at the time, he had 10 fingers and no Super Bowl rings, so it was an easy decision for him. Well, LT still has no Super Bowl rings but at least he was warm on Sunday.

Furthermore, if LT was injured, why wasn’t he listed on the injury report Friday? If Bill Belichick had pulled a stunt like that, people would be calling for his head. When I tried to ask Norv Turner a simple question at the press conference about Tomlinson not playing, he got all defensive and barked at me. When I replied that LT was 100 percent according to the injury report, Norv replied, “Where have you been?” I’ve been reading the injury report put out by Norv and the Chargers. The one that didn’t have Tomlinson’s name on it the Friday before the game. The same one that said Rivers and Gates were doubtful. Funny, the two players listed with a 25 percent chance to play made it through the whole game, while the guy who had a 10o percent chance to play made it through one series. That’s telling me the Chargers either took liberties with the injury report or LT was fine on Friday and gave it a whole two carries before quitting on his team.

Tomlinson may go on to break all of Emmitt’s records but there’s one thing Smith will always have over LT. The Cowboys have a Super Bowl trophy because Emmitt fought through pain and put his team above himself. Maybe LT can learn a thing or two about toughness and desire from the guy he claims is his idol. I know one thing, after his performance on Sunday, Tomlinson has lost the respect of a lot people, including myself.