New England Patriots Links 1/30/12 - 25K Fans Send Players Off With Spirited Support

Mike Rodak shares Tom Brady's remarks to the fans Sunday at Gillette.

"We have the greatest fans in America. You guys have proved that year in and year out with your support," Brady said. "I wish I could take all you guys to Indy with us. We're going down there, and we're going down there for one reason. We're going to give it our best and hopefully we have a lot more people at our party next weekend."

Mike Rodak posts some more soundbites from Sunday's rally.

Wes Welker: "I can’t thank you all enough for coming out here. You guys are the best. You guys are the reason that we’re in the spot we’re in, because we had home-field advantage coming in, and we were able to take advantage of it, and now we’re in the Super Bowl. And that’s what it’s all about. And I promise you all, all these guys, with the way we’re going to play this next Sunday, we’re going to give everything we've got next Sunday, and you’re going to be proud to support the New England Patriots. Thank you very much."

Jerod Mayo: "I’d just like to thank everyone for coming out this year, it’s been a very special year, with Miss Myra [Kraft] and the Kraft family going through everything they’ve gone through this year. Just the support from the fans has been great. We’re going down here on a business trip, and hopefully we’ll bring back a championship. Thank you."

Kevin Faulk: "This never gets old, huh? The one question I was asked during the offseason was, ‘Why are you coming back, Kevin?’ This is it right here. See you all in Indy, baby. Go Pats."

Deion Branch: "What’s up, baby? What’s up, New England? You know coach Belichick told us not to come out here and talk too long, but we’re going to the Super Bowl, what’s up, baby? Unreal. This is the reason why I wanted to be back here, for this one reason, right here, baby. To have the opportunity to play for a championship, play for a Super Bowl, and bring this trophy back to you all, because you deserve it. Thank you, baby."

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalavino says the Patriots hit the ground running in Indy.
• Andy Hart says to forget Eli vs. Tom, the real matchup will involve New England's O-line vs. the hyped-up D-line from New York.
• Andy Hart reports Wes Welker wants to be back in New England.
• Paul Perillo catches up with Brian Waters, one of the best individual stories among the Patriots.
• Patriots Press Conferences: Too many to list out individually, but the videos are all right here to pick which ones to listen to. And here are the transcripts that go with them.
• Patriots Today - Patriots arrive, and chat, in Indy. (2.35 min. video)
• Video: (NFL.com) Patriots arrive in Indianapolis. (4.43 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Inside the team hotel. (2.42 min. video)
• WEEI Patriots Monday: Tom Brady (24 min. audio) Here are highlights.
  

