Pats' Arrington: Hofstra to Super Bowl

INDIANAPOLIS -- At times, Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington can hardly believe how the stars have aligned for him this season, easily the best of his three-year career.

"It's crazy," Arrington said Wednesday. "I haven't really had a chance to reflect on it much."

An undrafted free agent who spent many of his Saturdays in college playing just off Hempstead Turnpike, the 5-10 Hofstra product turned in an impressive season in helping the Patriots reach Super Bowl XLVI. His seven interceptions tied for the NFL lead, this after having only one pick in his first two seasons in New England.

"It's been a hell of a year, huh?" he said. "I mean, it's a blessing. Definitely blessed for this opportunity that we have as a group. That's what you go into this thing saying to yourself. You don't want to go saying to yourself, 'Hey, I don't want to be a starter. I don't want to be the best at my position. I don't want to ultimately win a Super Bowl at the end of the year.'

"It's just credit to guys in the locker room, and the main thing about it is they don't talk about contract, they don't talk about stats, they don't talk about plays and things like that.

"It's all about the team. Team first."

But there's no denying Arrington's impact on a much-maligned defense that allowed 411 yards per game during the regular season, which ranked 31st. His 88 tackles ranked second on the team behind linebacker Jerod Mayo.

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"He's a beast, man," safety Patrick Chung said. "You look at him, he might not look like it, but he's an athletic freak. He can jump out of the gym. He's quick, he's strong for how small he is. But he's a guy who has full confidence and he has the intangibles to add on to that confidence. So, he can play ball. He believes he can make all the plays and we believe him, too."

Added defensive lineman Vince Wilfork: "He's a big playmaker and that's exactly what we need."

Arrington also provides something else: frequent comic relief.

"He's legit funny," Chung said. "He'll say the most off-the-wall things and it's hilarious."

For Arrington, it's all about keeping it light, something he thinks helps maintain a sense of sanity in what sometimes can be a cruel line of work.

"This can definitely be a stressful business if you let it," he said. "It's definitely fun on Sundays, and the fans, that's what they see. But there's a lot we go through as players -- not even just the business side, but throughout the week. It's stressful mentally and physically. You've got to have fun with it."

That certainly isn't going to change on Sunday, even if he's about to play in the biggest game of his 25-year-old life.

"It's amazing," Arrington said. "It's a blessing. It's something not to be taken for granted. I definitely want to make the most of this opportunity because not a lot of people get this opportunity. It's something to relish and definitely enjoy the moment.

"At the end of the day, it's a business trip still and we still have one more goal that we are aspiring for."