With the increased media attention, a longer week away from headquarters and a million other distractions, the Super Bowl can be overwhelming for some teams.
Tom Brady is adamant that it won’t be the case for the Patriots. During a press conference on Thursday, Brady addressed the hoopla that surrounds the game and said that it won’t affect him or his teammates.
“It’s a football game for us,” Brady said, via the Boston Herald. “It’s the Super Bowl for everyone else. We’re going in there to try and win football games. Put all the distractions aside, and don’t let anything get in the way of our preparation, that’s ultimately what’s most important. This game that everyone will remember for the rest of our lives. Hopefully it’s a good one.”
The chances of it being a good one are helped by the fact that both teams have recent experience in the game. It seems unlikely that the stage will prove to be too daunting for either the Patriots or Giants thanks to the players that have been there before. Too much has been made of this game being a rematch when only 23 of the 106 players on the rosters in 2008 remain, but those 23, plus both head coaches, should ensure that everyone stays focused on the task at hand.