LOCAL LINKS

• Judee Cosentino details the Super sendoff at Gillette Stadium yesterday and catches up with some excited fans.
• Mike Reiss offers some early thoughts from the build-up to Super Bowl XLVI here in Indianapolis.
• Mike Reiss reports on the Patriots arrival in Indianapolis.
• Ian Rapoport describes the team's arrival in Indy, amidst banners and screaming supporters, and mentions the their vow to keep things as normal as possible.
• Christopher Price tells us why BenJarvus Green-Ellis is a difference-maker for the Patriots in the Super Bowl.
• Shalise Manza Young reports Bill Belichick was relaxed and in high spirits yesterday, saying there's no place he'd rather be right now than with his team in Indy.
• Ron Borges sees the light, and eats a heaping helping of Crow. It's just too hard for anyone not to like this 2011 Patriots team.
• Tom E. Curran notes all the chirping coming from the Giants players, while all the Patriots do is smile and praise.
• Ben Watanabe ridicules the exaggerated New York headlines.
• Mike Reiss says the Super Bowl could hinge on the competitiveness of the Patriots special-teamers.
• Chris Gasper believes this game is going to be won at the line of scrimmage.
• Mike Petraglia talks about the Patriots' biggest problem and why he thinks they can win this time around.
• Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit thoughts from the Pats and around the NFL.
• Mark Daniels reports Wes Welker said "I plan on being back" with the Patriots, and he's not worried about his contract.
• Mike Reiss gets Brian Waters' perspective on TEs Gronkowski and Hernandez.
• Dan Ventura notes Matthew Slater's focus in on the here and now.
• Tony Massarotti worries it might be better for Rob Gronkowski not to play than to play and not be the same effective player the Patriots need him to be.
• Mary Paoletti finds Bill Belichick has always been too focused on his present moment to dream about Super Bowls before they're won.
• Tom E. Curran writes the recent Patriots have feared failure more than embraced success. But Bill Belichick has lightened up, and the Pats are again enjoying the ride.
• Kirk Minihane writes about Tom Brady's legacy, Rob Gronkowski's ankle, and why 2007 means nothing.
• The Boston Globe lists 10 unreasonable reasons why the Patriots will win.
• Jeff Howe gives us his top 10 reasons why the Patriots can win the Super Bowl.
• Boston Globe has a photo gallery of Patriots players before they were Patriots. Worth a look.
• CSNNE takes a game-by-game look at how the Patriots got here.
• ESPNBoston posts a video of the Pats' road to the Super Bowl. (1 min. clip)
• Mike Reiss spotlights the Giants' unique DE package.
• WEEI highlights Tom Brady's Monday morning call-in to the Dennis & Callahan show. He's 'not taking this for granted.'
• Karen Guregian Patriots Notebook: Jerod Mayo isn't taking the bait, when asked about Mario Manningham's dismissal of Julian Edelman; Rob Gronkowski was seen walking briskly and without a limp in his boot yesterday; Pats O-linemen have watched plenty of film on the Giants D-line; Pats fans really have latched onto Brian Waters and want him to get a ring; Robert Kraft was nearly brought to tears when the crowd began chanting "MHK" at the rally.
• Michael Whitmer Patriots Notebook: Wes Welker could be a problem for the Giants; Gronk is still "day-to-day"; Welker expects Gronk to play effectively; Players were not only thankful but super impressed that 25,000 fans showed up at the rally; Pats thought it important to get to Indy a day early to get a normal practice in on Monday and keep their usual routine; Belichick told Matthew Slater that he wouldn't be playing in his first Pro Bowl and not to book any tickets to Hawaii; Brandon Spikes rocked out with his pink suit for the trip. Mayo called it his "lucky suit".
• Rich Levine is driving to Indy and has some interesting Boston-sports-history stops planned along the way.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Cathy Kightlinger (Indy Star) First look: Super Bowl 2012 trophy.
• Alex Marvez (Fox Sports) Belichick has Patriots loose in Indy.
• James Walker (ESPN) Are Patriots building another dynasty?
• James Walker (ESPN) Early Super Bowl thoughts from Belichick.
• John Czarnecki (Fox Sports) 10 players who will play a critical role.
• Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) An inside look at the Patriots red zone run game.
• Peter King (SI) MMQB: Let the hype begin as Patriots, Giants prepare for Rematch Bowl.
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Ranking XLVI starters: No debating Giants, Pats split evenly with talent.
• Andy Benoit (CBS Sports) Super Bowl XLVI Preview: Giants O vs. Patriots D.
• Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Will the Giants' safeties produce vs. Brady, Pats?
• Seth Wickersham (ESPN) Super Bowl XLVI preview: The big game will be won by the team who knows how to plug its leaks.
• Elliot Harrison (NFL.com) How they were built: XLVI teams share similarities, differences.
• Les Carpenter (Yahoo! Sports) BenJarvus Green-Ellis has secret to not fumbling.
• Clark Judge (CBS Sports) Gronkowski says he'll play, but high ankle sprains aren't easy to shake off.
• Video (ESPN) Dr. Michael Kaplan: Gronk's ankle injury is serious. (1 min. video)
• Mark Emmons (San Jose Mercury News) Former Woodside High star Julian Edelman becomes jack-of-all-trades for New England Patriots.
• Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) Super Bowl XLVI story lines: Preparing for Manning mania.
• Michael Silver (Yahoo! Sports) Peyton upstaging Brady-Eli Super Bowl rematch.
• Jeff Darlington (NFL.com) From arrival to kickoff, Super Bowl week unique to each player.
• Doug Farrar (Yahoo! Sports) Deep posts: Debating Belichick's big brain.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Hakeem Nicks will be "fine," definitely will play.

VIEW FROM NEW YORK

• Ian O'Connor (ESPNNY) Coughlin vs. Belichick: A giant clash.
• Mike Lupica (NY Daily News) Giants coach Tom Coughlin and Patriots coach Bill Belichick justify Bill Parcells' Super belief in them.
• Ralph Vacchiano (NY Daily News) Patriots QB Tom Brady asks Patriots fans to Super Bowl shindig after game against Giants. /Actual article defies headline.
• Steve Serby (NY Post) Giants will make Brady pay for planning Patriots victory party.
• Gary Myers (NY Daily News) Patriots QB Tom Brady should beware planning Super Bowl party too soon, as NY Giants have used slights as motivation before.
• Brian Costello (NY Post) Giants looking to expose Edelman in Patriots secondary.
• Mike Garafolo (Star-Ledger) Giants hope to take advantage at corner when Patriots try to cover Victor Cruz in Super Bowl.
• Jenny Vrentas (Star-Ledger) Patriots arrive in Indianapolis confident and relaxed for Super Bowl week ahead.
• Ralph Vacchiano (NY Daily News) In Super Bowl XLVI, Giants and Patriots meet again as hunter is now the hunted.
• Ebenezer Samuel (NY Daily News) Justin Tuck looks to repeat 2008 Super Bowl heroics in Super Bowl XLVI vs. Tom Brady and Patriots.
• Steve Serby (NY Post) Giants want to win championship for NY fans.
• Bart Hubbuch (NY Post) Super Bowl XLVI matchup: Osi Umenyiora vs. Matt Light.