Players ache for the big game

Jessica rinaldi/Reuters

How do NFL players overcome Sunday’s crushing hits to return to the field each week? The answer lies in their training and tolerance for pain -- and when that fails, powerful drugs.

Not feeling the Patriot spirit

Un-Patriotic New Englanders will cheer against what some call Bill Belichick’s Evil Empire and yearn for a performance befitting the team’s old nickname, The Patsies.

Patriots taking their own tweet time

During the two-week buildup to Super Bowl XLVI, Rich Ohrnberger did the most with the allotted 140 characters Twitter permits per comment.

McCourty remains confident

Patriot Devin McCourty’s confidence was never rattled this season, even as he got off to a rocky start unexpected from a player who went to the Pro Bowl last year as a rookie.

UN plans vote after more than 200 killed in Syria

The UN Security Council convened a rare weekend session following what activists called one of the bloodiest days of the country’s 11-month uprising.

Vast new wind farm site proposed off Martha’s Vineyard

Federal officials will conduct an environmental assessment of about 1,300 square miles they said could produce up to 10 times the amount of electricity as Cape Wind.

Teamsters shut down ‘dysfunctional’ local

The Teamsters Union has shut down Local 82, concluding that years of infighting and allegations of corruption and nepotism had made it too “dysfunctional’’ to survive.

Walter V. Robinson

Kevin White, clever rogue

An attempt by Kevin White’s former press secretary to deny he misled a political reporter about his plans to retire downplayed the true memory of the storied mayor.

http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/02/04/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/508607601-646--90x90.jpg Gingrich blasts Romney ahead of caucuses today

The two candidates made their closing arguments yesterday before today’s Republican presidential caucuses in Nevada.

“These numbers cannot hide the fact that President Obama’s policies have prevented a true economic recovery. We can do better.”

Mitt Romney,  on the unemployment rate

Globe Insiders

Globe Talks | Feb. 15, 6 p.m.

http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/02/01/BostonGlobe.com/Special/Images/greenhouse_movies2_business[1].jpg Oscar Talk

Join the Boston Globe’s movie critics, Ty Burr and Wesley Morris, for a conversation about this year’s Academy Awards.

Inside The Boston Globe

For TVs, it’s a good time to go long

Following Shackleton to Antarctica to make ‘69 S.’

A pricey perk for new UMass head

video

Journey to the Super Bowl
Lucas Oil stadium in Indianapolis, the site of Super Bowl XLVI.

exclusive sunday preview | the word

A super name for the Super Bowl

Brown campaign pays daughter for performances
University of Connecticut men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun, who turns 70 in May, has been suffering from spinal stenosis, a lower back condition that can cause severe pain and hamper mobility. school said Friday in a news release. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond, File)

Season could be over for UConn coach Jim Calhoun

video

Do the Brady hop

Demolition order has Truro residents debating

Romney’s shifting contraception stance
Bill Belichick spoke this morning adjacent to the Vince Lombardi trophy that will be awarded after Sunday’s game.

Belichick: No ‘setbacks’ for Rob Gronkowski

Aquarium sets $15m last stage of renovation

Columnists

Bob Ryan

Punt returners have a tough time

Adrian Walker

Beloved cop paved way

Dan Shaughnessy

Might Bill Belichick retire if he wins?

Brian McGrory

One man’s victory over a tow truck

Boston Capital | Steven Syre

Heads and tails of a huge IPO

Bob Ryan

Giants’ Brandon Jacobs never backs down

carlo rotella

Getting my Boston crab on

ALEX BEAM

Happy birthday, Battle Hymn!

SCOT LEHIGH

The germy airplane solution

JOAN VENNOCHI

Catholic Church’s unfair attack against Obama

President Barack Obama is introduced by Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., before speaking at the House Democratic Issues Conference, Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, in Cambridge, Md. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

JOSHUA GREEN

The attack the GOP should be waging against president
Chad Ochocinco has been in on just one play so far in the postseason.

Christopher L. Gasper

It’s time to praise Chad Ochocinco

Metro

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To date, 116 dolphins have been stranded on Cape Cod beaches, and 84 of those dolphins have died.

Cape dolphin strandings unprecedented

An animal welfare official told a group of congressmen yesterday that the recent string of common dolphin strandings is the largest in Cape Cod’s history.

Nation & World

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6 die as protests over Egypt’s handling of soccer riot spread

Protesters filled the streets and clashed for a second day yesterday with police as concerns spread about lawlessness and collapsing security a year after Egypt’s uprising.

Politics

Political Notebook

True to image, Ron Paul is no big spender

The Texas congressman’s campaign disclosure report revealed that he has worked to stretch his dollars on the trail.

Business

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Tower would rival Hub’s tallest buildings

The development firm taking control of the former Filene’s property in downtown Boston said it will create a new magnet for shoppers, diners, and residents.

Sports

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Celtics 91, Heat 89

Boston Ma 02/03/2012 Boston Celtics player Brandon Bass (cq) left reaches out to team mate Paul Pierce (cq) right late in the 4th period after what was believed a three point shot. Pierce, had the three point shot taken away after it was reviewed by officals. Boston Celtics Vs New York Knicks. Boston Globe Staff / Photographer: Jonathan Wiggs Reporter:Section: Sports: Reporter:Slug

Celtics make a stand

The Celtics were behind most of the game but rallied to defeat the New York Knicks for their seventh win in the last eight games.

Arts

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Pianist/composer Satoko Fujii keeps the music coming

She has released a veritable flood of albums over the past 15 years documenting a dizzying array of ensembles.

Magazine

The cover for the January 29 2012 issue

Reversing a restaurant curse
The cover for the January 22 2012 issue

Mother worries about her Occupy Wall Street protester son
The cover for the January 15 2012 issue

Mass. voting maps reflect State House evolution
The cover for the January 8 2012 issue

Photograph by Essdras M Suarez

Opinion

“While his partisans say he had no choice, Obama seemed willing to burn down the Democratic Party to save it.”

Neal Gabler 

Ideas

“A surprising number have pushed past the humiliation of defeat and laid claim to a level of prominence they might never have attained if they hadn’t run.”

Leon Neyfakh,  on presidential election losers