The Giants vs Patriots Super Bowl sequel ended the same as the first. The New York Giants are Super Bowl champions. For the second time in four years, the team beat the New England Patriots 21-17 in football's biggest game.

The Giants made a miraculous catch and Tom Brady fell short. In the fourth quarter, Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham's 38-yard catch propelled the Giants down the field. This ultimately resulted in running back Ahmad Bradshaw scoring the go ahead touchdown. Tom Brady is known for his fourth quarter heroics. But this time, he was unable to get the Patriots into scoring possession. He walked off the field without a win.

The result was eerily similar to the Giants 17-14 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Giants quarterback Eli Manning completed the now infamous helmet catch to David Tyree. Tyree's catch allowed the Giants to continue a drive that ended in that game's winning score.

Manningham's catch in Super Bowl XLVI was equally impressive. He snatched the ball from the outstretched hands of two defenders and tip-toed his feet along the sidelines to stay in-bounds.

The win makes Manning one of only three active NFL quarterbacks to have won more than one Super Bowl. The other two are Ben Roethlisberger from the Pittsburgh Steelers and Brady. Former Raider Jim Plunkett is the only quarterback in NFL history with two Super Bowls and has yet to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

Ravens center Matt Birk is the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.

The award honors the late Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton by recognizing NFL athletes for excellence on and off the field. NFL Charities gave Birk $20,000 toward the charity of his choice. Each of the 32 nominees received $1,000 for their favorite causes, and the three finalists each received $5,000.

Tonight, the 14-year NFL veteran accepted the award at the NFL Honors. This was the league's first award show. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced 35-year-old Birk as the winner.

"The great Walter Payton knew that spotlight could be used to bring awareness and aid to those in need," Goodell said at the ceremony. "Thirteen years ago, Matt Birk was a second string center from Minnesota looking for a way to give back."

The Harvard grad has done just that by founding "Ready, Set, Read" through the HIKE foundation. The program's goal is to motivate and encourage elementary school children to read. Also, Birk says he will donate his brain and spinal cord tissue for head trauma research to the Center for Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University's School of Medicine.

Staying true to character, he shied away from pictures after receiving the award saying, "I'm not that good looking, so... questions?"

Payton has always been a role model for Birk.

"I remember, you know, being in the backyard or in the street playin' ball," said Birk. "You always call out who you are and it was always 'Walter Payton.' He was just synonymous with the best."

The six-time Pro Bowler has a cleared the path this season for Ray Rice to become second in rushing yards.

Recent recipients of the award include Saints quarterback Drew Brees, 2011 and 2006, Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, 2008, and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, 2005.

The first ever NFL Honors was a success.

The night before Superbowl XLVI, players and celebrities were out in full force.

Actor Alec Baldwin hosted the event with a musical performance by Grammy award winner Lenny Kravitz. It measured up to the hype of Super Bowl week.

But the awards were not just about all the glamor of red carpet arrivals and celebrity cameos. There were many deserving winners.

The biggest winner was Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. He took home two awards. They were AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pepsi Rookie of the Year.

After winning his first of the night, Newton told WEBN just how nervous he really was.

"Throughout that whole highlight reel, I felt like I was about to pop this button because my heart was pumping so hard," he said.

Aaron Rodgers also won big. The Green Bay Packers quarterback took the coveted MVP award.

After winning, the always-humble Rodgers thanked his teammates and coaches for making it possible.

"This obviously is an award that takes a lot of players in order for one person to receive this award," he said. "And I'm very grateful for the coaching staff that we have, the plan they put together, and the guys I'm able to throw to and the guys that block for me and run the ball. But this is something that's very special to me."

Other winners included San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbough for Coach of the Year, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees for Offensive Player, and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs for Defensive Player. Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow won the Never Say Never award.

It's all about the unions for Occupy Indianapolis.

"Occupy is here at the Super Bowl more in support of the unions than to support any sort of Occupy agenda," said Emily Dillon, who has been involved in Occupy since it began in October.

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) has said publicly that its presence here at Super Bowl XLVI will be purely "informational."

Dillon said the occupiers would be "inclined to respect whatever their wishes would be because they are acting in solidarity with [the unions]."

Wednesday, Indiana became the 23rd state to pass right-to-work regulations. The new law allows non-union members to opt out of paying fees for representation. Indiana is the first state in over ten years to pass the legislation.

This week protesters marched in front of the Capitol building to show their dissatisfaction with the bill. Protests also occurred at the Super Bowl village downtown. According to Sergeant Noel Houze of the Indiana State Police, no one had been arrested. However, he said visting families were not pleased with the demonstrators.

Indianapolis and state police units are prepared to maintain order at the Super Bowl on Sunday. "It's a balance between the protesters who have a right to be there and the people who are against the protesters," said Houze. "If there is unlawful activity, then we will take action."

Three out of 32 NFL players have been chosen as finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.

They are Baltimore center Matt Birk, San Diego quarterback Phillip Rivers and Chicago cornerback Charles Tillman.

