This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
If New York Giants cornerback Sam Madison is holding a grudge, he hides it well.
Before signing with the Giants and reaching his first Super Bowl, Madison spent nine years in Miami, becoming one of the best players in franchise history.
After the 2005 season, however, the Dolphins dumped Madison. He was released because Nick Saban wanted to start overhauling the roster after his rookie season as a head coach in the NFL.
"Miami let me go, so what?" Madison said this week. "They let a lot of people go that continue to be successful and I'm just one of those guys."
After being released, Madison received a written explanation from Saban.
"They just didn't think I was good enough," he said. "Would I want to be with Miami? Yes, because they are the team that drafted me and I will always be grateful for that. [But] it's a business. You have to let things go and move on and continue to do the things you can."
According to Madison, he keeps the written explanation for his release in a scrapbook at home.
"When you get that paper and look at it, you say, 'I understand,' " Madison said. "But it makes you want to go out and work harder, and that's what I did. . . . Here in New York, I was placed around a group of guys that love to play. I just plugged myself in and tried to fit in."
Madison signed with the Giants two weeks after being released by the Dolphins.
During his first season in New York, the Giants finished 28th in the league in pass defense and 25th in total defense. They finished 8-8.
This season, things changed.
New York allowed only 305 yards per game, and the Madison-led secondary finished 11th in pass defense.
Of course, the Giants' biggest test comes today in the Super Bowl, where they face New England quarterback Tom Brady and his star receiver, Randy Moss.
"Our big thing is not to give up big plays," Madison said. "That's always hard to do when you are going up against a guy that has three Super Bowl rings like Tom Brady. . . . But I think we'll fare well."
Calling Moss "a great player," Madison said, "He's never been to a Super Bowl and I've never been to a Super Bowl. I'm glad I'm able to meet up with him here."
Even if Moss can give a cornerback severe headaches?
"He's one of the best players in the league," Madison said. "He's one of the best players in the league. . . . People ask me, 'Who is the best receiver that you play against?' He's one of those top-three guys that I always list. When you line up against him, you have to be at your best."