Millionaire investor exposes affair rather than make court-ordered payment

A multimillionaire Manhattan investment banker is such cheapskate that he fought a court-ordered $1.3 million payment to a creditor — despite knowing the case would make public his affair with a business partner that led to his divorce, according to a suit.

Last July Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Shirley Kornreich had ruled that Hugh Levey, co-founder of Gruppo, Levey & Co., owed the Virginia investment firm Pensmore the $1.3 million after he lost the money in a bad investment.

But instead of coughing up the cash, Levey engaged in a drawn-out court battle that made public documents about his 12-year affair with business partner and TV talking head Claire Gruppo, according to court papers.

The filings also unsealed Levey's highly confidential net-worth statement that is part of his divorce. It shows that while Levey was cash poor — he only had $500 in a checking account, $200 cash on hand and zero saving — he's worth $29 million. The funds are tied up in a $15 million Fifth Avenue apartment, a $5 million Greenwich home and millions in various trusts and personal items.

Levey "deliberately keeps himself cash poor in order to avoid judgments, a trick he learned in a personal bankruptcy in the 1990s," the Pensmore suit says.

Meanwhile, the 65-year-old Harvard MBA relies on his mistress, Gruppo, 61, to dole "out money to him directly and indirectly through the various trusts and entities they control together," the suit says.

Pensmore is suing Levey to force the sale of $2 million in antiques, art and jewelry listed on his net worth statement to pay off the debt.

Hugh Levey did not return messages. Gruppo, reached by telephone, said, "No comment. Goodbye."

Spurned wife of 40 years, Wendy Levey, also declined to comment.

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Attorney General hopeful Lynch says she’s no Eric Holder

WASHINGTON — Loretta Lynch fended off tough questioning Wednesday from Republican senators who used her confirmation hearing for attorney general to rebuke President Obama and outgoing AG Eric Holder.

"You're not Eric Holder, are you?" asked Rep. John Cornyn (R-Texas).

"No, I'm not, sir," replied the Brooklyn US attorney, instantly scoring points among those on the Senate Judiciary Committee who view Holder as a political operative for the White House.

Lynch vowed to "be myself — I will be Loretta Lynch" and said she wouldn't take politically motivated orders from the administration.

"No, Senator, that would be a totally inappropriate view of the position of attorney general," she said.

But Lynch also defended Obama's sweeping immigration executive action as legal and constitutional. The decision to prioritize deportations is a "reasonable way to marshal limited resources to deal with the problem," she said.

"You are here defending this and I believe it's indefensible," responded Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.). "That's a big problem with me."

Lynch's appearance marked the first high-profile confirmation hearing before the new GOP-led Senate.

Republicans decried Obama's executive action to defer deportations of millions of undocumented immigrants, the "fast and furious" gun-running program, IRS targeting of conservative groups and Holder's cozy "wing man" relationship with Obama.

"I, for one, need to be persuaded she will be an independent attorney general, and I have no reason to believe — at this point — that she won't be," Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) said at the start of the all-day hearing.

Democratic senators touted Lynch's independence and sought to refocus attention on her qualifications as a Harvard Law School graduate who overcame humble beginnings as the daughter of a minister and librarian who were products of the Jim Crow South.

She would make history as the first African-American female attorney general.

"I believe in the promise of America because I have lived the promise of America," Lynch said in her opening statement.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said he intends to send copies of her "moving" statement to family and friends.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said of all the attorney general statements she's witnessed, "yours was the best. I see the combination of steel and velvet."

Throughout hours of questioning, Lynch remained poised. She insisted she can say "no" to Obama if the law requires it because the Constitution would be her "lodestar."

"I'm impressed with your qualifications and I hope I can support your nomination," said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

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America delivers Deflategate verdict: Patriots are cheaters

PHOENIX — America has spoken, and it thinks the Patriots are lying cheaters.

