GLENDALE, Ariz. - Only a day after Rodney Harrison proclaimed Asante Samuel the top cornerback in the game, Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress fired back that New York has the better receiving corps.

With many of the Patriots hinting at a game plan focused on putting pressure on Eli Manning, the one-on-one battle between Burress and Samuel has developed into an immense sub-plot.

Samuel, a 5-10, 185-pound Pro Bowl starter, could have his hands full with the much taller and physical Burress.

"The guy is 6-5 or 6-6 with long arms," said Samuel of Burress, who is listed as 6-5, 232 pounds. "You' ve just got to fight. And you've got to fight every down."

The oft-maligned Burress has grown into the lethal weapon New York expected when signing him to a blockbuster deal from Pittsburgh in 2005.

He caught 70 balls battling a myriad of injuries during the regular season. Burress then geared up in the playoffs, with 16 catches for 197 yards in the three playoff wins. He all but embarrassed Packers star Al Harris last week.

"We are ending the way we started," said Burress of the potential clash with Samuel. "I just want to have some fun, make some big plays, score a few touchdowns and have one of the best flights I've ever had back to New Jersey."

Brady health update

New England's most famous sprain in history seems to have healed as a heavily taped Tom Brady practiced Monday and walked out here to talk about it yesterday.

"My ankle feels good. My ankle feels great," said Brady. "I practiced a full day yesterday. I think I had one incompletion in practice."

The first NFL Super Bowl injury report is due out today.

Brady didn't get overly philosophical when he was asked about his purpose in life.

"I play football. I happen to do that well enough to get here," said Brady. "I don't think any of us cure cancer. We are blessed to be doing this. We are able to live out childhood dreams."

Belichick's woobie?

Who says the Patriots don't reveal vital secrets?

Yesterday, Mike Vrabel gave away coach Bill Belichick's most personal secret, that is the strategy of wearing the ugly game-day gray hoodie with the cutoff sleeves.

"That's his little woobie," said the Pats linebacker and sack leader "That's his little security blanket. He's got that pouch and he keeps all of his stuff in it. You would like to see what's inside that pouch, I bet."

Time to make the doughnuts

Heath Evans knows a good honey-dipped doughnut when he tastes one. Combine that with his mother's craving for a good cup of coffee in his hometown of Auburn, Ala., and an entrepreneur is born.

"We're still just kind of pursuing it," said Evans, who is in the process of being a Dunkin' Donuts franchise owner. "I just love doughnuts. My mother loves coffee. Alabama, especially Auburn where I went to high school, they don't have a doughnut shop. They have a bagel place, and they don't have a good coffee place. Those are the things that bring Dunkin' Donuts to the table."

Evans isn't about to stop in Auburn either.

"That's where I want to give back to a community that's been so good to me," added the fullback and special teams ace. "But Birmingham is great, Montgomery is great. Huntsville is great. Add a bunch of them."

An Auburn grad, you notice Evans didn't mention Tuscaloosa, home of the rival University of Alabama.

Touching moment of the day

One of the two grade-schoolers in the media horde, a young Arizona girl, asked Giants rookie Zak DeOssie a question and then if her mother could take a picture of the two. DeOssie scooped up the 7-year-old, gave her a big hug and smiled for the camera.

Quote of the day

"Women, weather, wins."

- Patriots receiver Wes Welker on the difference between playing in New England and Miami.