—New England safety Rodney Harrison, no stranger to an occasional fine for dishing out a big hit, told ESPN.com it's all just part of the game.

"Football IS dirty. Football is a tough, physical sport, with lots of dirtiness going on.

"We signed up for a dirty sport. That's why you guys [the media] don't do it. That's why we do it."

—Giants receiver Amani Toomer already has a future president in mind. "I think I'm going to support Obama. I like some of his ideas on health care and I like his ideas on the stimulus package."

—Don't look for Bill Belichick to be doing any interviews with TV Azteca. "I don't know any Spanish. Not a word."

—"Slim is a four-letter word. I try to get down to where I'm not gross," Giants third-string quarterback Jared Lorenzen (listed at 270 pounds) told ESPN.com.

—Harrison may have been born in Markham, Ill., a Chicago suburb, but he's not about to compare his Patriots to the 1985 Chicago Bears, often ranked as one of the NFL's all-time great teams.

"No question I'm a Chicago guy," he said. "Those are my roots. ... You don't forget where you're from because you never know where you're going."

"What do I get out of comparing us against the Bears?" he asked. "There will be a time and place for that. But right now, we're just focused on one game."

—Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora told the NFL Network crew the craziest question he had all day was also the most repetitive. "Do you guys really think you can win this game? I mean, what am I supposed to say, 'No'?"

—Most of the Patriots' offensive line has grown beards. It's not so easy for backup Russ Hochstein, though. "For some of these guys it's an artform. I tried as hard as I could, but it didn't come in well. My chin's fine but I really struggled on the sides."