Giants arrive in 'Zona, expect Pats' Brady to play
CHANDLER, Ariz. -- The New York Giants arrived here Monday for Super Bowl XLII and they did so with almost the entire team dressed in black.
"It's a sign of unity," linebacker Antonio Pierce said.
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| The NFC champion Giants exit their plane in Arizona. (AP) |
You almost get the impression that the Giants think Brady and Patriots coach Bill Belichick are just being a little coy. Of course, they are.
Bootgate might be fun for those so inclined to believe Brady is really hurt enough that he won't be playing, but the Giants aren't buying it.
"Too much is being made of it," Giants defensive end Michael Strahan said. "He's going to play and he's going to play his butt off."
Strahan, one of six Giants players to meet the media in their kickoff session Monday night, went on to say that every player in the game is hurting right now. It's not just the golden-boy quarterback with the model girlfriend.
"Everything hurts on me," Strahan said.
Brady took part in practice at Arizona State University Monday, the Patriots first this week and his first since hurting his ankle in the AFC Championship Game victory over the San Diego Chargers. According to the practice report, he did just about everything.
"That quarterback has proved you can't count him out," Pierce said.
The official injury report won't come out until Wednesday, and you can bet Brady will be on it, but was there ever any doubt he would play?
The boot he wore last week in his starring role for the paparazzi made for a nice week of pre-Super talk, but it would take a bullet to keep Brady down.
We know it. The Giants certainly know it, too.
"He'll be there," Pierce said.
You bet he will.
