Belichick: 'I wasn't sure of the time'

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

February 6, 2008

Bill Belichick isn't looking back.

With the sting still fresh of the stunning Super Bowl loss that ruined the Patriots' unbeaten season, their coach hasn't watched video of the game yet or analyzed everything that went wrong.

And that exit from the field with one second left after he congratulated Giants coach Tom Coughlin? "I wasn't really sure of the time," Belichick said in a conference call yesterday.

"Everybody started on to the field and then I got over there and I wanted to congratulate Tom," Belichick said. "I've been in that situation before after the game. I wanted to get over there and congratulate him and congratulate him on the championship. There really wasn't much left at that point."

Just enough time for Eli Manning to kneel down as the final second ticked off, ending the Giants' 17-14 win and finishing New England's season at 18-1 rather than 19-0.

"It's a disappointing end to a lot of good things that happened this season," Belichick said. "We played a lot of good football, but we're certainly disappointed about the way it ended. We came so close, but it just didn't work out.

"It takes a lot to get to this point, but now it's starting over, into the '08 season. It's already time to move on. We're into the offseason and that's just the way it is. We'll start moving ahead toward next year."

Oddsmakers: Giants won't repeat

Enjoy your Super Bowl celebration, Giants fans. The odds say your team won't repeat as NFL champions. The Giants are rated the seventh-most-likely team to win the game next Feb. 1 in Tampa, Fla., according to Las Vegas Sports Consultants, which advises Nevada sports books on betting lines.

The Giants have 12-1 odds to repeat, trailing the Patriots, who are favored at 5-2. Indianapolis and Dallas are at 6-1. Green Bay is fourth at 7-1, followed by San Diego and Jacksonville at 10-1.

Nevada books took big hit

Nevada sports books lost a record $2.6 million on Super Bowl bets when the Giants upset the Patriots. The sports books handled just more than $92 million on the game, the third-highest amount ever but down for the second consecutive year. The last time the books lost money was in 1995, when the 49ers blew out the Chargers, 49-26, and Nevada books lost $400,000.

Pats' Andrews charged with marijuana possession

Patriots defensive back Willie Andrews pleaded not guilty to drug possession, hours after authorities said they found him with a half-pound of marijuana in Lowell, Mass. Andrews was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and driving an unregistered motor vehicle.

Packers coach McCarthy signs deal

The Green Bay Packers signed coach Mike McCarthy to a five-year contract that runs through the 2012 season. McCarthy, 44, the franchise's 14th head coach, tied a franchise record with 13 regular-season wins.