By PAUL SCHWARTZ
January 29, 2008
CHANDLER, Ariz. - Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour thinks Plaxico Burress' crystal ball isn't working right.
Told today at Super Bowl Media Day that the Giants wide receiver picked a 23-17 score for Sunday's game, Seymour said, "Patriots on top? If it's Patriots on top it's a good prediction."
Burress' boast, of course, had the Giants winning, a thought quickly dismissed by Seymour.
"Talk is cheap; you have to go out and get it done," Seymour said. "You can't control what anybody says or does; you just have to come out here and enjoy it."
Prior to a Week 14 game against Pittsburgh, Steelers defensive back Anthony Smith guaranteed his team would end the Patriots' undefeated season. New England won, 34-13.
"We've had guys in the past make [predictions] and you see how that worked out," Seymour said.
Burress told The Post yesterday about his prediction.
As he pulled his car up to the Giants Stadium tunnel to unload his bags, Burress was asked by The Post a direct question: Are you ready to make history? "You better believe it," the towering Giants receiver said.
And then, as he entered the stadium and turned left toward the Giants locker room, Burress was asked for his prediction. Burress never hesitated, flatly stating "23-17."
He didn't identify the winning team. He didn't have to.
Next came Michael Strahan, unloading his bags as The Post looked on. The same question: Are you ready to make history? "Yes sir," said Strahan, who for 15 years has chased the dream of winning the Super Bowl.
"History will be ours."
With that, the Giants departed for their western excursion, intent on proving wrong their many doubters and the oddsmakers and the legion of New England fans who believe their undefeated (18-0) Patriots are unbeatable and that a fourth Super Bowl title in the past seven years is their birthright.
Although their charter flight took off nearly 45 minutes late because rookie cornerback Aaron Ross got sick prior to takeoff, the Giants arrived here displaying sartorial splendor, with almost every player decked out in an all-black ensemble as per the instructions of fashion consultant/linebacker Antonio Pierce.
Out of the gate, it was the Patriots who led the way into town, touching down in Phoenix on Sunday afternoon amid a rainstorm. Tom Coughlin preferred to keep his team home until the last possible moment and by the time their charter arrived yesterday, there were breaks in the clouds and some afternoon sunshine and welcoming blue skies managed to peek through to greet the Giants.
A sign? An omen? Were whatever fates and Muses in charge of underdogs everywhere smiling down on the Giants?
