Because of traffic around Glendale and the constant security around the University of Phoenix Stadium, Terry Bradshaw was 10 minutes late for his sit down with MVP Tom Brady. But Brady didn’t mind and seemed to enjoy the down time before facing Tuesday’s 2,000-plus reporters and TV crews on Super Bowl media day.

Bradshaw gave Brady a cigar – Tom doesn’t smoke – to give to his father should the Patriots beat the New York Giants and win a fourth title. “I know your dad is probably the only one in your family who really likes me,” Bradshaw joked with Brady. “I know you would rather have Joe Montana here doing this interview than me.”

Brady said no, no while admitting that growing up in the San Francisco area he always idolized Montana while acknowledging that Bradshaw was the first quarterback to win four Super Bowls.

“I can’t (you) tell how much all of us have been thinking about being part of history,” Brady said. “We talked about it just the other day as a team. To always be remembered in the history of sports would be something special.”

On the FOX pre-game show, Brady’s interview should be something special because the New England quarterback spoke about his life on and off the field. He genuinely seemed excited about spending time and talking football with Bradshaw.

“I know everybody is making a big deal that they finally put some great receivers around me,” Brady said, “but people forget that I had Troy Brown, David Givens and Deion Branch in past Super Bowls. Deion was the MVP of our last one. You ought to know that a quarterback is only as good as the people around him.”

On that note, Brady did say that Randy Moss is the most-gifted receiver he has ever played with. “He’s the most graceful runner at the position I have ever seen,” Brady said. “But Randy is more than just physical ability. It’s what he knows and how he thinks out there. Randy has a lot of football knowledge and he knows how to break down defenses and what will actually work and not work. It’s the whole package that makes him so special.”  

Like his mentor Mike Martz, Bills offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild is preparing J.P. Losman and his youthful receivers to go to the next level. This means that Buffalo has been working on five receiver sets this off-season, believing that the free-agent offensive line acquisitions will allow Losman the time to go deep and throw, throw, throw.

Such a strategy worked in the Jim Kelly era in wild-weather Orchard Park, but no one is convinced these Bills are up to the task. There is no doubt that Fairchild knows some offense and is a strong enough voice to play it safe, too.

The Bills are in one of the AFC’s toughest divisions, considering the Patriots, the newly-improved Jets and the always-reliable Dolphins. To compete for a playoff spot, Buffalo must improve on a red-zone offense that managed only 15 touchdowns on 35 visits last season. Losman showed improvement at the end of last season and must continue those strides this summer. It’s just hard to imagine #### Jauron coaching a pass-first offense.

Bears fixing Rex

Chicago’s coaching staff has been diligent in the off-season of constantly reminding quarterback Rex Grossman to quit throwing off his back foot and to remember to step into every one of his throws. It is Quarterback School 101. The Bears believe that most of Grossman’s 20 interceptions last season were the result of faulty mechanics and bad habits like throwing off his back foot.

Young quarterbacks like Grossman, who does have a strong arm, often believe that their arms can salvage any precarious situation. Well, that rarely happens unless you are a young John Elway.

What is odd about the Bears, though, is that they showed absolutely zilch confidence in highly-paid backup Brian Griese last season. They have a young team coming off a Super Bowl and shouldn’t management be focused on making sure the offense can score if Grossman doesn’t produce?

I mean, shouldn’t the Bears consider signing Daunte Culpepper? He knows the NFC North and he can throw. Wouldn’t Culpepper be a better option should Grossman misfire once again?

Zone blocking

The use of zone blocking along the offensive line has raised its head in Carolina under new coordinator Jeff Davidson. It seems like the futility of Carolina’s running game last season had as much to do with Dan Henning’s firing as offensive coordinator as Jake Delhomme’s subpar passing season. There were rumblings that owner Jerry Richardson had a hand in Henning’s dismissal, but it appears that coach John Fox believed he needed to make a dramatic change even though he had a lot of respect for Henning’s work. It’s just too bad that Fox didn’t take into consideration all the injuries on offense last season, too, before bailing on Henning.

There has been a lot of speculation about Fox’s future in Carolina and most of it hinges on the fact that ex-Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher is retired and living nearby. But Fox doesn’t appear to be entering a win-or-else season and if Cowher does return to the NFL sidelines his likely landing spot would be Cleveland where owner Randy Lerner has the money ($7-to-$10 million) to pay him. Plus, it would be a coup for Lerner and the Browns to hire Cowher and give him the keys to the franchise.

Moss beneficiary

A lot has been written lately about Randy Moss and his strong workouts with the New England Patriots and Tom Brady. There is no question that Moss should be a splendid weapon in the Patriots offense if he remains healthy. But what Moss and speedy receiver Donte Stallworth mean to Brady and Co. is pretty obvious.

If those two receivers can be effective deep, it will allow ex-Dolphin Wes Welker to operate in single coverage underneath and be in position to catch 100 passes this season.

Welker -- not Moss -- was the pivotal New England acquisition this off-season. Not only does Welker’s departure lessen Miami’s offense, but he gives Brady a sure-handed, feisty target to keep the chains moving. When the Patriots play teams like the Colts, time of possession will be as important as scoring. With Welker, the Patriots will move the chains.

And, finally, if Brady has a successful passing offense, you can bet that running back Laurence Maroney could have 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns. If defenses are forced to play the pass, Maroney should have plenty of opportunities to run.