• Head coach Don Shula: "There was a tremendous amount of excitement. You know, I haven't had the opportunity to do this a lot, to sit up here and watch a football game. I've been down on the sideline trying to figure out what to do next. But here you're powerless. You're just up here watching the swing of the game, hoping to make plays happen to help your football team."

  "I'm sure they are going to use it as motivation because that's a proud group. Tom Brady -- what more can you say? What a great year he's had. He broke all the passing records. Bill Belichick is a proud guy. Their football team is a team that really knows how to win. So I'm sure they are going to realize what they accomplished this year, and then what they failed to accomplish at the end of the year."

• Running back Mercury Morris: "I'm happy for the New York Giants. They were the ones who did it, and they deserve to win because they did what it took to win; which is exactly what we did 17 times in 1972. I guess for the people who weren't around then and don't understand that we are so proud of the fact, not that the Giants knocked off the Patriots, but that people now will get an idea that the only way you can go undefeated is to win every game. You can talk about it all you want, but you still have to win every single game."

• Offensive lineman Larry Little: "Over the years, people have been putting us down, calling us grumpy old men. We never wanted to see the Patriots or any other team lose. We are just happy about our accomplishments. We're a very proud football franchise and a very proud football team. Going an entire season without losing a game is a very proud accomplishment for the football team and the franchise. It goes to show you how tough it is to go undefeated through an entire season. We accomplished something no one else has done in 36 years, and we are very proud of that."

• Tight end Jim Mandich: "First of all, congratulations to the New York Giants. They played a fabulous football game and I really thought they deserved to win. I really feel the better team won. Congratulations to Tom Coughlin and congratulations to Eli Manning. The drive Eli put together at the end of the game will go down in Super Bowl history as one of the great drives ever. As for the 1972 Dolphins, I don't take joy in the fact that the Patriots lost -- period. But I do relish and savor the fact there has only been one unbeaten team in the history of the NFL, and it is the 1972 Dolphins."

• Running back Jim Kiick: "Obviously, we're proud to still be the only undefeated team in the history of the National Football League. We're proud of it. Why shouldn't we be? We never were against the New England Patriots. We have our accomplishments. We're not comparing ourselves to anyone else from other generations. We're happy with our own accomplishments. The Patriots are a great football team. Unfortunately, they didn't win this Super Bowl."

One fan just stood shaking his head before pulling off his Tom Brady jersey and sitting back down in his chair to watch the Giants celebrate on the field.

Somewhere, we suspect, Mercury Morris and the 1972 Dolphins are partying harder than these Giants, who almost seem in shock of what they've accomplished.

That said, Petty put together a quaint four-song set, opening with "American Girl," before bursting through a Full Moon Fever hit collection of, "I Won't Back Down," "Free Fallin'," and "Running Down a Dream."

Ironic, of course, that Petty played three songs from a so-called "solo" album during his halftime performance with the Heartbreakers.

Again, a solid effort from Petty (and a nice light show to supplement). Just won't leave us with the goosebumps that U2 did in 2002, or the "what just happened?" reaction of Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction in 2004.

Props to the sound guys here for working a little "Ruby" by the Kaiser Chiefs and "Move Away" from the Killers into the recent musical offerings.

Colorado City, which is about 350 miles north of Glendale along the Utah border, is reporting about 3 inches of snow this afternoon and a cold front pushing into the area will lead to 6 to 12 inches of total accumulation in the higher elevations.

For those tourists that packed nothing but shorts and sandals, this probably wasn't the type of message they expected for this part of the country.

The first play from scrimmage for the Giants might have had just as many flashbulbs popping. They're like little fireflies fluttering atop the stadium.

We're experiencing some Internet woes here at University if Phoenix Stadium. We've got some pregame video and more to bring you whenever our connection stops dropping.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Gladys Knight had the Pips. Ray Charles had the Raylettes. Ed Lasater has the Maroneys.

Lasater, a former New Englander now calling Jacksonville home, is well known by Patriots fans for his Super Bowl shrine of a hat (it's made of foam and quite durable, he assures us), as well as his familiar silver face paint and authentic Tedy Bruschi jersey.

But what often gets overlooked are Lasater's sidekicks. Searching for a way to get in on the act, but not overshadow their fearless leader, three of Lasater's friends, including his brother-in-law Dan Vanderpyl, decided to buy wigs with Maroney-like dreadlocks and wear them with the No. 39 jersey of New England's star running back and sunglasses.

The result? A rock band-like entourage that sorta looks like what would emerge if you stuck Robocop, the Ramones, and some Patriots jerseys in a blender.

Fortunately, people can't get enough of Lasater and his crew. They pose for pictures before games and count owner Robert Kraft among their biggest fans.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Wonder why the Patriots are thinking about a victory parade on Super Tuesday? Clearly it could be to announce a new entrant to the political parade.

OK, maybe not. But the Brady/Moss ballot was met with much enthusiasm outside University of Phoenix Stadium.

In fact, we planned to toss these placards in the trash after grabbing a quick snapshot, but a cluster of fans eagerly approached asking if they could take the signs off our hands.

Turns out it was the family of Patriots assistant strength and conditioning coach Harold Nash, who gleefully posed for a picture in exchange for the signs.

This Giants fan crafted an outfit that sort of made him look like Darth Vader in a Michael Strahan jersey. The get-up was enough to draw the attention of a TV cameraman.

But quicker than you can scream, "Go Big Blue!", the Patriots faithful hopped into action.

A fast-moving fan darted into the shot and sneaked a "Go Pats!" sign in front of Vader Strahan.

Patriots fans 1, Giants fans 0.

They start from afar, typically when a passerby notices her Patriots apparel clashing with the New York Giants gear typically sported by Rivers's longtime friend, Aldo Barbieri.

But then you get closer and notice Rivers is wearing a Giants viser. Somebody's got some 'splainin' to do.

"My dad's from Massachusetts," said Rivers, who grew up and lives in New Jersey.

"It's my favorite team in the AFC and my favorite team in the NFC. It's the best of both worlds."

But she has to be leaning one way or another, right?

"It's history, either way," said Rivers. "If the Giants win, it's the biggest upset. If the Patriots win, they're 19-0."

But having the best of both worlds is a costly experience. Rivers and Barbieri bought their tickets off eBay for a cool $5,000 total. The duo doesn't even want to think about their budget for the week. So instead of worrying about the charges on their MasterCard, they just borrowed the company's tagline.

"It's priceless," said Rivers.