Super Bowl notes: Rob Gronkowski ... Myra Kraft ... More

ShareThis

INDIANAPOLIS - The biggest injury question leading up to Super Bowl XLVI surrounds New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

The talented tight end, a key to Tom Brady's passing game, is doing better, coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday, but his status has yet to be determined for the game against the New York Giants.

"We just have to see where he is," Belichick said Wednesday morning. "I think he is making improvement and getting better every day, but we'll just take it day-to-day and see what he's able to do."

Gronkowski, who led the Patriots with an NFL tight-end record 17 touchdown receptions (on 90 catches for 1,327 yards), turned his left ankle during the AFC Championship win over the Baltimore Ravens, leaving the field but returning to finish it out. He wore a walking boot on the team flight to Indy on Sunday, but shed it for Media Day on Tuesday.

He said he's more tired of answering questions about the ankle than doing his rehab.

"I've just got to be patient, I guess," he said. "It's definitely getting a little annoying hearing the same question every hour, but I'll just keep working hard and doing the best I can to get out there."

The Giants had one player, Ahmad Bradshaw, not practice on Wednesday, but that's par for the course. A foot injury has limited his practice time for much of the season.

Bradshaw, who splits carries pretty evenly with Brandon Jacobs, gained a team-best 659 yards on 171 carries with nine touchdowns in the regular season.

The Patriots dedicated their season to Myra Kraft, the late wife of owner Robert Kraft. He said that only makes a sixth trip to the Super Bowl in his 18 years as owner even more special. New England won three titles in 2001, 2003 and 2004.

"This team is something special -- it might be my favorite," Kraft said. "I have like 53 extra sons. They presented me with a painting (of Myra Kraft) that had to be planned out six to eight weeks in advance. In this world where wealthy players are narcissistic and selfish, to take the time to give something that was meaningful, that's special.

"I must tell you that many games are lost and won in the locker room before the game starts. I just like our locker room, how they go out and execute. In our last game of the year, we were losing 21-0 (to Denver) after 15 minutes. They came back and won 49-21. You need mental toughness to do that."

The Patriots wear "MHK" patches on their jerseys in memory of Myra Kraft, who died at age 68 of ovarian cancer. They'll still be on the uniform on Sunday, along with the Super Bowl logo.

"You can't make this up," said Giants owner John Mara. "I'm happy that they made the Super Bowl, happy for the entire family after what they went through."

One big story coming into the week was the fact that the Giants already had their game plan installed. That, coach Tom Coughlin said, isn't totally true.

"We're grinding. The coaches have been grinding since we got here," he said. "There's lots more to do. We came knowing full well that we'll continue to research and refine. If we like something, we'll keep it, and if we don't like it, we'll change it. I'm sure the Patriots are doing the same thing."

John Parry has been named the referee to lead the seven-man crew of game officials on Sunday.

According to an NFL release, the highest-rated officials at each position earn the right to work the Super Bowl, provided they have at least five years of NFL experience and previous playoff assignments.

Parry, who is in his 12th season and worked Super Bowl XLI as the side judge, will be joined by Carl Paganelli (umpire), Tom Stabile (head linesman), Gary Arthur (line judge), Gary Cavaletto (field judge), Laird Hayes (side judge) and Tony Steratore (back judge). Between them, they have 94 years of NFL officiating experience and 69 playoff-game assignments.

The NFL is putting out a Super Bowl XLVI commemorative app for tablets of both Android and Apple products. It offers season recaps for both teams, player video-highlight reels, interactive polls, Super Bowl history and photos. After the game, highlights and interviews will be added.

The product is available at the Android Market or the iTunes App Store for $2.99; the price will rise after the game.

(Contact Tim Ethridge at ethridget(at)courierpress.com.)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com.)