Although fans have reportedly been snapping them up at a record clip, it’s still hard not to notice all those New England Patriots digital video discs (DVDs) and videotapes cramming video and grocery store aisles the last couple weeks.

Although they retail for $19.95 (DVD) and $14.95 (VHS), the tapes can be had at local stores for $14.99 and $9.99, respectively.

Upon further review, the tapes of the Super Bowl champs are well worth the cost – especially if you splurge a bit and buy the DVD. Then again, unless you are absolutely convinced you’ll never own a DVD player, buy the DVD because the bonus segments and sound quality are worth the extra five bucks.

Both formats feature highlights of the Patriots’ 2001-02 regular season and postseason games with particular, in-depth coverage of Super Bowl XXXVI. The DVD adds 30 minutes of bonus features on the 1976 Patriots squad (and yes, Ray Hamilton’s “phantom” roughing penalty on Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler is covered), Patriots wide receiver-kicker Gino Cappelletti, impressive clips of Pats quarterback Steve Grogan, and U2’s Super Bowl halftime show.

The DVD is divided into different segments (games 1-4, 5-8, 9-12, 13-16, postseason, and special features) so viewers can get right to a particular portion of the season with the click of a button.

First the positives, of which there are many. The soundtrack is superb as it includes play-by-play and commentary from Patriots radio voice Gil Santos and analyst Cappelletti, field-level game noise as well as sideline chatter, and stirring music. From the conversations between Drew Bledsoe and Tom Brady on the sidelines to the St. Louis Rams’ Super Bowl trash talk, nothing goes unnoticed.

There’s nothing wrong with the video either as, with all NFL Films productions, virtually nothing goes unseen on film – from Hamilton’s non-hit on Stabler to Brady’s fumble video replay reversal via the NFL’s debated tuck rule..

Even if you watched every regular season and playoff game, you’ll hear and/or see something on these videos you haven’t before.

There aren’t too many negatives, but one is the lack of game footage shown for some of the key, regular season games, most noticeably the Patriots’ 12-9 overtime triumph over Buffalo in mid-December. This was the game in which an apparent fumble by David Patten was reversed after a video review and kept the Patriots game-winning overtime scoring drive alive. The call was almost as important as the infamous reversal of the fumble call on Brady in the division playoff game win over Oakland. It helped cement a home field playoff berth for New England, but didn’t even merit a vocal mention in the video’s narration and thus is a glaring omission.

Nice touches include the replaying of the Pats’ pregame ceremonies in wake of Sept. 11, the Patriots salute to a former stalwart on Bruce Armstrong Day, and some footage of the final regular season home game at Foxboro Stadium – which again could have been lengthier as many fans and viewers were impressed by the pregame ceremonies in which players representing various past Patriots seasons and decades were on hand for the game.

The video highlight, of course, is the Super Bowl coverage, as NFL Films utilized more than 20 cameras and almost omnipresent microphones to capture every moment, on and off the field.

Negatives aside, this is a must-have for any self-respecting Patriots fan – especially after an agonizing 42-year wait.

Going to the dogs

When it comes to dogs vs. Olympians, the Olympians win … By a hair. Only NBC’s Winter Olympics coverage beat USA Network’s live coverage of the 126th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

USA averaged 4.3 million viewers during its coverage of the two-day show despite competing against the Olympics, NBA basketball, NHL hockey and college basketball Feb. 11 and 12.

Show coverage was watched by 2.8 million households for a 3.24 rating Monday and three million households (3.54) Tuesday compared to ESPN’s 0.9 rating Monday for NHL and college hoops, and Tuesday’s 1.05 and 2.22 for WTBS’ coverage of an NBA doubleheader.

Andrew Neff’s On the air column is published each Tuesday. He can be reached at 990-8205 or at aneff@bangordailynews.net.