That was the verdict from a nationwide poll this week of Americans who by a big margin don't buy New England's explanation for Deflategate and are now pulling for the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday.

The NFL is continuing an investigation that won't wrap up for weeks to determine how all 12 of the Patriots' footballs were reportedly deflated in the AFC Championship Game, but much of the sporting public appears to have already made up its mind and found Bill Belichick's team guilty as charged.

The Public Policy Polling survey of 612 voters also showed the controversy has taken its toll on the Patriots' national popularity and Belichick's reputation.

New England now has the lowest favorability rating of any NFL franchise (30 percent) of any team in the PPP poll, although the Cowboys remained just ahead of the Patriots for the title of NFL's most-hated team for the fourth year in a row.

It's little surprise, then, that the country is pulling for Seattle to repeat as Super Bowl champs by a 36-29 margin in percentage, according to the poll.

"Americans think the Patriots cheated in the AFC championship game and they're rooting for the Seahawks on Sunday," PPP president Dean Debnam said in a statement. "But Deflategate hasn't been enough for the Patriots to surpass the Cowboys as the most hated team in the NFL."

Football fans surveyed were most adamant Belichick and the Patriots cheated.
According to the poll, 41 percent of respondents believe New England intentionally deflated footballs below the league limit in its 45-7 win over the Colts in the AFC title game.

Just 27 percent buy into the Patriots' loud and convoluted claims of innocence, while 32 percent had no opinion.

As a result, Belichick's favorability rating in the poll plummeted to just 21 percent, while a hefty 34 percent of the respondents view the Patriots boss as unfavorable.
Surprisingly, football fans aren't holding Tom Brady responsible for the scandal — or, at least, they're not holding it against him. Brady's favorability rating dipped just two percent (to 37 percent) from a similar PPP poll conducted this time last year.
The science community doesn't believe Belichick, either.

Attorneys working on the NFL investigation contacted the physics department at Columbia last week to serve as consultants on "matters related to gas physics," according to the New York Times.

Columbia physicist William Zajc told the paper he was "amused" by Belichick's attempt Saturday to blame the deflated footballs in part on atmospheric effects.

"I think it's more likely than not that they were manipulated," Zajc said.
It's not just Deflategate that has turned Belichick and the Patriots into America's biggest villains, either.

Former Super Bowl-winning Ravens coach Brian Billick, now an NFL Network analyst, told The Post on Wednesday a victory Sunday is vital to Belichick if he hopes to repair his reputation in the wake of Spygate and now the deflated-ball allegations.

The reason, according to Billick, is that Belichick hasn't won a Super Bowl since the Patriots were caught spying on opponents in 2007 after winning three Lombardi Trophies in four years before Spygate.

"That's a pretty glaring difference [of Super Bowl wins pre-Spygate vs. post-Spygate]," Billick said. "I would say in light of that, it would behoove Belichick to win this game Sunday to show that he didn't need [to cheat] to win."

The people have spoken

Public Policy Polling surveyed 612 Americans last week about Deflategate and the majority of those who have made up their minds believe the Pats are guilty. Here's a look:

Do you think the Patriots cheated in the AFC Championship Game?
Yes 41%, No 27%, Not sure+32%

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the Patriots?
Favorable 30%, Unfavorable 38%, Not sure 33%

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the Seahawks?
Favorable 45%, Unfavorable 20%, Not sure 36%

Who are you rooting for in the Super Bowl?
Patriots 29%, Seahawks 36%, Not sure 35%

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Bill Belichick?
Favorable 21% Unfavorable 34% Not sure 45%

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Tom Brady?
Favorable 37% Unfavorable 25% Not sure 37%

Source: Public Policy Polling
Notes: The survey was conducted from Jan. 22-25. Margin of error +/- 4 percent. 80 percent of interviews were conducted by phone with 20 percent conducted online to reach people without land lines.

