Here's a few more notable articles from that Packer XXXI site

[pats1]

http://www.jsonline.com/packer/arc/13097/opp/appat123.html

Patriot Notes: New England denies Carroll report
Associated Press

Jan. 23, 1997
New Orleans -- The New England Patriots on Thursday denied a broadcast report that former New York Jets coach Pete Carroll has been chosen to succeed Bill Parcells as New England coach.

Sports Fan Radio Network, citing unidentified sources, said that the deal for Carroll is ``100 percent done.'' Patriots spokesman Don Lowery denied the report.

Neither Carroll, who is now the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator, nor agent Leonard Armato could be reached for comment.

Parcells will be on the sideline with the Patriots in Sunday's Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers. But his contract expires at the end of the month, and his relationship with New England owner Bob Kraft has grown increasingly frosty.

Parcells is believed to seek control over personnel decisions. Kraft has said he wants Parcells back, but only as coach.

Several reports have said that Parcells has already decided he will not be back for a fifth year with the Patriots. Some reports have said that he will coach the Jets next year.

http://www.jsonline.com/packer/arc/13097/opp/patn123.html

Tough test: Belichick calls Favre Elwayesque
By Dan Manoyan
of the Journal Sentinel staff

Jan. 23, 1997
New Orleans -- Ask any New England Patriots defensive player if he has ever seen a quarterback to compare with Brett Favre and nine out of 10 will invoke the name of Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell.

But ask Patriots assistant head coach Bill Belichick for a Favre comparison and his answer is a little surprising.

"John Elway," Belichick said. "I know a lot of people think Brunell is a left-handed version of Brett Favre, but I think Favre's game is a lot closer to Elway's.

"All three of those guys are great scramblers, but what makes Favre and Elway similar is their ability to spot open receivers while they are on the run. Both of those guys are masters at spotting receivers when they're on the run."

Earlier in his career, Favre was much more apt to run after scrambling than he is now. That tendency hasn't been lost on Belichick.

"What makes him so effective is that he draws people to him when he scrambles because they think he's going to run," Belichick said. "Believe me, our defensive backs have been told not to leave their men too early to support the run. That's how he makes big plays."

Belichick claims that the Patriots have been aided in the preparation for the Packers because backup quarterback Tom Tupa has been doing a good job of running the scout team.

"Tom has good speed, like Favre, so a lot of the elements are the same," Belichick said. "Having Tom helped us prepare for Jacksonville because he moves around back there a lot like Brunell."

Belichick, who coached the Cleveland Browns from 1991-'95, has been mentioned as a candidate for the coaching vacancy in Oakland and as a candidate for the Patriots' job should Bill Parcells leave. He steadfastly refuses to comment on any speculation, however.

"This is the biggest game of the year, and I'm not going to be distracted by any outside influences," Belichick said. "I owe to the people in this organization to focus on the business at hand."