INDIANAPOLIS New York Giants defensive tackle and Charlotte Latin graduate Chris Canty found himself at the center of one of the non-stories that are as much a part of Super Bowl week as celebrity sightings and long halftimes.

Canty created a stir after a New York TV station asked him to give Giants fans a pre-game message. "Get ready for a great game on Super Bowl Sunday," Canty said on WNBC. "And get ready for a parade on Tuesday."

The comment failed to draw much reaction from New England players. But it didn't stop reporters from approaching Canty again Thursday.

"Let's face it, words are not going to win this football game on Sunday," said Canty, whose parents live in south Charlotte. "It's not going to be won in the media, the court of public opinion or anything like that. It's going to be won on the football field."

GRONK BACK: The most-watched player in Indy returned to the practice field and is expected to play in Sunday's game. New England tight end Rob Gronkowski, who had one of the most productive seasons by a tight end in league history, practiced on a limited basis Thursday for the first time since spraining his left ankle in the AFC championship game against Baltimore.

ESPN reported Gronkowski likely will play against the Giants.

"He did some things. He didn't do everything," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "We'll see how he is (today). I think that will be the big key - how he responds to this."

Gronkowski caught 90 passes for 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns, most ever by a tight end.

CRUZ CONTROL: The Giants receiver Victor Cruz as undrafted rookie out of Massachusetts last year because he was a local player (Paterson, N.J.) who could serve as a training camp body. After appearing in three games in 2010, Cruz caught 82 passes for 1,536 yards and nine touchdowns this season opposite Hakeem Nicks.

The Panthers talked to Cruz before the draft, but never pursued him seriously, according to Cruz.

"Leading up to the draft, a couple guys were calling me. Carolina called me a few times. The scout from Denver called me a few times," Cruz said. "After the draft, the Giants were the only ones to actually offer me a free agent deal and really invite me to camp. Everybody else was just on a tryout basis."

PRO BOWL FALLOUT: A prominent former NFL coach and ex-player criticized the lackluster play in the Pro Bowl last weekend - a 59-41 win by the AFC that featured the most points in the game's history and a lot of booing from the crowd at Aloha Stadium.

NBC Sports analyst Rodney Harrison, the Patriots safety when they faced the Giants in the Super Bowl four years ago, said he was embarrassed by the effort level from players who were trying to avoid injury.

"I've played in a couple of Pro Bowls. If you don't want to play and you don't want to give a hundred percent, you should sit on the sidelines and allow someone else to get that opportunity," Harrison said. "I was actually embarrassed by some of the players. When I played in the Pro Bowl, we played hard. We played for pride. It's just ridiculous."

Former Colts coach Tony Dungy said the all-star game has changed for the worse.

"I remember the first one I coached in 1984, and we had (Kenny) Easley and Howie Long, and there were no free passes in that game. The defense came to play, offensive guys knew it. It was like a regular game," Dungy said. "You just had that competitiveness. I didn't see that the other night, and I do hope that changes, because it can be a great game."