By Randy Whitehouse,Staff Writer

FOXBORO, Mass. – It’s Media Day today in Jacksonville, a day almost universally despised by the players.

Russ Hochstein doesn’t think he’ll mind it so much.

“It might be a little more quiet than last year,” Hochstein noted.

Last year, Warren Sapp, who wasn’t even playing, had some not-so-complimentary things to say about Hochstein and got the silent treatment from not only the Patriots guard but the entire line on Media Day in Houston. If not for on of Sapp’s regular run-off-at-the-mouth attacks that he’s known for, the New England line might have made this the third Super Bowl in four years where they were the least-talked about unit on either team.

It isn’t because of performance. The offensive line didn’t allow the opposition to touch Tom Brady in last year’s playoffs. It’s given up five sacks this year but has also paved 168 yards rushing per game through Indianapolis and Pittsburgh.

Lines that perform like that when football is at its most physical, playoff football, earn at least a mention, maybe even a nickname (see “Hogs,” D.C., circa 1983). New England’s line just wins, despite having only two constants on the line and more no-names than the make-shift secondary

“There’s no smoke and mirrors,” said tackle Matt Light, who with guard Joe Andruzzi is the only two-time Super Bowl starter on the line. “There’s not a magic curtain. We just go about our business very workmanlike. We’ve got a job to do. We’ve got to go out and prove it every week.”

New England proved it last year even though it lost veterans Mike Compton and Damien Woody during the season. Compton went down early in the season, Woody early in the playoffs. Hochstein and Tom Ashworth provided more than just reinforcements. The Patriots handled the highly-regarded Carolina defensive line easily in the Super Bowl.

This year, Hochstein and Ashworth were the ones done-in by injuries, with Stephen Neal and Brandon Gorin filling the gaps. The current line has been intact since Week 8, and its handling of Indianapolis and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ No. 1 ranked defense last week may foreshadow another dominant performance in the Super Bowl.

“Obviously we’re not shuffling like we did before, but we’ve got a great group of guys that have been working pretty well together the entire season,” Light said. “Hopefully nothing else changes. We don’t need any more guesswork involved.”

“Getting two games like those under our belts was huge,” Light said.

The line’s biggest challenge might lie ahead in a stingy Philadelphia defense that will come at the Patriots from all directions.

“They’ve got a great front seven, able to make plays and penetrate and do a lot of things that we’re just starting to familiarize ourselves with,” center Dan Koppen said.

Apparently, Eagles coach Andy Reid familiarized himself with Koppen and his linemates before going to Jacksonville. Asked by the media horde how to stop New England’s prolific offense, Reid started with the group that same horde will probably be ignoring today.

“You better stop that offensive line first. They’re pretty good,” Reid said. “You better win that battle up front first before you worry about their quarterback or their running backs for their wide receivers.”