Connecticut

• Hall of Famer Andy Robustelli was born in Stamford, where he played football and baseball at Stamford High School before serving in the Navy during World War II. Robustelli then went on to play at Arnold College in Milford and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1951. The hard-hitting defensive end played in eight NFL championships, six with the Giants after being traded to them in 1956. That season, Robustelli provided a lift at right end in the Giants' title run. Robustelli, who stayed with the Giants through 1964, played on a winning team in 13 of his 14 pro seasons while making seven Pro Bowls. Missing only one game in his career, Robustelli later joined the Giants' front office in 1975 as director of operations and was an inaugural member of the Giants Ring of Honor last season.

*A native of West Haven, Ken Strong reached legendary status in the 1934 NFL Championship Game, otherwise known as "The Sneakers Game." As rain froze the Polo Grounds, the Giants resorted to the use of sneakers to upset the undefeated Bears. For nearly 30 years, Strong's 17 points on two touchdowns, two extra points and a field goal remained a title game record. An All-American out of New York University, Strong was a halfback but could run, block, pass, punt, kick and play defense in his time. He was named to the Giants Ring of Honor.

Massachusetts

*When long snapper Zak DeOssie beat the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, he added another link to his ties with the two organizations. Born in North Andoverto Steve DeOssie, a former Patriot and Giant who helped New York win Super Bowl XXV, the two became the first father-son duo to win a championship for the same franchise. Zak was a Patriots fan growing up and even spent time as a ball boy for them. DeOssie earned Ivy League honors for three straight years while playing at Brown as a linebacker before the Giants drafted him in 2007. Taking over long snapping duties, DeOssie has been named to two Pro Bowls in 2008 and 2010.