Patriots head coach Bill Belichick opened Super Bowl week with some self-deprecating humor that symbolized a loose setting Sunday at the team's hotel.
The Patriots arrived in Indianapolis around 5 p.m. Sunday and held their initial media session an hour later. It didn't take long for Belichick to tie in the Super Bowl's host city with its hometown team, as he referenced the Patriots' loss to the rival Colts in 2009.
"I never had too much hospitality here until I went for it on fourth-and-2," Belichick quipped. "Since then, I've been greeted in a lot more friendly manner than I was in the past."
The Patriots' day started with a send-off rally at Gillette Stadium and a team meeting before they took the bus ride to Logan Airport and the flight to Indy. Belichick said the players had Sunday night off, and they'd get on the field Monday, where they'll practice at the Colts' facility.
The Patriots will be off Tuesday aside from their Media Day responsibilities, and they'll practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before conducting a closed walkthrough Saturday. With that schedule, it will be just like a normal week.
But it all started Sunday, when the Patriots arrived in a familiar city to begin the home stretch before the Super Bowl.
"We drove by Lucas Oil Stadium on the way in, and you see [Colts defensive end] Dwight Freeney's picture up there," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said. "To come to Indy and not play him is definitely a relief for me. He's terrorized me for a long time, and I'll be terrorized by some other players in some other uniforms this week. It's great to be here. Regardless of where you play, the Super Bowl is an incredible experience for all of us."
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