Super Bowl Notes: Bill Belichick's Greatness Attributed to the Culture in Foxboro

HOUSTON – He values the team's overall culture ahead of its individual parts.

He rules his team with an iron fist, and yet, instills that team with a sense of family.

He can appear heartless -- quick to say "goodbye" to those who no longer fit in -- and yet, he is deeply loyal.

He has hard-and-fast ideas about how to run his own team, but is never against learning and adding bits of others' expertise to his own repertoire.

Yes, this is a description of New England coach Bill Belichick, who can set himself apart Sunday by winning a record fifth Super Bowl title as a head coach (see full story).

- The Associated Press

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Low-key agent a key influence on Brady, other Patriots
HOUSTON -- Tom Brady's presence on the website of his agents Don Yee and Steve Dubin is noteworthy for how understated it is.

There's no mention of Brady on the home page. When you click on the ATHLETES  tab and hit the "FOOTBALL" dropdown, you have to scroll past Kevin Anderson and Josh Boyce before you get to a photo of Brady. The two players that follow: Tyler Bray and Ty Detmer.

It's in keeping with the way Yee and Dubin have managed Brady's career since he came into the NFL in 2000. Instead of leveraging their relationship with Brady to solicit more work, more notoriety, backslaps, fame and status as "celebrity agents," they are virtual wallflowers.

The underlying message seems to be that, just because Brady's won four Super Bowls, appeared in seven and is the greatest quarterback in NFL history, he is no more important to their firm now than he was 17 years ago. Brady's interests were just as vital and consuming to Yee and Dubin when he was a sixth-round pick and fourth on the depth chart, it seems.

While Brady relies tremendously on both men, it's Yee that's been the "voice" of Brady's career since Brady rose to prominence (see full story).

- CSNNE.com

Falcons: Mack's leg injury is a cause for concern
HOUSTON – Super Bowl week has gone smoothly for the Atlanta Falcons.

Until Thursday.

Pro Bowl center Alex Mack was bothered by his injured left fibula during practice at Rice University, and coach Dan Quinn says he's "concerned" about the anchor of the offensive line heading into Sunday's title game against the New England Patriots.

Mack was injured in the NFC championship against Green Bay but managed to stay in the game. He didn't practice last week, and he's been listed as limited this week.

While he's likely to play, Quinn showed a bit of doubt when he said "I'm not panicked, but I'm concerned."

Receiver Julio Jones (toe) was also limited in Thursday's practice. Dwight Freeney didn't practice, but it was really just a rest day for the 36-year-old defensive end.

- The Associated Press

Patriots: Despite accuracy issues, Gostkowski still upbeat with Super Bowl ahead
HOUSTON – Being a kicker in the NFL is hard enough.

Doing it for a New England Patriots franchise that has enjoyed some of the most clutch kicking performances in NFL playoff history is something entirely different.

Such is the position Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski is in as New England prepares for what could be a close Super Bowl matchup.

The Patriots have won their four Super Bowls by a total of just 13 points, and are favored by just three over the Falcons. Atlanta has scored the most points per game in the league while New England has given up the fewest. In such a game it could come down to which team has the best kicker (see full story).

- The Associated Press

Falcons: Freeman and Coleman's bond helps fuel Falcons
HOUSTON – Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are so interchangeable in the Atlanta Falcons backfield, Matt Ryan gets a little mixed up at times.

"He doesn't even know who's in the game," Coleman said, breaking into a huge smile.

Quite a 1-2 punch, these two are.

It really doesn't matter who you put at "1" and who goes at "2."

Sure, Freeman is the starter, but there's no drop-off or any reason to change things up when Coleman comes into the game, a back-and-forth arrangement that keeps both backs fresh and gives fits to opposing defenses (see full story).

- The Associated Press

Patriots: Key to running backs success is health and camaraderie
HOUSTON – When you play for the Patriots, being selfish is not an option.

And no other group may be a greater example of that this season than the trio of running backs that New England will lean on in its Super Bowl matchup with the Atlanta Falcons.

The Patriots struggled to run the ball a year ago after Dion Lewis was lost late in the season to a torn left ACL and LeGarrette Blount to a hip injury.

James White and Brandon Bolden did their best to pick up the slack without them, but New England managed just 44 yards in its AFC championship game loss to Denver.

A year later, those health issues have all but evaporated. And it's helped produce one of the most dependable groups of running backs the Patriots have had in years (see full story).

- The Associated Press

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