PHOENIX -- Quick-hit thoughts around the NFL and with the New England Patriots:
1. The biggest takeaway from being around the Patriots is how loose they are, and Bill Belichick's decision to cancel the team's walkthrough on Saturday has contributed to the let's-let-it-rip and have-some-fun feel among players. In that sense, this is the anti-2011 when things seemed a bit tighter.
2. If the last few days on the streets of downtown Phoenix are any indication, Super Bowl XLIX will be a strong home-field advantage for the Seattle Seahawks. The team’s fans are everywhere. Every so often, a thunderous “Sea-HAWKS!” chant would be heard out of nowhere. Part of that is probably a result of this being an easier trip for Seattle fans, and also the fact this is the Patriots’ sixth Super Bowl appearance since 2001. Regardless, Seahawks fans have been swarming the city the past few days, much like the team’s defense.
3a. The next time that the Fox broadcast team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman calls a Patriots game, in 2015, I wonder if Tom Brady will entertain the standard interview request by the networks leading into a game. Brady acknowledged that he personalized the media-based attacks on his potential role in the NFL’s investigation into under-inflated footballs, and Aikman was among the harshest in his commentary. It’s hard not to think some Brady-based relationships have been irreparably harmed over what has unfolded the past two weeks.
3b. Speaking of Brady, the cold he was battling during the week leading up to Super Bowl XLIX was officially a thing of the past by Saturday.
4. Another compelling story line we’ll be watching after the Super Bowl (if the Patriots win) and into the offseason is any potential thaw between NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Patriots owner Robert Kraft. My sense is that Kraft feels stung by Goodell, who he had backed in the wake of the mishandled Ray Rice domestic violence case, and the longstanding relationship between the two is not in a good place based on the league’s handling of the team’s under-inflated footballs and specifically public leaks. For perhaps the first time, I sense Kraft is doubting Goodell’s leadership, and if Goodell loses one of his top supporters I wonder how much it could threaten his hold on the job. Then again, maybe it's something that just requires a little time to smooth itself over.
5. I thought Goodell attempted to strike a more humble and personal approach in his annual Super Bowl news conference, but in the end, there just seems to be something missing when it comes to connecting with those who follow the game. ESPN’s Bill Polian used the example of Goodell referencing the non-competitive nature of the extra point early in his opening remarks, well before any mention of the so-much-more-important issue of domestic violence and the league’s handling of it, which contributes to the feeling that Goodell isn’t close enough in touch.
6a. Did You Know, Part I: The Patriots are the first team to reach the Super Bowl without having a player with 100 rushing attempts that season. Shane Vereen led the way with 96, and had starting power back Stevan Ridley not torn his ACL on Oct. 12, this would have almost certainly not happened.
6b. Did You Know, Part II: The Patriots’ five Super Bowls since 2001 were all decided by four points or fewer while of the other 43 Super Bowls, only seven were decided by a margin of four points.
7. It was enjoyable hearing Patriots special-teams coach Scott O’Brien reminisce about learning under Bill Belichick as a young coach and how it was his belief that Belichick was the first head coach to name an assistant special-teams coach in 1991, reflecting how he’s always viewed that area of the game as critical. O’Brien credited Belichick for “coaching the coaches” and, with this in mind, my sense is that O’Brien may be ready to ride off into the sunset after Super Bowl XLIX and turn things over to assistant Joe Judge. Stay tuned on that one.
8. When Belichick was hired as Patriots coach, he kept two staff members initially hired by Pete Carroll, in addition to Dante Scarnecchia. I caught up with one of those coaches, Jaguars defensive backs coach DeWayne Walker, to talk about his experience working under both Carroll (1998-99, 2001) and Belichick (2000). “A perfect example of how there are different ways to be successful,” Walker said. “With Bill, the structure was almost like private school, well thought out, with a system he believes in and he’s been around long enough to trust in that system. With Pete, he’s a fun-loving coach who tried to make things fun, playing basketball, piano, but he still managed the different personalities. Very smart people and I feel fortunate to have worked under these two Super Bowl coaches.”
9. One story that made little sense to me in the lead up to Super Bowl XLIX was the idea that running back LeGarrette Blount could have orchestrated his return to the Patriots by walking out on the Steelers. Seriously? Common sense would have told Blount that the Patriots could be interested based on what happened in free agency (the Patriots were outbid by the Steelers), but 30 other teams had the right to claim him on waivers and block a move to the Patriots on Nov. 18. This, to me, is a good example of what happens when there is so much media at one event and so many are looking for a conspiracy theory.
10. Piece by piece, we’re learning more about the process in which the NFL monitors the air pressure in footballs. That Goodell didn’t know if the league has ever tested the air pressure in the middle of a game before, which he acknowledged Friday, was telling. Even the leader of the NFL is in the dark on the story line that has dominated the discussion leading up to Super Bowl XLIX. One aspect that requires further clarification on the record is exactly what referee Walt Anderson did before the AFC Championship Game to “gauge” the balls. As we’ve learned more about this topic, confidence that the NFL has its house in order has waned.
11. The Patriots should have their top five offensive linemen available for Super Bowl XLIX as starting rookie center Bryan Stork -- who missed the AFC title game with a right knee injury -- is expected to play tonight after being upgraded to probable on Saturday. The inclusion of Stork into the starting lineup in Week 4 was part of a key turnaround for the Patriots. With Stork in the lineup, the Patriots enter tonight with their best five up front -- left tackle Nate Solder, left guard Dan Connolly, Stork, right guard Ryan Wendell and right tackle Sebastian Vollmer. Combine that with the fact that the Patriots have tight end Rob Gronkowski fully healthy for the playoffs for essentially the first time since his rookie season in 2010, and the team couldn't ask for anything more. To get to this point, and to have almost all the key parts in place on both sides of the ball, is rare.