The award is in memory of Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton. It honors players not just for excellence on the field, but also for community service. A decade ago Ravens center Birk founded his Hike Foundation to help at-risk children in the classroom.

"When they tell you that you are a finalist, one of three finalists for Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year...if you think about it...that title, that's pretty heavy," Birk told WEBN.

Birk says he could speak for Rivers and Tillman when he says he wants to use his influence to help people.

Rivers' foundation is called Rivers of Hope. It provides a positive direction for foster children.

"I have six children of my own, so just knowing the love and the care and the daily needs, the things you provide for your own kids...then to realize there's kids out there that aren't getting that, aren't getting tucked in at night, don't know what school they are going to the next semester, or the next day, and birthdays are getting missed... it tugs at you," Rivers told WEBN in Indianapolis.

Tillman has made a lifetime commitment helping chronically ill children through his Cornerstone Foundation. He said he is honored to play for the legendary Payton's team.

"I know about Walter Payton's legacy and, to be mentioned in the same sentence as him is...what he has accomplished and what he means to the NFL and Chicago...is extremely humbling," said Tillman.

"It's hard to put into words what it's like to be nominated for an award that has Walter Payton's name on it," echoed Birk. "Everybody knows of his legacy on the field, but off the field, I think it's even more impressive."

These players may not be contenders in this Super Bowl but according to Rivers, some things are more important.

"First Super Bowl I've been to and to be able to come for this reason is certainly... special," Phillips said.

The winner will be announced Saturday night on NBC at the first NFL Honors award show.

If the NFL expands, it will probably look west. But that could be in the very far future.

National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell would like to see expansion. However, there are no permanent plans, he said at a press conference today in Indianapolis.

"We have not talked about expansion in the league at all. It has not been on our agenda," said Goodell. "It is not something we focused on with our membership and I don't see that in the... foreseeable future."

He said the NFL prefers expansion to relocation and wants to keep "teams where they are." But, if the NFL does expand, he wouldn't add just one team but two. Los Angeles is the only city that has been mentioned as a possible expansion site. At one point the St. Louis Rams, the San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders all called the City of Angels home, but no team has survived there.

"We would like to be back in Los Angeles if we can do it correctly," said Goodell. He believes there is a way to solidify the partnership with that city now that labor and television contracts have been managed.

He said one of the benefits of the 10-year Collective Bargaining Agreement was to have "ten years of stability and to be able to project down that path." This could lead to growth in the league. Yesterday NFL owners approved a $200 million plan for a new stadium in San Francisco.

Despite his positive outlook on expansion, he said the league doesn't even have this item on its March meeting agenda.

Goodell also spoke about expanding the number of games played in a season. Reporters asked why he would expand from 16 games a season to 18 since fans supposedly don't even like the idea.

"I don't know if I agree with that one," he replied. "I talk to a lot of fans too."

It's up to the players whether or not to change the game schedule, according to Goodell. One thing was for sure though.

"We will be playing in London next year," he said.

Tonight in Indianapolis the red carpet was rolled out for NFL Alumni. It was at the Scottish Rite Theatre where the football stars honored the winners of this year's NFL Alumni Player of the Year Awards.

"I think the current players respect the fact that former football players who play this game appreciate their talent," NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann said. "It's always just a lot of fun."

Thirty years ago, the NFL Alumni presented Hall of Famer Dan Fouts with the Quarterback of the Year Award. The former quarterback for the San Diego Chargers was back to present this year's Quarterback of the Year Award.

"I remember when I was here when I won the award thirty years ago, and the fact the alumni votes on it means a whole lot more than if anybody else votes on it," Fouts said.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was also there to support the NFL Alumni.

"It's a great recognition obviously for the player," Goodell said. "It's great to be recognized by the people who played the game in the NFL Alumni. The respect that they're being shown by the NFL Alumni is something any NFL player, I think, would be proud to have that award."

NFL Hall of Famers gave out eight NFL Alumni Player of the Year Awards. They will be announced at NFL Network's award show "The NFL Honors" tomorrow night on NBC at 9 p.m. ET.

Tom Coughlin has the definition for winning. Today, the New York Giants head coach described his winning mantra.

"You must surround yourself with great people," he said. "People who have an outstanding work life, people who are business-like, who are focused, who are concentrated, have the same kind of inspiration, same kind of drive and same kind of desire."

Winning may be tough to come by. There have only been two teams with a 9-7 record to ever go to the Super Bowl, and they both lost. The stats are piled up against the G-Men. So Coughlin will have to live by another one of his philosophies.

"Humble enough to prepare, confident enough to perform," he believes.

However the Giants' humility is debatable. On Tuesday, safety Antrel Rolle guaranteed a Super Bowl win. But Coughlin doesn't see how his player's comments are any different than what other Patriots have said this week.

"I know that there are one or two quotes out there. But, to be honest with you, I don't know what either one of them is any different than Tom Brady's quotes," Coughlin said. "We always focus our team on confidence enough to get there and confident enough to get back. That's the way we look at it."