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ISIS sets new deadline for hostage swap

TOKYO — Japan said it was putting its trust in Jordan to help gain the release of a Japanese journalist held by Islamic State militants, after the latest message purportedly from his captors extended until sundown Thursday in the Middle East the deadline for the Jordanians to release an Iraqi prisoner.

A TV screen along a street in Tokyo broadcasts a news program delivering updates on the hostage situation.Photo: Reuters

The message, read in English by a voice the Japanese government said was likely that of hostage Kenji Goto, was released online late Wednesday after Jordan offered to hand over the al-Qaida-linked would-be suicide bomber to the Islamic State group in exchange for Jordanian air force pilot Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh.

The recording says Jordan must present Sajida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman convicted of involvement in deadly Amman hotel bombings in 2005, at the Turkish border by sunset Thursday, in exchange for Goto's life or the pilot would be killed. It wasn't clear what Goto's fate would be if the woman wasn't returned.

The message clearly stated the deadline was sundown in Mosul, Iraq, the largest city held by the militant group.

Protestors demonstrate outside the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo January 28th.Photo: AP

The Associated Press could not independently verify the contents of the recording, which was distributed on Twitter by Islamic State-affiliated accounts.

In Tokyo, government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said Thursday the government was in close communications with the Jordan government. He said Japan was doing its utmost to free Goto, working with nations in the region, including Turkey, Jordan and Israel.

"As the situation is developing, I shouldn't comment on details. But, Japan and Jordan are dealing with the matter based on an extremely trusting relationship," Suga told reporters.

Efforts to free al-Kaseasbeh and Goto gained urgency after a purported online ultimatum claimed Tuesday that the Islamic State group would kill both hostages within 24 hours if Jordan did not free al-Rishawi.

Lt. Al-Kasaesbeh's wife, Anwar Tarawneh, center, is comforted by his sister outside of the Royal Palace in Amman, after the most recent ISIS recording was released.Photo: Reuters

Japan has scrambled to deal with the crisis that began last week with the release of a video by the Islamic State group showing Goto and another Japanese hostage, Haruna Yukawa, kneeling in orange jumpsuits between a masked man who threatened to kill them within 72 hours unless Japan paid a $200 million ransom.

That demand has since shifted to one for the release of al-Rishawi. The militants have reportedly have killed Yukawa, 42, although that has not been confirmed.

"This heinous terrorist act is totally unforgivable," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in parliament Thursday.

Goto, a freelance journalist, was captured in October in Syria, apparently while trying to rescue Yukawa, who was taken hostage last summer.

In Tokyo, Goto's mother, Junko Ishido, has been desperately pleading for the government to save her son.

"I know Mr. Abe is someone who can handle this matter. I trust Mr. Abe and I can do nothing but rely on him," she said.

In his announcement that Jordan is ready to trade al-Rishawi for the pilot, government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani made no mention of Goto.

Releasing the would-be hotel bomber linked to al-Qaida would breach Jordan's usual hard-line approach to the extremists and set a precedent for negotiating with them.

It would also be a coup for the Islamic State group, which has already overrun large parts of neighboring Syria and Iraq. Jordan is part of a U.S.-led military alliance that has carried out airstrikes against the extremist group in Syria and Iraq in recent months.

The Islamic State group has not publicly demanded prisoner releases before and Jordan's main ally, the United States, opposes negotiations with extremists.

Jordanian King Abdullah II faces growing domestic pressure to bring the pilot home. The pilot's father said he met on Wednesday with Jordan's king, who he said assured him that "everything will be fine."

The pilot's capture has hardened popular opposition among Jordanians to the air strikes, analysts said

"Public opinion in Jordan is putting huge pressure on the government to negotiate with the Islamic State group," said Marwan Shehadeh, a scholar with ties to ultra-conservative Islamic groups in Jordan. "If the government doesn't make a serious effort to release him, the morale of the entire military will deteriorate and the public will lose trust in the political regime."

