Exceptional Patriots moments from Super Bowl media days
Super Bowl LII doesn’t kick off until Sunday, but the fun begins Monday evening during Super Bowl Opening Night. That’s the fancy moniker the NFL has given to Media Day, but a new name won’t stop the traditional deluge of questions, marriage requests, and spelling bees the New England and Philadelphia players at the podium will face.
Here are some of the memorable Media Day moments from the Patriots’ Super Bowls past:
2016
New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28Fake Tom Brady showed up.
Bleacher Report created this mask when the real Brady was suspended for four games, and brought it back for Media Day.
You vs. the guy they tell you not to worry about#FakeBrady pic.twitter.com/UuZH3xgXIq
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) January 31, 2017
Brady got emotional talking about his father.
Emotional answer from Tom Brady when asked if his dad speaks for him. Must watch. #Patriots pic.twitter.com/CtUkI0enx2
— Steve Buckley (@BuckinBoston) January 31, 2017
2014
New England Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24Marshawn Lynch was not there to answer questions.
The NFL threatened Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch with a $500,000 fine if he didn’t show up to media day. So Lynch showed up, then spent 4 minutes and 51 seconds answering every question with a phrase he later trademarked: “I’m just here so I don’t get fined.”
Lil’ Mayo took on Media Day.
Chya Mayo, the 4-year old daughter of New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo, asked Belichick what his favorite puppet is and challenged Gronk to a dance contest.
https://www.facebook.com/newenglandpatriots/videos/10153063369672372/
2007
New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14TV reporter Ines Gomez Mont proposed to Brady at Super Bowl Media Day. Brady politely declined.
TV reporter Ines Gomez Mont proposed to Brady at Super Bowl Media Day.
2004
New England Patriots 24, Philadelphia Eagles 21A reporter asked a question that stumped Tom Brady.
During Media Day, Brady was asked, ”Why are you so handsome?” The New York Times’ Lee Jenkins, who also mentioned that Brady was planning on running for political office after retirement, describes Brady’s reaction to the question: “Uncomfortably, he rubbed the blond stubble on his chin, flashing a set of teeth whiter than the chalk lines.”
2003
New England Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 2913-year-old Justin Phillips puts the Patriots players through a spelling bee, and the XFL got a mention.
The Nickolodeon reporter quizzed Troy Brown and Teddy Bruschi, asking them to spell ‘Massachusetts’ and ‘Jake Delhomme’, respectively. Bruschi missed an ‘M.’
Michael Wilbon, then with the Washington Post, wrote a column about the Carolina Panthers’ kick returner Rod Smart, who had the nickname ‘He Hate Me.’ Smart was given that nickname by Vince McMahon, who’s been in the news this week for announcing that he’s relaunching his XFL. Smart played in the XFL after getting cut by the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL, landed in the XFL, and wore a jersey with ‘He Hate Me’ on the back at McMahon’s urging before making it back to the NFL.
2001
New England Patriots 20, St. Louis Rams 17Tom Brady wore a visor
The Patriots saved the excitement for the game in this one. Bill Simmons, writing for ESPN’s Page Two, was there.
1/29/2002–NEW ORLEANS–New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady answers questions during media day for Super bowl XXXVI in New Orleans Tuesday.
1998
Green Bay Packers 35, New England Patriots 21The Gospel according to Reggie White
The Green Bay Packers’ Reggie White was asked about how he planned to pressure Drew Bledsoe. White answered that question, but not before delivering an epic treatise on Jesus Christ, the FBI, and church burnings. It has to be read to be fully appreciated, but the headline alone hints at its expansiveness: ‘The Gospel According To Reggie: With Super Bowl as His Pulpit and Media as His Congregation, White Delivers Sermon on Not Bledsoe’s Weaknesses but Man’s.”
1985
Chicago Bears 40, New England Patriots 10Jim McMahon presents an interesting angle to photographers
This picture is from the day after Media Day, but it seems to accurately sum up the week that was. Jim McMahon was the quarterback for those Super Bowl Shufflin’ Chicago Bears, and he made the most of the national spotlight. Over the course of the week, McMahon would berate his own team’s staff for refusing to fly an acupuncturist out to New Orleans to treat his bruised backside, wear a different number to practice to avoid snipers, and, as you can see, moon a helicopter flying overhead.
Jim McMahon moons a helicopter.
