The Patriots participated in the circus known as Super Bowl media day on Tuesday from the US Airways Center in Phoenix. Surrounded by more than 5,000 camera-toting media and fans, the Patriots' players were asked about pretty much everything except Sunday's game against the Seahawks.
While many of the media's questions were expected to address the under-inflated footballs in the AFC championship game, coach Bill Belichick and his players quickly shifted the focus away from the ongoing investigation.
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“Well, we’re just focused on Seattle this week. That’s it. So it’s all about Seattle, it’s all about us getting ready to play Sunday," Belichick said about deflate-gate controversy. "That’s where all of our attention is. I’m not really worried about the rest of that.”
With another Super Bowl victory, Belichick's quarterback, Tom Brady, would tie Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for four Super Bowl wins, a feat Brady would hold in special regard.
“It’s hard to think about those things. Like I said, I’ve just been fortunate to be on some great teams," Brady said. "Those guys are unbelievable players, they were so great for this league. They were great teams. I was the biggest 49er fan growing up and to watch Joe and Steve Young – who were my two idols – who were just great for the game and great for the sport."
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Belichick, wearing flip flops and his trademark hooded sweatshirt, praised the success Seattle coach Pete Carroll has had in the NFL.
"Not a coach in the NFL I respect more than Pete Carroll. He’s a tremendous coach. He and I have kind of come up together in roughly the same era," Belichick said. "We’ve both been defensive coordinators, we’ve both been head coaches. I have a ton of respect for what Pete does as a coach, how good of a fundamental teacher he is, the way his teams play."
While no question during the media day is off limits, Belichick was asked by Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo's daughter what his favorite stuffed animal was. Offering a rare insight into his personality, the stern Belichick even flashed a smile while answering the innocent question.
"Um, I like a little puppet," Belichick said. "You can kind of put your fingers in. It's a little monkey and then he can talk and move his fingers and nod his head, so he can kind of talk back to you."
First-time Super Bowl attendee Darrelle Revis was humbled to be playing at a championship level since recovering from knee surgery that kept him out all of last season.
“That was the No. 1 goal for me, just winning a Super Bowl," he said. "Every year, that’s what we play for. You know I had a bump in the road, having an ACL injury. That kind of twisted my mind up a little bit because it was more so me focusing on my health. Once I focused on my health to make sure I could get back where I need to be and playing at a high level, I was confident and determined. Just focus and get with the right team and that’s what I did.”