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Super Bowl Roundup Bledsoe wins practice bet by throwing ball into basketPosted: Friday February 01, 2002 6:19 PMNEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Drew Bledsoe's powerful arm couldn't get him his job back, but it was enough to win some friendly bets from his teammates before the team's final full Super Bowl practice on Friday. According to a pool report from the closed workout, Bledsoe took bets on whether he could throw a ball into a basket holding the video equipment perched on a 60-foot crane. After missing the first try, he hit on the second. Asked if his team was ready to play the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, head coach Bill Belichick said, "They'd better be." "I have confidence in the team -- a lot of confidence. They've done what we asked them to do, and now the only thing left is to go out and play," he said. Quarterback Tom Brady again said his sprained left ankle felt fine. Brady inherited the starting job when Bledsoe was injured in Week 2, then kept it by leading New England to an 11-5 record and winning one playoff game before he was injured in the first half of the AFC championship. "I feel good," he said while walking off the field. "My ankle's extremely strong. On Sunday night, I expect it to be 100 percent." The team practiced for two hours in 51-degree weather -- a 30-degree drop from Thursday -- wearing helmets, but without pads. The Patriots plan a walkthrough at the Superdome on Saturday before checking out of their downtown hotel for one farther from the city's many distractions. "Other than a few logistical things, it's been pretty close to a normal week for us," Belichick said.
Pace, Zgonina back on field for RamsNEW ORLEANS (AP) -- St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace and defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina practiced for the first time this week in the team's final pre-Super Bowl workout Friday. Pace injured his right knee in the NFC Championship Game and Zgonina has a hyperextended left elbow. "They got a little bit of work," head coach Mike Martz said. "They're ready to play. I just felt if we rested them, it would be in their best interest. "From a schematic standpoint, I think we're far enough along in the season that they'll be fine with all that stuff." The Rams practiced in shells and helmets for about 1 1/2 hours at the New Orleans Saints' practice facility. Martz cut the practice short about an hour, similar to the Friday practice before the NFC Championship Game, eliminating a 48-play team session. "We've played 23 games to this point, so that eliminates wear and tear on the body," Martz said. The Rams will have a walkthrough in the Superdome on Saturday. Martz said the team has handled the Super Bowl week well. "I think we're ready," he said. "I think any time you travel and go through this stuff, it takes you a good day to get your feet underneath you and get going. But we're fine." Duane Lewis, the Rams' assistant director of public relations, did some work at left offensive tackle during the part of practice when the defensive line does a walkthrough of line stunts. Lewis participated in street clothes. "I gave them a good look," Lewis said. "I'll do anything to help the team. I was a little stiff out there, that's for sure."
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