NFL | Shula happy Pats lost

PHOENIX — His team's 1972 legacy about to be matched, and even surpassed, former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula watched Super Bowl XLII from a suite at the stadium and was prepared to offer congratulations to the New England Patriots afterward.

But when the Pats' final comeback attempt failed, their upset defeat against the New York Giants ensured, Shula simply smiled and hugged his wife, according to Dolphins publicist Harvey Greene, who also was in the suite.

"You could just tell he was really, really happy," Greene said. After all, the '72 Dolphins, at 17-0, remain the only team in NFL history to run the table en route to the championship. The Patriots finished 18-1 after the 17-14 loss.

"What I learned today was how tough it is to go undefeated," Shula said later. "That's why I'm even more proud of our '72 team than I've ever been. It shows a tremendous accomplishment.

"It hadn't been done before, and it hasn't been done since."

No, it hasn't. Greene tracked down other figures from the '72 team immediately after the game, and they shared Shula's pride their record still stands.

Running back Larry Csonka also gave a nod to the Giants, whose coach, Tom Coughlin, was his teammate at Syracuse.

"I've been following his coaching career for years and pulling for him all along," Csonka said, "but [Sunday] I had other reasons to pull for him."

Guard Larry Little tried to explain the outspoken pride of those '72 Dolphins — pride that has become tiresome to some critics despite the fact that Greene said the perception of a few players getting together each year to pop champagne when the last contender goes down is wildly overblown, if not a myth.

"Over the years," Little said, "people have been putting us down, calling us grumpy old men. We never wanted to see the Patriots or any other team lose; we are just happy about our accomplishments. We're a very proud football franchise and a very proud football team."

Tight end Jim Mandich of the '72 Dolphins said: "I do relish and savor the fact that there has only been one unbeaten team in the history of the NFL, and it is the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Of that, I am extremely proud."

Notes

• The Green Bay Packers signed coach Mike McCarthy to a five-year contract that runs through the 2012 season. The new contract is reportedly worth about $4 million per season.

• Steve Spagnuolo, the New York Giants defensive coordinator, arrived in the Washington, D.C., area to interview for the Redskins' coaching vacancy. Spagnuolo, Ron Meeks and Jim Fassel are the three leading contenders to replace Joe Gibbs, who resigned Jan. 8.

• New England Patriots defensive back Willie Andrews pleaded not guilty to drug possession in Lowell, Mass., hours after authorities said they found him with half a pound of marijuana. Andrews was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and driving an unregistered motor vehicle.

• Nevada sports books lost a record $2.6 million on Super Bowl bets when the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots on Sunday. The sports books handled just more than $92 million on the game, the third-highest amount ever but down for the second consecutive year. The record was set in 2006 when $94.5 million was bet.

• Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could meet next week to discuss the league's investigation into spying allegations against the Patriots.

• The Cincinnati Bengals signed free-agent punter Danny Baugher to a two-year deal.

• Ken Konz, a safety with the Cleveland Browns in the 1950s, died Tuesday in Alliance, Ohio, of complications from pneumonia, the team said. He was 79.