A special performance

Little known before Sunday, David Tyree becomes a part of Super Bowl lore.

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Little more than a special-teams player all season, David Tyree became an All-Pro in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl.

First, he caught a 5-yard touchdown from Eli Manning that put the Giants ahead. Then he made a tumbling, circus grab to set up a last-minute score and stunning upset Sunday over the Patriots.

"I don't know that there's ever been a bigger play in the Super Bowl than that play," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said.

This from a player who started the season with a broken wrist and entered the Super Bowl with more tackles than catches. And someone who overcame adversity, too. Tyree's mother died of a heart attack in mid December.

"I think every receiver has to believe he's the best guy out there," Tyree, 28, said.

Surrounded by the likes of Randy Moss, Plaxico Burress, Wes Welker and Amani Toomer, he wound up as a most unlikely go-to guy.

And for years to come, Giants fans will surely talk about a most improbable catch.

"That play alone took a few years off my life," New York defensive end Michael Strahan said.

The Giants, down 14-10 with 1:15 left, faced third and 5 at their 44. The Patriots brought pressure, and Manning escaped two defenders.

Scrambling to his right, he made a desperate toss deep down the middle, where Rodney Harrison and Asante Samuel lurked. Tyree jumped and with Harrison on his back managed to get both hands on the ball.

Harrison fought him the whole way, slapping at the ball and momentarily pinning it to Tyree's helmet. As Tyree fell backward, he held the ball aloft to show it was his.

"I just wouldn't let go," he said. "They were trying to say they had the ball."

The 32-yard catch moved the ball to the New England 24.

"He made a hell of a play," Samuel said.

"I was so amped up after that catch," Giants receiver Steve Smith said.

Four plays later, Manning hit Burress for the winning touchdown.

"David Tyree, that's all you have to say," Manning said. "It was just a great catch by David Tyree.

"I found a way to get loose and just really threw it up. He made an unbelievable catch and saved the game."

Earlier, Tyree pulled in a bullet pass from Manning that put the Giants ahead 10-7 with 11:05 left in the fourth quarter.

Tyree finished with three catches for 43 yards. In 16 regular-season games and three playoff games, he had totaled five catches for 39 yards.

Two (for 32 yards), came against the Bears on Dec. 2. Two more (for 3 yards) came against the Patriots in the regular-season finale. And he had one catch (for 4 yards) in the NFC title game against the Packers. None went for touchdowns.

In fact, his biggest contributions had come on special teams, where he made 10 tackles (though none on Sunday).

"Unbelievable," Toomer said. "In Friday's practice, he was dropping everything."

FAST FACTS

Meet David Tyree

Born: Jan. 3, 1980, Livingston , N.J. (about 21 miles from Giants Stadium)

Acquired: Sixth-round pick out of Syracuse in 2003

NFL experience: Fifth season, all with the Giants

2007 tackles: 10 (all on special teams)

2007 catches before the Super Bowl: Five

2007 receiving yards before Super Bowl: 39, with no touchdownsSuper Bowl receiving yards: 43, with one touchdown

[Last modified February 4, 2008, 00:25:16]