Sloppy surface could slow Colts' receivers in Foxboro

FOXBORO, Mass. -- The New England Patriots are preparing what might be the best defense against Peyton Manning and his speedy receivers: a slippery field.\nThe team left the Gillette Stadium grass uncovered through Wednesday's rain and Thursday's fog. With more rain or snow expected Friday and freezing temperatures for the weekend, the Indianapolis Colts' prolific offense could find the footing funky in Sunday's playoff game.\nPatriots coach Bill Belichick knows a cold front may be as critical as his three-man defensive front in slowing down the Colts. But he certainly wouldn't turn the field into an ice rink or a quagmire just to help his team, would he?\n"My job is not to pull weeds," he said Wednesday with an innocent-looking smirk. "I have a lot of other things to do. Or rake the field and all of that. I'm sure that will all be taken care of."\nA coach like Belichick who delves into the smallest detail includes weather conditions in his planning, although he might not have the final say on field maintenance.\n"I'm sure he's consulted on it," team spokesman Stacey James said Thursday, "but it's a collaborative effort between our stadium operations people and the grounds crew."\nThere's a 90 percent chance of rain or snow on Friday before a dry weekend with temperatures ranging from 20 to 34 degrees Saturday and 16 to 33 degrees Sunday with mostly cloudy skies. There'll be plenty of time for the moisture to turn to ice before the game's late afternoon start.\nThere are heating coils underneath the field at Gillette Stadium that could keep the turf from freezing. Of course the coils won't stop all that moisture from making the field slick, maybe even muddy.\nColts coach Tony Dungy said the field conditions won't be a factor. But his team plays home games indoors in 72-degree temperatures, artificial turf and no wind.\n"We feel like it's our nature" to play in inclement weather, Patriots linebacker Roman Phifer said. "We live up here. We play in it. We practice in it. So, obviously, that's something that we're used to."\nOther Patriots think a slippery field won't make a difference to the fifth highest-scoring offense in NFL history with 522 points and three receivers -- Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokely -- with more than 1,000 yards receiving.\n"They beat people in cold weather. They beat people on turf," strong safety Rodney Harrison said. "They're going to catch touchdowns. They're going to run the ball. It doesn't matter what surface they're playing on. They could be playing on hot coals. It doesn't matter."\nThe Colts played just two games this season with a temperature below 65 degrees. They're 9-1 indoors and 5-2 outdoors.\nLast season they lost their only two games in precipitation -- a light rain at Jacksonville and occasional snow and 32 degrees at New England in the AFC championship game. This week they worked out indoors because their practice field was wet but they left the doors open to bring in cold air.\n"When the field condition is a little bit different than usual, I might change my game a little bit, but I'm still a ball player, I'm still going to go out there and perform," said Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney, the NFL sack leader. "It's going to be slow for us, it's going to be slow for them."\nLast season, the Patriots were 4-0 in rain or snow, then won playoff games that began with a temperature of 4 degrees against Tennessee and 32 degrees with light snow against Indianapolis. This season they are 2-0 in the rain.\nThe Colts "have played in cold elements before. They've had success so we're not really going to let the weather be an excuse or a factor for us," Phifer said. "We're not going to depend on the weather. We have to go out and execute ourselves, have a flawless game pretty much to have a chance to win."\nThe Patriots also could be slowed by an icy field.\n"It's January and we're in New England. It's not going to be 50 degrees," Patriots tight end Christian Fauria said. "Your best bet is just to hope it's not minus 10"