Giants-Steelers never in doubt despite Sandy

The NFL never came close to postponing Sunday's Giants-Steelers game at MetLife Stadium, the league said Friday.

Roger Goodell spoke with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday to make sure the game would not divert any resources from relief efforts in the face of devastation from Hurricane Sandy. According to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, the governor assured Goodell that was not the case and told the commissioner that he is pleased the game is being played.

"If it came to a point where I felt like there was anything that was impeding our recovery . . . I would pick up the phone and call Roger and say, 'Roger, listen, you've got to move it to Pittsburgh. We just can't do it,' " Christie said in an interview on SiriusXM's Mad Dog Radio. "I don't believe that's the case, and as long as it is not the case, then I don't want to get involved in Roger Goodell's business. I don't think those three hours are going to hurt the state's progress toward recovery."

When the storm passed through without damaging the stadium, the NFL was prepared to play the game but remained in touch with local authorities, none of whom suggested changing the game, Aiello said.

The Steelers' plan to fly into New Jersey on the day of the game helped leave hotel rooms available to those who need them after being displaced by the storm. "The word that comes to mind is 'noble,' " Giants coach Tom Coughlin said.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno stopped by Giants practice Friday to address his favorite NFL team.

"The message is the toughness here, the resiliency," Coughlin said of Odierno's speech. "We will not be stopped by the storm. We will come back. We will fight our way through this. We will get things right again. Just the pride that has been demonstrated to the general this morning [in Manhattan], I think he verbalized very well for us out here."

Said Odierno, "Today I saw firsthand the destruction in New York City, and along the shorelines of New Jersey. I witnessed the Army, city and state officials and organizations from across the nation come together. Both New York City and New Jersey will look to their team, the New York Giants, for inspiration. I told the team today that playing the game to the best of their abilities will show their fans their toughness, their strength and their resiliency at a time when they need it the most."

Odierno, who is in New York with 10,000 soldiers to help in the recovery efforts, will be among those honored Sunday as the Giants and all other NFL teams participate in the NFL's Salute to Service.

The Giants and the NFL will be saluting first responders and contributing $1 million to the Red Cross for relief efforts. Extensive promotional time will be given to the Red Cross on all NFL broadcasts this week.

Notes & quotes: TE Bear Pascoe surprised Coughlin -- and himself -- by practicing Friday and is listed as questionable. He'll test his ankle Sunday and could play. "I'm hoping to play," he said. "I'll get to the stadium early on Sunday, run and see how it feels." . . . LB Chase Blackburn (knee) was ruled out and will be replaced by Mark Herzlich . . . Coughlin confirmed that David Diehl will start at right tackle, replacing Sean Locklear. He said Stevie Brown will start at safety with Kenny Phillips (knee) being eased back . . . Steelers S Troy Polamalu (calf), OT Marcus Gilbert (ankle) and LB Stevenson Sylvester (hamstring) were ruled out. RBs Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles) and Jonathan Dwyer (quad) are doubtful.