Pats pick poor time to stop eating humble pie

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- This is why the New England Patriots lost Super Bowl XLII: They were more arrogant than a supermodel wearing a string bikini.

Before the Giants mounted their final drive, the one resulting in Eli Manning becoming a legend and Mercury Morris erupting in a boyish chuckle, Patriots defensive lineman Richard Seymour told New York's Amani Toomer: "Get ready to go home."

The pompous Pats are on display more than the perfect Pats on Sunday. (US Presswire)

Arrogant.

After the 17-14 Giants victory, the Patriot arrogance didn't stop. Wide receiver Randy Moss praised the Giants but couldn't help taking a shot at them at the same time. Asked about New York's defense, Moss said, "I don't think their secondary ... it's ordinary."

It's ordinary? It just shut your offense down, hoss.

When asked later how good New York's defense was, Moss again took a not-so-veiled shot at the Giants secondary that mostly held the Patriots in check.

"How good was their front four or how good was their defense?" Moss asked.

Damn arrogant.

In their Super Bowl victories, the Patriots were not like this. They were dedicated, they laid low. Even this year they were supposedly eating humble pie.

This time, with 19-0 within New England's reach, when they needed their humility and dedication the most, it wasn't there.

They lost 19-0 and a chance at immortality because in the biggest moment they strayed from the Patriot way. Instead of intensity, there was cockiness. Instead of humility, there was foolish bragging. No Bill Belichick team has ever been full of itself but these Patriots were.

"Basically what gets me is we didn't match their intensity," said Moss of the Giants. "They played harder than us from start to finish."

The Super Bowl was opposite world. Tom Brady was awful, Eli Manning was bionic, the Patriots were sloppy and Mr. Tom Petty was good.