Super Bowl 2012: Are the New York Giants Getting Overconfident?

Although Super Bowl XLVI has yet to kickoff between the New England Patriots and New York Giants, there appears to already be some tension in the air.

To that end, the Giants have been a little more vocal and aren't shying away from letting it be known that they plan on winning. In an article by Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, defensive lineman Chris Canty had a message for the fans.

“Get ready for a great game on Super Bowl Sunday,” Canty said. “And get ready for a parade on Tuesday.”

And according to safety Antrel Rolle, “We’re going to win this thing. We’re going to win this thing for a lot of good reasons."

The Giants are “not going to be denied…it will be done," he said.

Now with that said, it is reasonable to interpret this as overconfidence. Then again, the question becomes whether head coach Tom Coughlin is comfortable with that or would he rather his players simply be less vocal?

From a perspective of standards and expectations, this comes as no surprise because that type of confidence is what embodies the city of New York. When a city sees a baseball team like the Yankees win 27 World Series titles and one of its football teams is on the verge of a fourth title, you expect to win—and rightfully so, because how could any city or players who play for that respective city not expect to win? After having the luxury of so much success there's no reason not to.

In addition, the fact that the Giants are playing the Patriots only creates a more universal rivalry between New York and Boston.

As for more evidence as to whether the Giants are being overconfident, receiver Mario Manningham is hoping Bill Belichick does play Julian Edelman on defense for New England. According to an article Dan Duggan of the Boston Herald: “It’s a different stage,” Manningham said. “This ain’t regular season. That ain’t your real position, so we’re going to try to expose you. It’s all or nothing now. That ain’t your position, this is the Super Bowl and we want you to play that position."

Now does that sound like a overconfidence? To some extent yes, but not entirely.

If anything, Manningham appears to be daring Belichick to play Edelman at corner and/or safety. It's not a bad idea either, because when a guy is playing a position that's not his individual strength, it is a weakness.

Lest we forget, though, Belichick has pulled this before with Troy Brown during the 2004 season and it worked quite well.

And even if it does, keeping Tom Brady protected is a must. It was exploited in Super Bowl XLII and by the Giants once again in Week 9 earlier this season.

In an article by Ian O'Connor of ESPN New York, pass-rushing specialist Jason Pierre-Paul said, "If you look at Week 9 when we played them, it's like he felt us. We went back on the film, we watched the film and we didn't really rush as we can as a defense...He was throwing balls on the ground and stuff."

Well, if that certainly is the case in Super Bowl XLVI, along with Manningham and the Giants receivers exposing New England's pass defense with Julian Edelman, Chris Canty's guaranteed parade will happen.

So with everything here being said, are the New York Giants getting overconfident?

No.

It's a mind game because for as physical a game as football is, it's even more mental.

The Giants have had New England's number ever since the upset four years ago and until the Patriots overcome them, this appearance of overconfidence is just proof that New York has been the better team on the field.

John Rozum on Twitter.