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Opposite approaches Ravens, Giants prepared in different molds
Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King chatted with CNN/Sports Illustrated anchor Bob Lorenz on Sunday about Super Bowl XXXV on CNN's NFL Preview: Bob Lorenz: The New York media hordes pales in comparison to Super Bowl week, how do you think the media has handled all of this? Peter King: Well I think it is very clear right now that the Baltimore Ravens have tried to make a three-day story into a one-day event; Ray Lewis talking to the press. They want to have the Lewis thing be a focal issue because as Brian Billick told me, "You've got the scoop of the week; we have been doing this all year." So, I think the Ravens love the us-against-the-world atmosphere that has been created. The Giants, on the other hand, just go and play football. One of their coaches told me this week, "We are not particularly confident, we are never that confident." These are two teams that handle this in exactly opposite ways Lorenz: Where might the Giants find an edge against this Ravens' defense?
King: Well, I think at 10:30 [Sunday night] if the Giants win this game you are going to look at two people -- Kerry Collins and Tiki Barber. Barber is vital in this game because he can play in space better than most guys the Ravens have played this year. The Giants are counting on Tiki to get the ball in the flat 5 or 7 yards downfield, make a couple of moves, do something to take away the Baltimore aggressiveness. Two other things you should look for the Giants to do: Unless they get pinned back deep in their own territory, I think they are going to try some tricky stuff early on; maybe a reverse, maybe an option pass or something like that to take the pressure off of Collins. I also think you are going to see Collins more, three- and five-step drops, but also trying to challenge Baltimore deep. The Giants have a very, very healthy respect for the corners on Baltimore, but they also think if they get him going backwards then they have a chance. Lorenz: The Lewis situation could have destroyed the Ravens, but instead it seems that it has brought this team together. Do you think that is the reason behind Billick making his comments to the media earlier this week? Peter King: No question about it. In fact, it is no coincidence that Billick four years ago co-authored a book with the old maestro Bill Walsh on finding a way to win. And one of the things that Walsh talked about in that book is this -- you go into a strange city, a road city and it's 53 people against a city, a county, a region, a state, the media, everybody, and you form your own inner circle to lash out at everything beyond that inner circle. That is precisely what Billick has done this week. Lorenz: Collins has been very admirable this week in spilling his guts. It wasn't so long ago that people questions whether he had any, but now how do you think he will handle things? King: First of all, I have never seen a player in 17 Super Bowls that I have covered handle the adversity during a Super Bowl week as well as Collins has; I think he has been superb. How do I think he will handle it? First of all, there will be no alcohol in the postgame locker room. They don't throw champagne over each other because the NFL doesn't allow it, that won't happen until the postgame party. Win or lose back at the Giants hotel there will be a huge party and maybe Collins will feel tempted. I asked Jim Fassel on Saturday, "Are you worried about a relapse?" and he looked me straight in the eye and said, "Peter, absolutely not." Lorenz: As surprising as who got into the Hall of Fame as who did not, tell us about that. King: Well, as one of the 36 selectors who was in that room [Saturday], I was very, very surprised when the final list was announced. And I was surprised because of the Bill Parcells-Marv Levy thing. Parcells, to me, has twice as good a coaching resume as Levy. Parcells has revived three bad teams and taken them to championships.
Last week, Parcells says he is not coming back to coaching doesn't want to come back to coaching, but he might change his mind and he does not get inducted. Levy, who has tried to get back into coaching as recently as the last two weeks, gets inducted. So, I think it is a spurious argument that says we are not voting Parcells in because he wants to get back into coaching. As far as the other guys who got in, it's a huge list of deserving candidates. I have no problem with them. I have not been a Lynn Swann voter, but a lot of people were. Justice was probably served with Swann. Lorenz: What's the latest with Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis and Giants defensive coordinator John Fox as candidates for head-coaching positions? King: In talking with Lewis' agent, Ray Anderson, [on Saturday night] he says their intention is to meet Monday with Buffalo general manager and CEO Tom Donahoe in Pittsburgh, and then Tuesday to go over to Cleveland and meet with the Browns. Lewis has his pick of these two jobs. In Cleveland, there is no doubt that Fox is the second choice. If for some reason Lewis takes the Buffalo job, then Fox will be named the head coach in Cleveland. Also, Fox is probably the number two guy in Buffalo, but that is less certain. Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL and appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN's NFL Preview.
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