If Giants win toss, they'll take ball

PHOENIX — The question was ridiculous, but New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin answered it anyway.

Because teams that win the coin toss have a losing record in Super Bowls, would he consider kicking off if the Giants win the toss?

"So we're going to give the Patriots the ball one more time?" Coughlin said as a roomful of reporters broke into laughter. "That's what we're setting out to do? They don't do well enough with their drives, so they need another one."

New England scored an NFL-record 589 points this year and set a record with 75 touchdowns.

Coughlin also noted that by kicking off to start the game, the Giants wouldn't get the ball to start the second half.

"I don't mean to belittle the question, but you're not going to give someone else the ball, and that's why you see, even in a gale or a hurricane, people take the ball," Coughlin said. "It's because, quite frankly, you don't have enough opportunities. You're only going to get an average of 11 drives per game."

For the record, the Giants went 3-4 when they won the coin toss during the regular season, and 7-2 when they lost it.

BELICHICK'S FAVORITE QB: New England coach Bill Belichick was asked to name the best quarterback he ever saw. His answer might come as a surprise, especially from a coach who has watched Tom Brady this season. Hint: The quarterback played for the Colts, but it's not Peyton Manning.

"As a pure passer, I don't think I could put anybody ahead of Bert Jones," Belichick said. "I know he had a short career and the shoulder injury, but when I was there (in Baltimore) and he was just starting his career, the success that he had, and his ability to throw the ball as a pure passer and as an athlete, it would be hard to put anybody ahead of Bert Jones at that point in time."

Jones, a former Pro Bowler, threw 124 touchdown passes and 101 interceptions in a nine-year career that ended in 1982. He completed 56 percent of his passes for 18,190 yards. He was the No. 2 overall draft pick in 1973 out of LSU.