Patriots focused on the present
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Vince Wilfork hears the Giants' confident chatter, the self-assurance emanating from the Patriots' Super Bowl XLVI opponent.
But Wilfork isn't about to get upset or tack anything up in his locker this week, hoping to use it as a little motivation with hopes of avenging the Giants' past two wins against the Patriots.
"I don't hold anything against these guys," the defensive tackle said after New England's first practice of the week in Indianapolis.
"They should feel like they are the team to beat because they are playing good football. They are probably playing the best football that a defensive line can play.
"You can't say anything negative toward what they've got going on. They've talked the talk and walked the walk."
Especially the past two times they've squared off against the Patriots, the latter coming in a 24-20 win Nov. 6 in Foxborough, Mass. The Giants, of course, also foiled New England's bid for a 19-0 season in Super Bowl XLII.
However, Bill Belichick , isn't buying the revenge angle. "I see this game as this game. There aren't really all that many people that played in the last game four years ago. So this game, the elements of it are what we have in front of us, not what happened two months ago, four years ago, whatever it was."
Only five active players remain from the Patriots' 2008 Super Bowl squad: Wilfork, Tom Brady, Stephen Gostkowski, Kevin Faulk, Matt Light and Logan Mankins .
"Every time you get to this level, it's a special level," Wilfork said. "You have to enjoy it. This is something that is going to stick with you for the rest of your life."
Jim Caldwell is back in the NFL, this time as Baltimore's quarterbacks coach. The 57-year-old Caldwell was hired by the Ravens less than two weeks after he was fired as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts following a 2-14 season. Caldwell went 26-22 in three years with Indianapolis, including a Super Bowl appearance.
Kansas City hired Tom McMahon to coach special teams and cut ties with three assistants from former head coach Todd Haley 's staff. McMahon will take over for Steve Hoffman , who wasn't retained after Romeo Crennel was elevated from interim head coach to the permanent job.
Former Dolphins interim coach Todd Bowles has been hired to coach Philadelphia's secondary. Bowles, a 12-year NFL coaching veteran, was 2-1 as Miami's head coach after Tony Sparano was fired.
First Published January 31, 2012 12:00 am
