MAILBAG Dr. Z will answer select user questions each week in his NFL mailbag. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

Noah, you make a terrific point. When I wrote what I wrote, I did not know (other than unsubstantiated rumors) anything other than the fact that the NFL had unearthed a limited number of tapes -- six, as it turned out -- and the fact that Roger Goodell was firm in his belief that Super Bowls were not involved. Once the Matt Walsh allegations began pouring in Saturday, I then believed a further investigation was not only necessary, but also in the best interest of Congress to undertake.

I think in a case like this, a grandstander such as Specter hurts his cause by comparing the NFL's investigation into cheating with CIA monkey business. But now I hope he calls Walsh to testify, and I hope Walsh spills his guts about everything he knows of the Patriots' taping practices.

One more thing: On three occasions last week at the Super Bowl, I ran into Pats' fans ticked at me for fanning the flames of Spygate (one man's words) and refusing to let it die. If that means I think we're owed more of a public airing of the case than we got, then I'm guilty.

I still believe Bill Belichick's post-sanction statement about not knowing he was breaking a rule was haughtily disingenuous if not a falsehood, and for that to be the only discussion of the biggest penalty ever imposed on a coach in NFL history is unfair to the people who trust that every NFL game is being contested by the same rules for both sides.

OPINIONS ARE LIKE NOSES. WE ALL HAVE ONE. From TK, of Raleigh, N.C.: "Peter, how can you say that this Super Bowl wasn't the greatest upset in NFL history? I respectfully beg to differ for one specific reason: When you win a Super Bowl, it's a big deal. But when you win a Super Bowl and go undefeated, your season and your team will be remembered forever. We all know who the '72 Dolphins were and what they did. How many of us know who won the next year's Super Bowl, and the one after that and so on. The Giants took an undefeated season away from the Patriots, and it will never be forgotten.''

First of all, two teams (the '69 Jets and '01 Pats) that won Super Bowls were bigger underdogs than the Giants. That makes this Super Bowl not the biggest upset, at least by the acknowledged line of the times.

Secondly, I just look at how the teams were playing the previous five weeks. The first Pats-Giants meeting at the Meadowlands was anyone's game, and I think we'd both agree the Giants had a more impressive January, winning three in a row on the road in the NFC playoffs as opposed to the Patriots clawing out two tough victories at home.

As I said Monday, the total resumes would say this was an upset for the ages and maybe the biggest in any Super Bowl. But taking a more macro look at it, it wasn't nearly the shock of, say, the Patriots beating the Rams seven years ago -- at least to me.

ASANTE SAMUEL BLEW IT. From Ryan Shanor, of Massillon, Ohio: "How is Asante Samuel not the Goat of the Week? I thought his failed interception, when the ball was in his hands on the last drive, was more of a choke than Ellis Hobbs' coverage. Especially being a guy who holds out, and then doesn't make a sure interception that would have won the Super Bowl.''

One reason: Samuel missed a ball 18 inches over his head, not a ball in the breadbasket. I judged it a ball he should have caught, but not an egregiously bad play.

I DIDN'T SEE IT THAT WAY, BRIAN, BUT THAT'S WHAT MAKES SPORTS FUN. From Brian, of Waterbury, Conn.: "As a Giant fan on the cusp of a championship, I was shocked at Fox showing a montage of the '72 Dolphins. Really, I understand the historical significance of the Patriots losing, but the moment belonged to the Giants, not the Dolphins. I understand there will be a time and place for discussion of the '72 team, but that was not the time, nor the place. Finally, the last person I want to hear from on my morning and afternoon commutes is Mercury Morris trying to steal a long-gone spotlight. Completely unnecessary.''

Well, I can see your frustration in Fox showing the Dolphin story. But in fairness to Fox, my guess is that was about 40 seconds of TV time, and one of the stories after this Giant victory was going to be -- like it or not -- the Dolphins retaining their "title'' as the only team to go through a season, including playoffs, without a loss. I didn't mind it. I had no rooting interest, so maybe if I were a Giants' fan it would have bothered me. But I didn't find it out of place.

NICE JOB, MIKE CAREY. From Michael Bingham, of DeKalb, Ill.: "I think there's one person who hasn't gotten any credit for the Manning/Tyree play in the fourth quarter: referee Mike Carey. I thought Carey was going to blow the play dead because Manning seemed to be "in the grasp" when first grabbed and held for a second by the Pats. Instead, even though Manning wasn't able to move for a split second, Carey let the play continue. I doubt the Giants would have won if Carey had blown that whistle early. Overall, I thought the officiating crew did a great job, in general, of letting the players decide the game.''

I never thought of that until I read your letter. And while I don't think Manning was ever in the grasp enough for Carey to have blown the play dead, I do agree with your overall assessment of the game. It was not a dirty game, and it was not called in a ticky-tack way. The only play I thought was blown was Amani Toomer pushing off -- in the face, in fact -- a Patriot defender before making a sideline catch. But overall, I though nine penalties for 71 yards was a respectable, unobtrusive job by a Super Bowl crew.