Super Bowl XLII referee Mike Carey says of Giants QB Eli Manning’s last-minute pass to WR David Tyree, “I anticipated a sack. I didn’t assume it was going to happen, but rarely do you see a quarterback escape when he’s got that much weight on his back.”

Several Giants players attended the Knicks game at Madison Square Garden Wednesday night; they were cheered while the Knicks were booed.

The Patriots will want to renegotiate the contract of LB Rosevelt Colvin, who has a cap number of $7.6 million for 2008.

Bills Chief Operating Officer Russ Brandon said of playing games in Toronto, “We’re doing everything in our power to keep this franchise financially viable in our marketplace.”

Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan acknowledged that the raise he got this off-season is less important than finding the money necessary to keep LB Terrell Suggs: “I would have given money to Suggs to keep him and then thrown me a bone afterwards.”

Former Houston Oilers linebacker John Grimsley was found dead Wednesday, apparently from an accidental gunshot wound.

New Jaguars defensive coordinator Gregg Williams says he has joined “a very, very good team and a tremendous opportunity.”

Former Titans DT Rien Long has been discharged after two weeks in the hospital following a single-car crash; he will not be ticketed even though police say Long’s reckless driving caused the crash.

Asked about Bob Slowik getting the defensive coordinator job, Broncos CB Champ Bailey said, “To tell the truth, I think this is a year too late. Nothing against [former defensive coordinator Jim] Bates, but Slowik is the right fit for this defense.”

Chiefs defensive coordinator Guenther Cunningham says the team can’t afford to lose free-agent DE Jared Allen.

The Panthers could place the franchise tag on OT Jordan Gross, but Gross expects to get a deal done before then.

New Falcons head coach Mike Smith has brought a secondary coach with him from Jacksonville.

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren says of Jim Mora’s status as his successor, “The continuity a move like this provides can only be a good thing moving forward.”

Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff says, “Right now we have not concluded if we need to go for a left tackle, running back, safety or whatever in the draft and free agency.”