Tuesday Morning Report: It’s Business as Usual for Pats, Jints
The Giants arrived in Indianapolis yesterday in broad daylight, but it may as well have been under the cloak of darkness. Their departure from New Jersey had little fanfare (just a smattering of fans as compared to the Patriots’ pep rally on Sunday, which drew 25k fans) and their arrival had even less.
“We came in and did the normal stuff we’d do on a Saturday morning and then left the same time we normally did,” said OL Chris Snee, “It was a nice short flight but it was normal.”
“I don’t know how many people were out there today to send us off, but I don’t know that we’ve had that when we just went and played a regular football game,” DE Justin Tuck told the throng of reporters yesterday. “We all know what the game is. A lot of times you say it doesn’t hit you until you actually get here. I think it hit us. I think it hit us early, and I think just seeing the focus of the last couple of practices we had before we left, you could kind of tell that guys elevated their passion about this sport. They understand that you are in the Super Bowl, and this is where 30 other teams wish they could be. It’s going to be something you will never forget, so we knew where we were going.”
Meanwhile, the Patriots held a practice in full pads at the Colts’ facility. Head coach Bill Belichick said it was the best way to prepare his team. We’re guessing he’s anticipating a physical game this Sunday. Good guess, huh?
“We just got off of the practice field. We were in pads today. We had a good, crisp workout,” said Belichick. “I think we got a few things done. As I said yesterday, the Giants are a tough team to prepare for. They really do a good job with all of the different schemes they have, and the players they have present a big challenge for us. It’s good to get underway down here. It is a nice facility over there that the Colts have. We will get some film done this afternoon and get back at it on Wednesday.”
WFAN’s Peter Schwartz, who usually covers the Jets, told host Mike Francesa yesterday that Pats’ TE Rob Gronkowski got off the team plane on Sunday with his injured ankle in a boot. Schwartz said the All-Pro then proceeded to run to the team bus to show the crowd of reporters that he is not as injured as we have been led to believe. We shall see. He did not practice yesterday, and is not expected to practice until Friday at the soonest, if at all….
SNY ia all over the scene in Indianapolis this week. Gary Apple and Mike Garafolo report for Geico SportsNite….
