They would rather have spent Friday morning on Rice’s campus, going through their final practice before Super Bowl LI.
But if Carolina Panthers veterans Greg Olsen and Thomas Davis had to be in Houston this week for reasons other than facing the New England Patriots on Sunday, their responsibilities were worthy endeavors.
Some players on non-participating teams show up to the Super Bowl every year for an exercise in partying and self-promotion.
Not Olsen and Davis.
Yes, Olsen was dressed up Friday morning and headed to a Houston nightclub. But it should be noted his appearance with commissioner Roger Goodell at the House of Blues was for a fan forum with Giants quarterback Eli Manning and Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald, who, along with Olsen, are the finalists for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award.