• Brady, Belichick peppered with Trump questions
• QBs remain most popular interview subjects
• Comedians practically outnumbered reporters
NFL opening night is the official start to Super Bowl week. The new incarnation of media day that started last year is a three-hour, prime-time affair. Both teams speak for an hour each, with 11 players available at designated podiums and the rest of the rest scattered on the floor. In other words, it’s all part of the spectacle — fans can buy floor seats for $30.
Here are the main things we learned.
The NFL can turn anything into a production.
Opening night has turned media day into a high-end production. Both teams were introduced over the PA with overly dramatic music and a smoke machine. Quite the contrary from the early-era Super Bowl days.
The Patriots don’t want to talk Trump. Except for Martellus Bennett.
Bill Belichick refused to answer any questions about President Donald Trump. He had the same stance for any questions about Lady Gaga, so really that wasn’t all that surprising.
Tom Brady also declined to talk about about his relationship with the president, saying he just wanted to talk about football.
But Martellus Bennett wasn’t as diplomatic — he vowed to boycott the White House if the Patriots win.
Difficult questions followed the Falcons, too.
Mohammed Sanu, who was raised Muslim, was bombarded specifically with questions on Trump’s executive order banning immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries. He looked pretty uncomfortable the entire time the topic was broached.
“Very tough situation,” a solemn Sanu admitted. “It’s really hard for me to talk about that right now. I’m not here to talk about my religious beliefs. I’m here to focus on football.”
Not wanting to weigh in politically all he offered was, “I hope we can pray as a country for the world to be united,” before pleading with reporters to move on with their line of questioning.
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Signal callers caught the most attention.
No surprise, the most popular men were the quarterbacks. Tom Brady was peppered with questions about Roger Goodell and said, “I’ve moved on.”
Matt Ryan fielded inquiries about potentially being named MVP — “It would be an honour,” he said — and his relationship with Brady, revealing, “I think we all look up to Tom.”
To get a spot within ear shot of either QB reporters had to line up at their podium at least 30 minutes before they came out to speak.
Brady will open up and then some for the right topic.
The most candid Brady was is when he was talking about his dad’s critical comments in relation to Goodell. Brady said he banned his dad from media after he criticized Goodell and the NFL.
But when talking about the level of support he got from his father, Brady began to choke up.
Everybody loves a press conference that doubles as a costume party.
It seems like every year the costumes become more elaborate and increase in number. Guillermo Rodriguez from the Jimmy Kimmel show was in attendance using a turkey leg as a makeshift microphone. One of these days the comedians and fake reporters will outnumber the credentialed traditional journalists.
Bill Belichick may be a hugger.
Midway through the proceedings the NFL brought both sets of team captains and head coaches on stage for quick interviews with Fox and ESPN.
As the leaders of the two teammates shook hands on stage, wires were crossed when Belichick went in for the warm, friendly embrace and Dan Quinn kept his distance. Only time will tell what the post-game handshake at midfield will be like.