YOU'RE going to hear some audio clips or read passages from the transcript of Chad Pennington's conference call with the New York media today and you're going to hear and read a lot of this: * "This

MILWAUKEE - Jon Niese wasn't ready for prime time. Luckily for the Mets' prized young left-hander, his teammates were there to clean up the mess.

The Giants are set to embark on a most unusual season.

SO HERE he is at last, come to rescue Gotham from the terrifying grip of The Joker, aka Bill Belichick, the evil mastermind of the New England Patriots.

MOST IMPORTANT OFFENSIVE PLAYER Brett Favre. Did you have to ask?

ST. PETERSBURG - Like a drunk looking to live, the Yankees are taking life one day at a time.

The Jets worked like Super Bowl champions in the offseason, aggressively improving on their 2007 weaknesses with a free-agent-signing and trading spree that, in the end, landed them Brett Favre.

ST. PETERSBURG - Hal and Hank Steinbrenner agree they want Brian Cashman back as the Yankees' GM, The Post has learned.

IF ceremonies including those for the 1986 and 1990 Giants teams on the field tomorrow night still can't make January's unlikeliest postseason run in NFL history seem real, you will just have to take

Kenny Phillips burst onto the Giants scene as if shot out of a cannon and he immediately drew praise and accolades from Tom Coughlin, defensive teammates and even Plaxico Burress, who said the rangy P