Jordan reportedly is holding indirect talks with the militants through religious and tribal leaders in Iraq to secure the release of the hostages. In his brief statement, al-Momani only said Jordan is willing to swap al-Rishawi for the pilot. He did not say if such an exchange is being arranged.

The 26-year-old pilot, al-Kaseasbeh, was seized after his Jordanian F-16 crashed in December near the Islamic State group's de facto capital of Raqqa in Syria. He is the first foreign military pilot the militants have captured since the coalition began its airstrikes in August.

Previous captives may have been freed in exchange for ransom, although the governments involved have refused to confirm any payments were made.

The Islamic State group broke with al-Qaida's central leadership in 2013 and has clashed with its Syrian branch, but it reveres the global terror network's former Iraqi affiliate, which battled U.S. forces and claimed the 2005 Amman attack.

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McDonald’s All-American dream comes true for this NJ star

When Isaiah Briscoe signed with Kentucky, he joined elite Garden State company, prep stars such as Michael-Kidd Gilchrist and Karl-Anthony Towns who chose to continue their careers in the Bluegrass State.

They have even more in common now.

Briscoe, the five-star New Jersey point guard, was selected as one of the top 24 high school prospects in the country Wednesday night and will play in the McDonald's All-American game April 1 at the United Center in Chicago. He's following in the footsteps of Kidd-Gilchrist, a forward with the Hornets, and Towns, a Kentucky freshman expected to be taken high in this June's NBA draft.

"I'm honored to be a McDonald's All-American," Briscoe said. "It's something I've always wanted. It was a goal for me and I'm proud to have made it."

The 6-foot-3 Briscoe, the top-ranked point guard in the country, joins a long list of elite New Jersey prep stars to play in the prestigious showcase, including Kidd-Gilchrist, Kyrie Irving, Kyle Anderson and Towns.

"Since junior high school, he set his eyes on the McDonald's game," Briscoe's father, George, said. "He used to ask me, 'How do you get to the McDonald's game?'

"We always watched the game. It's a big platform. Everybody wants it. It can propel you."

The McDonald's honor is the latest in a long line of goals reached by the Kentucky signee from Union, N.J., and Roselle Catholic High School.

It's right up there with winning the New Jersey Tournament of Champions, as he hopes to do this March, and Peach Jam, the premier AAU event to which he led the New Jersey Playaz Club last July. It also is as significant as being selected to represent his country and winning a gold medal in the FIBA Americans U18 Championship.

Basketball, ironically, wasn't Briscoe's sport of choice years ago. He was a football player, so big and strong he had to play in unlimited leagues. He played at running back and on both lines.

"He would've been a big-time player," his dad said.

But basketball was his calling. Before enrolling in high school, he gave up football, and trimmed down considerably. Over the last year, he has remade his body, which resulted in marked improvement on the court, a higher ranking, and now the McDonald's invite.

"As he got better in basketball and started committing himself, I felt it was wise we go to a basketball school," George Briscoe said.

Wise, indeed. This honor was just the latest reason it was such a smart decision.

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Cheick Diallo, a senior forward from Our Savior New American in Centereach, L.I., and shooting guard Malachi Richardson, a Syracuse signee from Trenton (N.J.) Catholic, were the other locals selected.

Unlike Briscoe and Richardson, the Mali-born Diallo — a consensus top-10 prospect — is uncommitted. He is considering St. John's, along with Kentucky, Kansas, Pittsburgh and Iowa State. The coveted 6-foot-9 senior was in attendance as a visitor of St. John's for its 77-68 loss Sunday at the Garden to Duke.

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Duke and LSU have the most players represented in the game with two apiece. … Villanova signee Jalen Brunson, the son of former Knicks guard Rick Brunson, also received an invite. … Nine of the 24 players in the game are uncommitted. … For the fourth time in five years, New York City failed to produce a player in the game. …. Brooklyn forward Brianna Fraser, who has signed with Maryland, was selected for the girls game, the first player in South Shore history to receive the honor.