Coughlin has made it back to the Super Bowl, but it wasn't an easy trip. When the Giants lost in Week 15 against the Washington Redskins, the team practically lost all hope. With their backs against the wall, the Giants were able to close out the regular season with two straight wins.

"Following that [Washington] game, I simply walked into our team and said, 'Look, we have two games to go. We have to win two games. If we do that, we can get into the playoffs, and we can be the champions of the NFC East,'" Coughlin said.

The Giants have won five straight since their Week 15 loss. Coughlin points to the team's cohesion as the reason for success.

"We've played with harmony with all three units in those five games," Coughlin said. "You must continue to work on your situational things. Things that might happen to you in the very rarest of experiences but you got to be prepared so you try put your players in that situation."

Coughlin's philosophies and mantras can all be simplified into a few sentences.

"You boil it down to a blue collar work ethic," he said. "Go to work every day, and work as hard as you possibly can. Surround yourself with great people, and keep your eye on the prize."

Rob Gronkowski is looking good.

This morning at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said that Gronkowski is doing better than expected following his limited practice yesterday.

"I think he was OK this morning," Belichick said. "I don't think we had any setbacks. We'll see how it goes out there today. He's gotten treatment in the morning, noon, and night and he's gotten better on a daily basis. Hopefully we'll be able to continue that same process today, tomorrow and all day Sunday."

The three-time Super Bowl winning coach declined to elaborate on Gronkowski's practice regimen.

"He practiced on a limited basis," Belichick said. " He did some of the things that we did in practice but not all of them."

He said that Gronkowski has been working hard with the trainers to prepare himself for Sunday's game.

"We'll just have to see where he gets to, but we're certainly moving in the right direction and getting better on a daily basis," Belichick said.

Clutch is the difference between love and hate. That's what NFL field goal kickers experience late in the fourth quarter with the game on the line. In Super Bowl history, there have been six games that have been settled by three points or less. Three points can make or break a kicker's spot in history.

Here are the Patriots Three Pointers.

• Super Bowl XXXVI - New England 20 St. Louis 17
  Tom Brady's 53-yard drive in the final 1:21 allowed Adam Vinatieiri to kick the 48-yard field goal as time expired to win the game sparking the beginning of a legacy.
  
  
• Super Bowl XXXVIII - New England 32 Carolina 29
  With just 1:04 remaining Brady drove 37 yards cementing Vinatieir's clutch label after he made a 41-yarder with four seconds left.
  
  
• Super Bowl XXXIX - New England 24 Philadelphia 21
  With 8:43 left in the game, Vinatieri hit a 22-yard field goal to put the Patriots up 24-21 against the Eagles. The Patriots defense ultimately sealed the deal in this Super Bowl, but Vinatieri made the difference.

The NFL wants to keep its players healthy.

During Super Bowl week, the NFL Player Care Foundation is offering current and former players free prostate and cardiovascular screenings.

Five yars ago the foundation started so the quality of retired NFL players' lives could be improved.

Throughout the week, players have the opportunity to get tested at the University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Dr. Jeffrey Boone is the director of the Boone Heart Institute. He said that men have a higher tendency to underestimate the importance of medical screenings.

"We do believe that the male population in general in America are a little less interested in early detection procedures," said Dr. Boone. "Women tend to be much more active."

Boone said he hopes the NFL Player Care Foundation will inspire others to take proactive steps to improve their own health and well-being.

"We think the NFL player, the former NFL player, could actually be a good example for all men to get tested early. So we think this program is life saving for NFL alumni but is also a good example for all American males at about age 40 to start taking these things very seriously."

Today retired Chicago Bears player William Schultz was at the hospital getting tested. After undergoing several tests, Schultz had only positive comments about the process.

"The doctors are great. Everybody's been really great to us so...it's not a big deal," said Schultz. "Some of the guys that are kinda scared to come through it...they keep telling you it's no big deal, get in here, get it done, and you know it will help you down the road."

Schultz said that he knows about 50 to 60 players who plan to take advantage of the free screenings throughout the week.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. For the New York Giants, that adversity started early.

The Giants have had their season on the line since they played the New York Jets in week sixteen. Since then, they have rattled off five straight wins. Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes says the sudden winning streak created a brotherly bond.

"I mean we're a close team," said Tynes at the Indianapolis downtown Marriott. "But over the last five weeks, it's a band of brothers."

In the middle of the season, the Giants suffered a four game losing streak. That record would have crushed most teams. But since then, they have gone six and one on their way to Super Bowl XLVI. Giants cornerback Prince Amakamura says the team's mindset stems from their head coach.

"Coach Coughlin has done a great job of just getting us ready and keeping us humble and grounded, and he always expresses the word 'finish,'" said Amakamura. "And that's what we started with at the beginning of the year...to finish in everything that we do."

A finish in this Sunday's game would mean a second Super Bowl in five years for Coughlin. However, the Giants coach said his team is not underestimating Sunday's competition. "We still have a lot to prove. As I said, talk is cheap. Play the game."