PHOENIX -- Quick-hit thoughts around the NFL and with the New England Patriots:
1. It seems safe to say the level of animosity the Patriots harbor for the Colts is heightened after Sunday's AFC title game, with the presumption that Indianapolis not only brought the issue of underinflated footballs to the NFL, but also leaked the information publicly to create a distraction and firestorm that ignited to the point that national network newscasts were leading with the story. With this in mind, it vaults the Patriots' road game against the Colts to the top of the list when it comes to the most highly-anticipated 2015 regular-season contest. If the Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX, would the NFL -- which some might say thrives off drama -- consider making it the Thursday night NFL opener? While the defending champ usually opens at home, the 2013 Ravens were on the road (in part because of an issue with sharing parking with the Orioles, who had a game that day).
2a. Gillette Stadium hosts the NHL's Winter Classic between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 1, 2016, which means the Patriots will likely be on the road for the final two weeks of the regular season, allowing the necessary time to get the outdoor rink ready. The only time that has happened in Bill Belichick's 15-year tenure was in 2006, when the Patriots were at Jacksonville on Christmas Eve and then Tennessee on New Year's Eve (the Bobby Wade/Rodney Harrison game).
2b. A quick personal note on that: I'll never forget that '06 game in Jacksonville and how reporters were hurrying through their stories to catch the last flight out of town to get back home to their families for Christmas. Kind-hearted Alan Greenberg of the Hartford Courant said to me that night I would understand better once I had kids. He was right, of course. Alan passed away three months later and I miss him on a daily basis on the Patriots beat.
3. While on the topic of fathers and their kids, if you're curious what it means to Bill Belichick to have his son Steve on his coaching staff, fast-forward to the 6:23 mark of Friday's Patriots All-Access. That's real. Steve is in his third year as a Patriots coaching assistant.
4a. The media firestorm from the Patriots' underinflated footballs, fueled by the NFL's aggressive investigation, sparks many questions about the pregame process in which officials test footballs: Who is there? Is air pressure in each ball documented? How are they tested? I'd like to hear more from NFL referees on this part of the process.
4b. A few more thoughts on underinflated footballs: While 11 of 12 Patriots footballs reportedly tested below 12.5 psi, how much lower all of them actually came in is not known. This is critical information and was a point ESPN.com NFL Insider Adam Schefter made on the Michael Kay Show on ESPN New York, noting that it was his understanding there were varying levels of how underinflated each football actually was. Also, what about the difference in psi levels of the Colts' footballs from before the game to after the game? That is key information for a point of comparison.
5. One of my favorite stories of Super Bowl week is that Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka grew up in Needham, Massachusetts as a Patriots fan, with one of his prized possessions an Adam Vinatieri autographed photo of the Snow Bowl kick. Hauschka's journey to the NFL is a great story and some of his good pals can't really lose this week -- either Hauschka gets a second Super Bowl ring, or their hometown team gets its first since 2004.
6. Another thing that fired me up about Super Bowl XLIX was watching the Seahawks' defense. So fast. I see some similarities between Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin and Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins in terms of two freak athletes, and how they both didn't fit in the standard box from a where-does-this-player-fit position-wise perspective. But good coaches find a way to get the most out of talent like that.
7a. Did You Know, Part I: The Seahawks are the 12th defending champion to reach the Super Bowl. Of the previous 11, eight went on to repeat as champs, last done by the 2004 Patriots. The last defending champion to lose the Super Bowl was the 1997 Packers (against Denver).
7b. Did You Know, Part II: For the first time under the current playoff format (since 1990), No. 1 seeds from each conference have reached the Super Bowl in consecutive seasons.
7c. Did You Know, Part III: Pete Carroll (63) and Bill Belichick (62) are the second and third oldest head coaches in the NFL, behind only the Giants' Tom Coughlin (68).
8. In Monday's Patriots team meeting, third-year safety Tavon Wilson and second-year players Jake Bequette (defensive end), Josh Boyce (wide receiver) and Joe Vellano (defensive tackle) were recognized by coach Bill Belichick in front of everyone as the practice players of the year. Coaches present the honor weekly to those deemed to have best prepared the team in the days leading up to a victory, and the fact Belichick pointed out the year-end winners to the entire team was meaningful to those four.
9. There was so much to digest from Belichick's Saturday news conference, and one thing that shouldn't be overlooked is how he used it as an opportunity to publicly let his players know how he feels about them. While he surely tells them privately, I thought for them to hear it publicly could potentially be a galvanizing type thing. “They're a physically and mentally tough team that works hard, that trains hard, that prepares hard and have met every challenge that I put in front of them. I know that because I work them every day,” Belichick told reporters. “The team was the best team in the AFC in the regular season. We won two games in the playoffs against two good football teams. The best team in the postseason, that's what this team is. I know that because I've been with them every day and I'm proud of this team.” When have we heard Belichick speak like that?