Without Vinatieri, Pats Put Trust in Gostkowski

PHOENIX, Feb. 2 -- Place kicker Adam Vinatieri was a Super Bowl hero for the New England Patriots, twice winning championships with last-second field goals.

But Vinatieri is long gone, now a member of the Indianapolis Colts, and as the Patriots try to secure their fourth Super Bowl title in seven years and an unbeaten season, they must hope that replacement Stephen Gostkowski has a similarly climactic kick in him if needed.

The second-year pro has been a relatively reliable kicker for the Patriots. This season, he connected on 21 of 24 field goal attempts and all 74 of his extra points during the regular season. But he has yet to prove himself on the sport's biggest stage the way his predecessor did.

"I just want to win, whatever it takes to win," Gostkowski said this week. "If we win 45-0, I don't care. It doesn't matter what it is for me."

Each of the Patriots' three Super Bowl triumphs has come by a three-point margin. They beat Sunday's opponent, the New York Giants, by three points in the regular season finale at Giants Stadium. So that history indicates that Gostkowski could be needed Sunday.

"I'm always pretty relaxed out there, whatever the situation," he said. "It doesn't matter what situation, I have to be relaxed and focused on what I have to do. There is pressure on every kick I have to make every week. Just because it's the Super Bowl, that's not going to be on my mind when I'm on the field. This is a game. It's a game we have to win. That's how I'm approaching it. I don't think of it any differently."

A Midshipman Patriot

Former Navy running back Kyle Eckel is a reserve with the Patriots readying for his first Super Bowl. "It's been fun," Eckel said. "It's been a good time. But the coaches have been making sure it's been hard work as well. We're taking it in stride. All the veterans got us going in the right direction, and they're keeping our heads straight and making sure we don't fall into any distractions."

Eckel went undrafted from college and had a stint with the Miami Dolphins before getting into his first regular season games this season. He played in 12 for the Patriots, mostly on special teams but also had 33 carries.

More Spygate

A member of the Patriots' video staff taped the St. Louis Rams' last walkthrough before they played in the 2002 Super Bowl, an unidentified source told the Boston Herald for a story Saturday.

New England beat the heavily favored Rams the next day, 20-17, for their first NFL title.

Early this season, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell fined Coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and docked the team $250,000 and a first-round draft pick after the Spygate scandal. The Patriots were accused of videotaping New York Jets defensive coaches as they signaled to players.

Player Protection

NFL officials say they will continue to study ways to ensure players are not the targets of crimes. The issue gained prominence after the death of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who was shot by an intruder at his home in suburban Miami.

"There has been much talk and conversation about athletes being targets, and I believe that anyone who has anything that someone else wants is a target," said Troy Vincent, the president of the NFL Players Association. "We will further our discussions in that particular area. . . . It's a serious issue."

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about the matter during a news conference Friday.

"We have to do everything that we can to educate our players of the simple things that they can do to protect themselves and their families," Goodell said. . . .

Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who missed practice all week because of ankle and knee injuries, took part in a team walk-through Saturday. "I think he's a little bit better today," Coach Tom Coughlin told pool reporter Mike Sando of ESPN.com. "He gets a little bit better each day, and hopefully we'll be able to have some further improvement tomorrow."