First off, I apologize for my blogging lapse. I just haven’t had time to sit down and gather my thoughts. Yesterday was a hectic day. On top of the work we had to do for the team, Thursday was the day when all the friends and families descended on Scottsdale. Not a bad thing but very disruptive.

Other than being a runaround day, Thursday was fairly calm in terms of news. It was the last day of full team access much to the relief, I’m sure, of all the players and coaches. No new ground was covered for those who have been following the Patriots all along. For those who haven’t you learned that Stephen Neal used to wrestle, Laurence Maroney likes Kool-Aid and Bill Belichick takes it one game at a time.

On the Giants side, there weren’t any late week bombshells for the bulletin board. If anything, it’s the Giants who have all the material, supplied by the countless media stories and people like the Mayor of Boston talking about parade routes.

Friday was a different matter. We woke to the story of Sen. Arlen Specter saying he is suddenly interested in Commissioner Roger Goodell appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee to explain why he destroyed the tapes supplied to him by the Patriots last September.

Is he for real? This unabashed Eagles fan, the Friday before the Super Bowl, now wants answers? Do these politicians really take the American public for complete and utter fools? We’re not supposed to see through his grandstanding much less the misuse of an elected official’s time and power?

Goodell’s penalty may have been harsh but in my opinion it was more for the blatancy of the act than what was on the tapes or what they were being used for. It’s written everywhere that the Patriots were “caught” filming an opponent’s sideline. Caught? New England had a member of their video staff, in Patriots clothing, standing in broad daylight on the field with a camera on his shoulder. Does it sound like they were caught or they were worried about being caught? Think about that. Goodell made an example of the Patriots for being so bold in violating a league rule. That’s why the penalty was so severe. If Specter thinks he was going to find out who was behind the Kennedy assassination by having those tapes, much less why his beloved Eagles lost the Super Bowl to the Patriots, I think he’d be disappointed.

Ridiculous.

By Dan Pompei
Chicago Tribune

The Patriots concluded their preparations for Super Bowl XLII with a crisp workout in shorts and shells at Sun Devil Stadium that lasted an hour and 20 minutes Friday.
     
“We’re ready to roll,” coach Bill Belichick said. “We’re ready as we’re going to be.”
     
Belichick said the team will not have a walk through at University of Phoenix Stadium Saturday. The Patriots will go to the stadium to take a team photo.
     
Wide receiver Jabar Gaffney’s shoulder injury has improved, and Gaffney was able to participate fully in practice. Quarterback Tom Brady’s ankle continued to be a non-issue. So the Patriots look to be completely healthy.
    
Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown spoke to the team before practice at Belichick’s request.

Sorry for the lengthy delay in any postings so far today. All the PFW crew has been down in Phoenix attending multiple press conferences and staying on top of breaking news here at the Super Bowl (regarding the Pats, of course).

It’s just minutes before “PFW in Progress,” so we’ll be away for a little while longer, but the answer to yesterday’s trivia question is Tim Dwight, with a 42-yard average.

Good show on tap … including the debut of Webmaster Chris talking smack to Casale about their upcoming hoops throw-down.