HOUSTON -- If Bill Belichick is a genius, then Ernie Adams is the brains behind the genius, a man of mystery wherever he has been.

And wherever Belichick has been, Adams has followed.

They have been together since their prep school days at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., and Adams has been at Belichick's side with the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots.

Adams, those few who know him say, has a photographic memory whereby he can instantly recall plays from games 15 years ago and the offenses or defenses used in them. He is listed as "football research director" in the Patriots' media guide.

Few in the New England media know anything about him, and little has been written about him. The only story anyone can recall was a short one in the New York Times two weeks ago comparing Adams to baseball researcher Bill James.

"I don't know anybody who can tell you much about him," said New York Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi.

Adams declined to be interviewed through a Patriots spokesman

"I think he's a genius," said Kevin Byrne, Baltimore's vice president of public and community relations, who worked for the Browns when Belichick and Adams were in Cleveland. "With Cleveland, he had an undefined role, and it seems it's an undefined role up there [in New England]. Ernie doesn't call a lot of attention to himself. He and Bill have been together for more than 30 years."

Patriots players have talked about the genius of Belichick's defenses, how he matches them so well with opponent's offenses. To some, it sounds like Adams' doing.

"I remember sitting on the roof of old Cleveland Stadium and watching this guy know exactly what play was coming," Steelers video coordinator Bob McCartney said. "He could tell you what play Terry Bradshaw ran against a certain defense, how many times he ran it; just an incredible guy.

"If you asked him what play the Pittsburgh Steelers ran against the Cleveland Browns, he'd give you the terminology, the defense, who blocked what and who ran what. They talk about how smart Bill Belichick is ... he's a good coach, but here's one of the guys he's had around for a long time."

Love-hate relationship

X marks the spot where He Hate Me has landed, right in the Super Bowl.

Rod Smart was known as little more than the eighth-leading rusher in Western Kentucky University history before he signed on with the XFL in 2001 and chose "He Hate Me" to be stenciled on the back of his game jersey.

Few recall that he was that one-and-out pro league's second-leading rusher with 555 yards for the Las Vegas Outlaws. All they remember was the nickname.

"It came from right here, from the heart," said Smart, one of Carolina's better special teams players. "I didn't notice it blew up until after the first [XFL] game we played. After that, I got famous."

Smart has trademarked "He Hate Me" and hopes to parlay the Super Bowl publicity into some "bling-bling."

Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme, who raises thoroughbred horses, might have beaten him to the draw. He named a filly She Hate Me.

A Super streak

No team has gone 17-0 since the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who won all 14 regular-season games and swept three in the postseason, including the AFC championship game in Pittsburgh.

The Patriots can win their 15th in a row Sunday after opening the season 2-2.

"I kind of forgot about it," New England safety Rodney Harrison said. "We understand there is a streak, but we're out here to win the ballgame, regardless of what we've done the past 15 or 16 weeks."

Texas chill?

Temperatures dived below freezing yesterday after the week began under sunny skies and 72 degrees. It's looking more like Patriots weather except for one matter: Reliant Stadium has a retractable roof. NFL officials had hoped to play at least part of the game with the roof open.