- I was just handed the final breakdown of the Super Bowl MVP vote. Eli Manning received 16 1/2 of the 20 votes. Patriots receiver Wes Welker drew 1 1/2 votes and Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck received a vote apiece.
- Even after the loss, Patriots linebacker Junior Seau showed up wearing a straw hat that was too small for his head. It's a look he's gone with all week, so you have to respect his consistency. Seau had completely lost his voice, so you could barely understand what he was saying. I asked him if the pressure of going for a 19-0 season finally took its toll.
"The record did not lose this game," he shot back.
Seau remained face-down on the ground for 20 seconds after the Giants' game-winning touchdown.
"I was full of disappointment. We know we did a great job and to see that happen to us at a crucial time, it just wasn't something that I wanted to feel."
In case you missed it, Seau was noticeably upset when he wasn't on the field for the first play of the game.
"It was basically the personnel," he said. "You're a competitor. You're a competitor."
Both Seau and Rodney Harrison said they would have fond memories of the season, but other players said they'd only remember Sunday's loss.
- Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs lightened the mood by wearing an "I Am McLovin T-shirt" from the comedy hit Superbad. Hobbs was beaten by Plaxico Burress for a 13-yard touchdown with 35 seconds left in the game. He said protecting the inside was his first responsibility on the play. But when Burress faked the slant, Hobbs froze. Burress turned the route outside and was all alone in the end zone.
"If I was Flash Gordon, maybe I could've gotten there and made the play," he told Hashmarks. "But you have to respect the outside."
Much like Randy Moss, Hobbs wasn't trying to look for any positive angles after the game. He said the regular-season meant nothing now that they've lost.
"It's a shock," he said. "We chocked. My hat's off to them. They made the plays, and we didn't. Going 18-1 makes it hurt worse."
- Steve Spagnuolo told me after the game that he will not interview with the Redskins on Monday. But I expect the interview to take place either Tuesday or Wednesday.
- Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi revealed what Bill Belichick said after the game.
"He summarized this year a little bit, said we worked very hard this year and that it was too bad we couldn't finish. But he also told us he wished he could have done a better job and we were saying we as players wished we could have done a better job. It's a tough way to finish. Not even what was on the line or anything like that. It's the Super Bowl. The winner is the World Champion, and the loser is just grouped into 31 other teams."
- I'll be disappearing for a couple of weeks, but my editor Mike McAllister will be blogging from the Pro Bowl. You guys are a great audience, and I appreciate all the feedback this week. Let me also thank Mike Sando, who contributed mightily to Hashmarks this week.
Someone told me that our friend Will Leitch went on national radio Sunday and voted us the No. 1 Super Bowl blog. That's high praise from an excellent writer. Thanks to everyone who's been a part of this.
MM
