ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Tom Brady wore a black wool stocking cap and a big smile. Bill Belichick sported a full suit.
The guy in the shark costume, well, he was just trying to not wear out his welcome.
The New England Patriots were the first team on stage Monday at Super Bowl opening night, the kickoff to the week of buildup to the big game. They gathered at Xcel Energy Center, the hockey rink and home of the NHL's Minnesota Wild, for their first on-site media obligation after landing in Minneapolis in the afternoon.
The Philadelphia Eagles, whose charter flight arrived Sunday, had the second half of the NFL's annual assembly of hundreds of reporters, camera operators and just-for-fun "journalists" surrounding players and coaches with a ticketed crowd looking on from the seats.