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Hezbollah claims responsibility for attack on Israeli convoy

SHEAR YASHUV, Israel — The Lebanese Hezbollah group claimed responsibility for firing a missile that hit an Israeli military convoy Wednesday, an attack Lebanese officials said prompted Israel to fire at least 50 artillery shells into Lebanon in a significant escalation along the volatile border.

Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli military spokesman, said there were Israeli casualties in the attack, but did not elaborate. The military said it was responding with aerial and ground strikes on Hezbollah positions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would respond "forcefully."

Smoke from Israeli shelling covers the Lebanese town of Al-Majidiyah January 28th.Photo: Getty Images

In a statement, Hezbollah said its fighters destroyed a number of Israeli vehicles that were carrying Israeli officers and soldiers and caused casualties among "enemy ranks."

It said the attack was carried out by a group calling itself the "heroic martyrs of Quneitra," – suggesting it was retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on the Golan Heights on Jan. 18 that killed six Hezbollah fighters and an Iranian general.

The Israeli military said an anti-tank missile hit an Israeli military vehicle near the Israeli-Lebanese border on Wednesday, and said residents of the area had been ordered to remain in their homes.

An hour later, mortars were fired at several Israeli military locations on Mount Dov and Mount Hermon, the Israeli military said. No injuries were reported in that attack. The military said it responded with fire toward Lebanese positions, and evacuated Israeli visitors from a ski resort in the area.

The flare-up recalled the beginning of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war, which was sparked by a Hezbollah attack on an Israeli military vehicle along the border and the kidnapping and killing of two Israeli soldiers.

The Israeli military said there was no indication of any Israeli soldiers captured in the attack.

But the latest salvos raised the possibility of renewed fighting along the Lebanese-Israel border, which has remained mostly quiet since a monthlong war in the summer of 2006. Since then, Israel has responded with airstrikes and artillery fire following a number of rocket attacks and shootings but the violence remained contained.

Wednesday's attack took place near Mount Dov and Shebaa Farms, a disputed tract of land where the borders of Israel, Lebanon and Syria meet.

Hanna Bikel, a spokeswoman for Ziv Hospital in Safed, said four to six people with light wounds from the strike were on their way to the hospital. She declined to say whether they were soldiers or civilians.

Two Lebanese officials said the Israeli shelling targeted the border villages of Majidiyeh, Abbasiyeh and Kfar Chouba near the Shebaa Farms area. There was no immediate word of casualties, they said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

One of the Lebanese officials said the incident is believed to be a "sophisticated Hezbollah operation" targeting Israeli vehicles along the border.

Families living on the border of the villages fled further within, fearing they'd be hit, said the officials, who are based in south Lebanon. Celebratory gunfire echoed in Shiite-dominated areas of Beirut, while in some areas, nervous parents hurried to pick up their children from school and hunker home.

The latest salvos raised the possibility of renewed fighting along the Lebanese-Israel border, which has remained mostly quiet since a month long war in the summer of 2006.Photo: Getty Images

Netanyahu, speaking at an event in southern Israel, warned that Israel's enemies would face a fate similar to Hamas, the rulers of the Gaza Strip who fought a brutal 50-day war against Israel last summer.

"To anyone who is trying to challenge us on the northern border I suggest looking at what happened here, not far from the city of Sderot, in the Gaza Strip. Hamas was dealt its heaviest blow ever since its founding and the Israel Defense Forces is prepared to act forcefully in all areas," he said.

The attack comes shortly after Israel launched airstrikes targeting Syrian army artillery posts in response to rockets fired the previous day into the Israeli-held Golan Heights.

Israel has declined to comment on any connection to the Jan. 18 airstrike, but has braced for a response to the strike, beefing up its air defenses and increasing surveillance along its northern frontier.

