Source: Patriots' Hobbs will undergo surgery
Hobbs continued to play despite the ailments, starting all but one of New England's 19 games. But Hobbs aggravated the groin injury during the first quarter of Sunday's 17-14 Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants.
That may explain why Hobbs struggled at a critical time. With 39 seconds remaining and New York at New England's 13-yard line, the Patriots called a blitz that left Hobbs in single coverage with wide receiver Plaxico Burress. Hobbs slipped when juked by a double move, freeing Burress to catch the game-winning score from quarterback Eli Manning.
A source said Hobbs was so hobbled that he was relieved of kickoff return duties for Super Bowl XLII and replaced by running back Laurence Maroney.
"He was in horrible pain but he played through it," the source said.
Hobbs intercepted Manning in the second quarter to end a Giants scoring threat and finished with a team-high three passes defensed. Hobbs also had interceptions in two of New England's previous three games and finished the regular season with 63 tackles.
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