Super Bowl Notebook
Howard's Pope Maintains Hope For Big Game
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Thursday, January 31, 2008
CHANDLER, Ariz., Jan. 30 -- Former Howard University cornerback Geoff Pope is hoping to be on the Giants' active roster for the Super Bowl. Pope, who was on the practice squad all season, was in uniform for the team's first playoff game at Tampa Bay but did not play.
Pope was activated the next week at Dallas and played in nickel packages the entire second half because of injuries to other defensive backs. He also played in many nickel situations in the NFC championship game in Green Bay.
But with an extra week of rest between the Green Bay game and the Super Bowl, several Giants players have had time to heal, which might push Pope off the active roster for the biggest game of the season.
A depth chart was due to be released to the team Wednesday night. Yet even that won't yield many clues; often the ultimate decisions about when a player will be in uniform won't be made until Saturday night or even Sunday right before the game.
"I'm hoping I'll be out there; I should be," he said. "But we'll see."
Pope said he has been besieged by interview requests in the three days the Giants have been in town. Several writers and television reporters have been taken by the story of a player who was never supposed to be involved in game action this season suddenly playing in the playoffs. . . .
Several Giants players have come down with the flu in recent days, some feeling the effects so much they have missed practices or team sessions. Cornerback Aaron Ross has been the latest victim.
Coach Tom Coughlin said the organization has taken precautions, going so far as to hand out medicine to players before they flew down, hoping to squelch any advancing symptoms.
Advantage, Moss
Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss was asked Wednesday about Giants players saying they're wearing black this week because they want to "bury" the Patriots' perfect season.
"We'll see who has black on after the game," Moss said. . . .
Earlier this week, Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress predicted New York would win the Super Bowl, 23-17.
"All this is entertainment," Burress said. "It's sports, and sports are entertainment. So 23-17 is the prediction I made, but the game still has to be played."