Israel says the Chebaa Farms is part of the Golan Heights, which it captured from Syria in 1967. Lebanon and Syria say the enclave belongs to Lebanon, while the United Nations says the area is part of Syria and that Damascus and Israel should negotiate its fate.

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Okposo replacement comes up with big goal for Islanders

So this Drum of Depth that Islanders coach Jack Capuano has been pounding all season is now in the forefront. So much so, it might make Keith Moon smile.

In Tuesday night's 4-1 rout of the Rangers at the Coliseum, once again it sounded loud.

This was the first game the Islanders had to play this season without their second-best player, as winger Kyle Okposo set to miss six-to-eight weeks with what is being held by the team — like it is a state secret — as just an "upper-body injury." Taking his place next to John Tavares was Mikhail Grabovski, and with 18:05 gone by in the first, it was Grabovski tapping in a great tic-tac-toe passing play to take an important 1-0 lead.

It was Grabovski's first game back after missing the previous five leading into the All-Star break, and it was just his third goal since Nov. 21 — a span of 23 games.

"When you're out for a while and playing against a team like that, I thought he did real well," Capuano said. "His minutes were up there. I thought his conditioning was real good. And got a big goal for us."

Grabovski signed a four-year, $20 million deal with the Isles this summer, but had been able to produce just six goals and 14 points through his first 38 games. With Capuano not wanting to break up his bottom two lines — and with Okposo having played all of the first 46 games on a line with Tavares — the timing of Grabovski's return seemed to work out perfectly.

He played 15:59 on a line with Tavares and Josh Bailey, and had a team-high four shots on net.

"He's a puck-possession kind of guy," Capuano said. "He's got some good speed. He's a guy that plays on the interior, which we like. He's not a perimeter guy.

"I think he's excited. He was out there a little while, so I think he's excited to get back."

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It seems as if the All-Star break brought Rangers coach Alain Vigneault to the realization that Lee Stempniak might not be entirely deserving of his seemingly permanent spot in the lineup.

Vigneault made Stempniak a healthy scratch for the first time since Dec. 23 against the Capitals, having played the 12 games heading into the break. Taking his place, in theory, was Tanner Glass, returning from his upper-body injury that had kept him from the previous two games. Glass had snapped his own six-game scratch streak on Jan. 15, the first of two strong games he played before getting hurt.

That left J.T. Miller on the fourth line, with Glass on the left and Dominic Moore in the middle.

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The Islanders were still without the service of defenseman and power-play specialist Lubomir Visnovsky.

The 38-year-old practiced fully on Monday, but missed his eighth straight game with an upper-body injury.

That left the third pair as Thomas Hickey and Brian Strait, who were surprisingly steady.

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Rangers winger Chris Kreider didn't practice on Monday or Tuesday morning because he was feeling ill, but took his regular place on a line next to Derek Stepan and Martin St. Louis.

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Vigneault was also feeling ill Tuesday morning, but was behind the Rangers' bench.

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Matt Hunwick stayed in on the Rangers' defense, making John Moore a healthy scratch for the fifth straight game.

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The Islanders placed enforcer Eric Boulton on injured reserve, retroactive to Jan. 17. Boulton has played in four games this season.

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Sherman: Goodell should face same media pinch as Lynch

PHOENIX — If it was up to Richard Sherman, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would have had a riser on Media Day alongside reluctant Marshawn Lynch.

"I don't think [players] should be obligated any more than the commissioner is obligated to speak to the media," Sherman said. "I think that if players are going to be obligated to speak to the media, then every one of the NFL personnel should be obligated to speak to the media weekly, and that's not the case.

"It's unfortunate, but I think that every team should be forced to present certain players, obviously a few of them. Obviously if someone is uncomfortable in front of the media and uncomfortable answering questions and things like that, then you have to find a way to accommodate the NFL. This is a game — you find a way to accommodate everyone else who's uncomfortable."

Lynch has set the league mark for uncomfortable.

