Playing the team punished most for cheating in NFL history doesn’t seem to worry Giants coach Tom Coughlin as he prepares to face the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
Asked a question today on privacy and security concerns caused by having practice away from the team’s home facility, Coughlin responded, “It’s always a concern. We’ve taken the normal precautions. The (Arizona Cardinals facility) is a very good one, and it’s controlled in terms of who’s at practice and who isn’t.”
The Patriots and coach Bill Belichick were fined a total of $750,000 and lost a first-round draft pick for using a video camera to spy on the Jets’ sideline in the season opener.
Coughlin says the Giants’ protection, from cameras or something worse, is assured.
“You do as much as you can in the circumstances we operate within, and we have great confidence in the National Football League for taking care of some of these things,” Coughlin said. “We are concerned about it, but really no more than any other time.”
Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, who was suspended for the first four games of this season for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, was asked how people view the Patriots after the incidents early in the season. He was predictably defiant.
“I don’t care what they think. It doesn’t matter,” the hard-hitting safety said. “We’re here in Arizona. We’re enjoying this sunshine and this golf course. It really doesn’t matter. A win is a win. We’ve had a lot of success.
“We’ve won one game 18 times in a row. We just have to do it again. Whatever happened in the past is in the past. Whatever suspensions or fines that were imposed have been dealt with. We’re moving forward. We’re looking forward to Sunday.”
Linebacker Mike Vrabel said he wanted to “knock the crap out of” people who labeled his team as “cheaters.”
“I think you’re a little shocked, a little stunned. We were answering a lot of questions about our commitment and what we try to do as a player and how we prepare,” Vrabel said. “Guys put a lot of time, a lot of effort and a lot of hard work into the game and people would say, ‘How does it feel to be labeled a cheater?’
“You wanted to stand up and knock the crap out of them, but we had to deal with it. We fought through it as a team, we got through it together and we haven’t looked back.”
The Giants’ first Super Bowl Week practice, held yesterday, went well, according to Coughlin. The Giants were back at it this afternoon.
“At yesterday’s practice, there was very good energy. The players were anxious to get out on the practice field, and the fields were excellent, in great condition,” Coughlin said. “It’s nice to be out on the grass, working again. We can practice better, but the energy level was very good, and the players were excited about being on the field again after having a little bit of time off.”