Patriots Trade Cassel, Confident in Brady

Tennessee loses for the first time this season

(NEWSER) - In NFL action, it was an exciting day for the AFC East’s No. 1 and 2, the New York Jets and the New England Patriots, the AP reports:

• Brett Favre threw two TDs and the Jets took down the Tennessee Titans 34-13, breaking their 13-game winning streak. The Jets have won five straight for the first time in more than 4 years.
• The New York Giants held off the late-surging Arizona Cardinals for a 37-29 victory, improving to 10-1. Eli Manning made 26 of 33 passes for 240 yards and no INTs, USA Today reports.

Elsewhere, Dolphins win shocker while Tennessee runs past Kansas City

(NEWSER) - New England improved to 14-0 thanks to its defense, which scored once and shut down the New York Jets in a 20-10 win. In battling both the Jets and the lousy weather, the Patriots' high-powered offense was held to its lowest output of 2007. The visitors tried to rally, but had a touchdown negated by replay with 2:30 remaining. Elsewhere: More»

But in Super Bowl XLVI, Manning made a hero of himself

(NEWSER) - Last night's big game was intensely fought, undeniably exciting—and a little mystifying, thanks to Eli Manning's unusual brand of heroism. Analysts weigh in on the game's place in football history:

• Last night brought us "the most Eli Manning moment of Eli Manning’s career." During the game-winning touchdown, we saw "a hero shot in which the conqueror looks totally confused by his conquest," with "arms half-raised in quasi-triumph." His quiet humility was the polar opposite of Tom Brady's "aggro posture," but it remains "difficult to understand," writes Josh Levin at Slate .

Bundchen defends Tom Brady after Patriots' Super Bowl loss

(NEWSER) - Gisele Bundchen made headlines last week when she asked friends and family to pray for her husband's team to win the Super Bowl, but as we all know, those prayers went unheard. Bundchen was decidedly less sappy in her post-game comments last night, caught on tape as she left the VIP suites on her way to comfort Tom Brady. "My husband can not f****ing throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time," she said as she was heckled by Giants fans. "I can't believe they dropped the ball so many times." The Insider has the video. More»

Hopefully check takes sting out of auto accident

(NEWSER) - The "Golden Boy" got a golden ticket yesterday, turning around what had threatened to be a rather crappy day. Just hours after a two-car accident earned him a brief ride in an ambulance, the Patriots awarded Tom Brady a new four-year deal that will make him the highest-paid player in football, in terms of average salary, according to the AP . The deal guarantees Brady $48.5 million, and carries an average annual salary of $18 million (Eli Manning makes an average $16.25 million; brother Peyton currently makes $14 million). More»