T-Rock's Take on the Giants

Tight ends coach Mike Pope is at his fifth Super Bowl, fourth with the Giants, which is pretty impressive considering he left the team after Super Bowl XXV to join the Bengals staff and didn't return to the Giants until 2000 -- in time for Super Bowl XXXV.

"I remember in '86, media day was a little different," Pope said. "We were all on the field and they opened the gates and the media folks just came flooding in (to the Rose Bowl). Like rats deserting a ship. Or trying to board one."

He said there are some similarities through his Super Bowl trips (he was on the Patriots staff in 1996).

"I remember in (Super Bowl XXI), (John) Elway just whipping the ball all over the field on us in the second quarter, driving them to the 2. They had first and goal and we stopped them three straight times on running plays, and (Rich) Karlis missed the field goal," Pope said. "That turned the momentum. Then it was (Scott) Norwood missing in (Super Bowl XXV).

"Now, we have a kicker who hasn't really been tested all year, and he hits the biggest one to get us here."