"In situations like that, they should really kinda go by individual by individual basis, and allow him to maybe answer questions from people he's more comfortable answering questions from in a more comfortable setting," Sherman said. "Some people are better at sit-downs in one-on-one conversations, and then you can air it at whatever time you want to — air it for a Media Day. And some people are better at sitting in front of cameras. I'm fine with it. But not everybody's comfortable with that, and I don't think he should be forced to do it."

Sherman won't be uncomfortable if Tom Brady doesn't throw at him.

"It's not difficult in games like this, because you're so locked-in every play, and every play's a new experience and a new adventure, so you don't get caught in a daze," he said. "I think sometimes you get caught in a lull maybe in the middle of the season, maybe Game 7 it hasn't been thrown at your side — but not the Super Bowl."

Of course, Sherman said he would welcome Brady throwing at him.

"I'm a competitor, he's a competitor," Sherman said.

Asked about how he feels about giving Brady nightmares, Sherman said: "I didn't know I was in his dream-sphere. I highly doubt he's afraid of me. He's a great player, Hall of Famer in this league and he's been playing at a high level for a long time, but I appreciate the compliment."

Sherman debated a reporter who seemed to be questioning his questioning of Goodell's close relationship with Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

"Was [Kraft] the first person to call Roger Goodell to talk about the Ray Rice situation or wasn't he?" Sherman asked.

As for the NFL's investigation of Deflategate, Sherman said: "They're doing their due diligence making sure they're getting it right."

Sherman was asked how he would feel if the Patriots win and are then found to have cheated to get to the Super Bowl.

"I don't know if it would sit worse with me, honestly," he said. "I don't know if it had that great of an effect on any games. They had a lot of guys work hard and play hard and earn their way. They could have done that and lost games, who knows? They were able to execute and they were able to get the job done, and they've earned their way here."

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Does Darrelle Revis feel sorry for Jets fans? ‘Um, not really’

PHOENIX — Darrelle Revis isn't sympathetic to Jets fans that his first career Super Bowl trip came as a member of their hated rival.

Revis said they should blame owner Woody Johnson instead.

"Do I feel sorry for the Jets' fans? Um, not really," Revis said Tuesday when asked about being traded to Tampa Bay in 2013. "It's not really my call. I didn't make the call. Management made the call at that time, and they felt it was best to get rid of me. So that's the situation. That's how I look at it."

Revis ended up with the Patriots after the Jets compounded their mistake with the perennial All-Pro cornerback by refusing to consider re-signing him last offseason, and now Revis gets the chance to play for his first ring Sunday when New England faces Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX.

"This is what you play for every year and work hard in the offseason for," Revis said. "When you finally get here … it's so surreal to me. It's awesome, but it's also crazy."

After coming up just short of the Super Bowl twice with the Jets, who lost in the AFC title game in 2009 and 2010, Revis said he began to wonder if he would ever get the chance to play in the Big Game.

"There's always doubt, especially going through [seven] years of not really accomplishing what you set out to accomplish — getting to a Super Bowl and winning it," Revis said. "That's why it's so humbling to finally be here."

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Jordan ready to swap terrorist for pilot held by ISIS

AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan said Wednesday it is willing to swap an Iraqi woman held on death row in Jordan for a Jordanian pilot captured in December by extremists from the Islamic State group.

The statement by Jordanian government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani made no mention of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, who is also being held by the Islamic State group.

Efforts to release the Jordanian pilot and the journalist gained urgency with the release late Tuesday of a purported online ultimatum claiming the Islamic State group would kill both hostages within 24 hours if the Iraqi woman was not freed.

On Wednesday, al-Momani said in a statement that "Jordan is ready to release the Iraqi prisoner, Sajida al-Rishawi, if the Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, is released unharmed." His comments were carried by Jordan's official Petra news agency.

