PHILADELPHIA - Freddie Mitchell's big mouth struck again.
The Eagles' other loquacious receiver, the one without the Pro Bowl pedigree and ankle injury, offended some Patriots when he dissed their secondary in a television interview.
Mitchell, a starter because All-Pro Terrell Owens is hurt, said he knew just the numbers, not the names, of New England's cornerbacks. He singled out Rodney Harrison, saying he "has something" for the veteran strong safety.
"It just shows he doesn't have respect for us," Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel said Friday, responding to Mitchell's comments from a day earlier.
The Patriots defensive backs will see Mitchell up close when they meet the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX on Feb. 6.
"You have so many young guys nowadays, so many young guys that don't have respect for the game," Harrison said. "Some people are just immature. Some people really haven't experienced certain things."
The Patriots have a patchwork secondary that includes rookie free agent Randall Gay, converted receiver Troy Brown and Hank Poteat, who was taking college courses before the playoffs started.
Starters Tyrone Poole and Ty Law have been sidelined with injuries most of the season, but the fill-ins shut down Peyton Manning and the rest of the Colts in a second-round playoff game and intercepted Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger three times in the AFC Championship Game.
"Freddie Mitchell is a guy who is getting time now because Terrell is hurt," Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest said. "We don't worry about what he's saying. He will have to deal with that on the field.
"All I can say is, Rodney Harrison is the wrong guy to mention, especially if you're a receiver. He (Mitchell) is not humble. He hasn't done enough in this league to be on TV talking about that. Philly has a lot more class than that. It's just one guy."
Mitchell's response?
"I was joking. I don't care. It'll all be solved on Sunday," he said.
DOUBLE DUTY: Versatile Eagles running back Brian Westbrook could return punts in addition to running and receiving.
A dangerous returner, Westbrook hardly played special teams this season because he was Philadelphia's primary back and the Eagles didn't want to risk him getting injured. He had two punt returns for touchdowns in 2003 but returned just two punts for 14 yards this season.
"He's in the mix. He's one of our options, but our young returners have done a really good job all year," special teams coach John Harbaugh said.
Rookie cornerback Dexter Wynn finished the season as the Eagles' punt returner after second-year running back Reno Mahe opened as the starter. Rookie safety J.R. Reed from South Florida and cornerback Rod Hood handle kickoff returns.
GOLDEN TONSILS: The friendly rivalry between Super Bowl governors won't be over until the losing politician sings.
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney eschewed Philadelphia cheesesteaks in favor of singing the Star-Spangled Banner at an NBA game if his Patriots lose.
If the Eagles lose, Philadelphia Gov. Ed Rendell will enlist his wife to sing for Celtics fans. Midge Rendell, a federal judge, is a trained opera singer. The loser will wear the rival city's jersey, the Patriot-News reported.
Romney turned down Rendell's initial offer of cheesesteaks, saying they were too high in fat.
"Gov. Romney is a little thinner than I am, and he's a little bit more health-conscious," Rendell, known for his large appetite, told KYW radio in Philadelphia. "And he said - can you believe this? - that there is no food in Philadelphia that's healthy."
NO NAME CHANGE: The Gillette Co. may be moving its headquarters out of Boston after 104 years, but the company plans to keep its name on the Patriots' home.
Gillette agreed to be acquired by Cincinnati's Procter & Gamble in a $57-billion deal, raising questions about whether the Patriots' home in Foxboro would still be called Gillette Stadium. Company spokesman Eric Krause said nothing will change.
OPEN HOUSE: The public will be able to visit the Patriots' hotel during Super Bowl week. The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, home base for the AFC champions, announced that its Cypress Pointe restaurant and Links Lounge will be open to the public.
