“You got to look at the experience of the team,’’ Pollard said, explaining his Super Bowl pick. “You got to look at what do the Giants have? They got a front four that is relentless. They got a secondary that is really, really good. They got a linebacking [corps] that has been with them.
“The dinking and the dunking, man? It’s just not going to happen,’’ Pollard said, referring to the Patriots’ emphasis on the short-to-intermediate passing game, which seemed to work effectively against the Ravens. “They are going to have to take shots down the field.’’
Pollard has been a one-man wrecking crew when it comes to playing against the Patriots. He was responsible for the season-ending left knee injury Tom Brady suffered in the 2008 opener versus the Chiefs. Then, playing for the Texans two years later, Pollard was the player Wes Welker was trying to juke when he blew out his left knee in the regular-season finale.
In the third quarter Sunday, it appeared Pollard had struck again when he rolled up on Rob Gronkowski’s left ankle and caused it to buckle awkwardly after the tight end had made a 23-yard catch.
Gronkowski returned later in the game but was spotted afterward wearing a boot on his left ankle.
“I think the Giants watch our film and watch the film of the season,’’ Pollard said. “They got to take away their big-time players. Gronkowski, I think he is coming off that ankle, so I don’t know if he will be 100 percent.’’
Patriots coach Bill Belichick said yesterday it was too early to evaluate Gronkowski’s status for the Super Bowl. The Patriots were off yesterday and will take off today before holding their first Super Bowl practice tomorrow.
“We’ll see how it goes with Rob and some of the other players who are getting treatment,’’ Belichick said during a teleconference yesterday. “We’ll see how it is when we get back on the field.’’