Al-Rishawi was sentenced to death in Jordan for her involvement in a 2005 terrorist attack by al-Qaida on hotels in Amman that killed 60 people.

Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeg, left, and Sakida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman sentenced to death in Jordan for her involvement in a 2005 terrorist attack on a hotel that killed 60 people.Photo: AP

Jordan is reportedly in indirect talks with the militants through religious and tribal leaders in Iraq to secure the hostages' release.

The chairman of the foreign affairs committee of Jordan's parliament, Bassam Al-Manasseer, has been quoted as saying that Jordan and Japan would not negotiate directly with the Islamic State group and would not free al-Rishawi for the Japanese hostage only.

An image from a YouTube video posted January 27th purports to show a still photo of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto holding what appears to be a photo of Jordanian pilot 1st Lt. Mu'ath al-Kaseasbeh. Both are being held hostage by the Islamic State militant group.Photo: AP

Jordan's main ally, the U.S., opposes negotiating with extremists.

Earlier Wednesday, the mother of the Japanese hostage, Kenji Goto, appealed publicly to Japan's premier to save her son.

The mother, Junko Ishido, read to reporters her plea to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which she said she sent after both Abe and Japan's main government spokesman declined to meet with her.

"Please save Kenji's life," Ishido said, begging Abe to work with the Jordanian government until the very end to try to save Goto.

"Kenji has only a little time left," she said.

The Jordanian government is under growing pressure at home to win the release of the pilot.

The pilot's father, Safi al-Kaseasbeh, beseeched his government late Tuesday "to meet the demands" of the Islamic State group.

ISIS is demanding the release of Iraqi Sajida Mubarek Atrous al-Rishawi who is seen here showing off her explosive belt as she confesses on Jordanian state-tun television in 2005.Photo: AP

"All people must know, from the head of the regime to everybody else, that the safety of Mu'ath means the stability of Jordan, and the death of Mu'ath means chaos in Jordan," he told The Associated Press.

About 200 of the pilot's relatives protested outside the prime minister's office in Amman, chanting anti-government slogans and urging that it meet the captors' demands.

The militants reportedly have killed one Japanese hostage, Haruna Yukawa, and the crisis has stunned Japan.

Although many in Japan are critical of the two men for going to Syria, Goto's friends and supporters have launched a social media campaign calling for his release.

Tuesday's video resembled a message released over the weekend that purportedly withdrew a demand for $200 million ransom for Goto and Yukawa made in an earlier message.

The Associated Press could not independently verify the videos released Saturday and Tuesday. They lack the logo of the Islamic State group's al-Furqan media arm. But some militant websites affiliated with the Islamic State group referenced the latest video and posted links to it Tuesday.

The latest message condemns Jordan for not releasing al-Rishawi, saying that unless she is freed within 24 hours, the pilot, followed by Goto, will be killed. It says it is the group's last message.

Hostages Kenji Goto Jogo and Haruna Yukawa in a previously released ISIS video.Photo: YouTube

A release of al-Rishawi would be a major propaganda coup for the Islamic State group.

Al-Kaseasbeh, 26, was seized after his Jordanian F-16 crashed near the Islamic State group's de facto capital of Raqqa in December. He is the first foreign military pilot they have captured since a U.S.-led coalition that includes Jordan began an aerial campaign against the Islamic State group in August.

This is the first time that the group has publicly demanded the release of prisoners in exchange for hostages. Previous captives may have been released in exchange for ransom, although the governments involved have refused to confirm any payments were made.

Goto, a freelance journalist, was captured in October in Syria, apparently while trying to rescue Yukawa, 42, who was taken hostage last summer.

The mother of another Jordanian prisoner, Ziad al-Karboli, said her family was told the Islamic State group also wants his release as part of a swap, but it is unclear if that was related to a possible deal involving the Japanese hostage.

Al-Karboli, an aide to a former al-Qaida leader in Iraq, was sentenced to death in 2008 for killing a Jordanian citizen.

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