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PHOENIX - Matt Light opened his first press conference at the Phoenix Convention Center looking for laughs at the expense of his ponytailed hair.

"Honestly, I'm just too lazy to go to a barbershop," the Patriots' left offensive tackle said Monday when asked about his shoulder-length tresses. "And I've got my favorite barber in Franklin he's about 74 years old now, a third-generation barber, and I love him to death and I hate to do this to him, but I haven't been able to get in there to see him."

Light quipped that further growth might qualify him for the "Locks of Love" program, but he said he realized that his flowing locks might not exactly fit the image of manly-man offensive linemen.

"I know it's grotesque, and I'm sorry for putting everybody through this," he added.

Ba-da boom! Light will be in Phoenix all week, ladies and germs, and don't forget to tip your waiters and waitresses! With that, however, the veteran tackle from Purdue began a gradual shift from his comedy act to more substantive football matters, such as the fact that quarterback Tom Brady practiced Monday at Arizona State University as the Patriots began the last leg of preparation for Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants on Sunday (6:18 p.m.; Ch. 25, 64).

"I try not to look at him too much," Light said, still slightly in standup mode. "You guys (reporters) do enough of that. I'm concerned with what's right in front of me, and I haven't really paid that much attention to it."

Brady's right ankle was heavily taped according to the pool report by the Pro Football Writers of America's Dan Pompei. Even with his laugh-a-minute approach to the press conference - the only thing missing was a canned laugh track - Light's comments seemed to indicate a lack of concern by the Patriots over the physical condition of their quarterback.

"His situation is his situation," Light said. "Nobody knows what's going on other than him, and he's the only one who can answer those questions, as to how he feels. I'll tell you one thing, if he's out there, he's going to be giving you everything that he's got. I don't worry about that at all."

What Light seems most concerned about is the preparation of his unit and the execution of the game plan that coach Bill Belichick has put in place for the Giants.

It's been a good year for the Patriots' offensive line, allowing only 21 sacks and keeping Brady safe from harm from opposing pass rushers. Current speculation is that Brady didn't suffer the minor high ankle sprain from any apparent contact with any of the San Diego Chargers' pass rushers in the AFC Championship Game.

Light, center Dan Koppen and guard Logan Mankins will also be Pro Bowl-bound after the Super Bowl.

"If you do your job and play hard and try to improve what you do every time you go out there, especially in our case, we've gotten recognition this season," Light said. "Whether it's due or not, we're not the judge of that. It's a great honor, but I think it was said best by Tommy, that's a team achievement.

"If we didn't have success as a team, no one would be looking at us," he added. "That's probably a good way to look at it. Those postseason awards, the opportunity to go to the Pro Bowl it's never just about the guy that got the award. I think we're all pretty humbled by it."

One of the strengths of the Patriots' offensive line this year has been the ability to punch replacements into place when guard Stephen Neal or tackle Nick Kaczur have been injured. Russ Hochstein, Wesley Britt and Ryan O'Callaghan have taken turns keeping the protection at the same level as when the five veteran starters have been together. "Russ has played a backup role in a lot of big games in New England," Light said. "I don't think we've missed a lot by not having Nick or Steve out there from the standpoint that those guys know what to do. All of our backups know what's expected of them."

The Patriots will likely have their usual starting five on the field Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium, and Light said he expects a good tussle from a team that put up the best fight of the season against them in the regular-season finale.

"They're the type of defense that wants to get to the quarterback regardless of what's going on," Light said when asked if he thought the Giants would step up the pressure if Brady is believed to be gimpy on Sunday. "With the combination they have on the outside with Osi (Umenyiora) and Michael (Strahan), and you team that up with the guys that they have in the interior, that's the combination for disaster for an offensive line.

"They don't make it easy for you," he said. "Their goal this season, and they've been very effective doing it, is getting to the quarterback.

"And I'm sure they're going to try it quite a bit in this game," he said.

That will be no laughing matter.

MARK FARINELLA may be reached at 508-236-0315 or via e-mail at mfarinel@thesunchronicle.com