25,000 Fans Rally For Patriots At Super Bowl Sendoff
FOXBORO (CBS) - Around 25,000 fans packed Gillette Stadium Sunday morning to give the Patriots a proper sendoff before they departed for Indianapolis ahead of a Super Bowl XLVI match-up against the New York Giants.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports.
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"I want to thank you all for coming here today, and giving us the warmest welcome in the history of this team: our sendoff out to Indy, where we intend to do business," said team owner Robert Kraft.
View: Super Bowl Sendoff Photo Gallery
This season has had special meaning for Kraft, whose wife Myra lost her life before the season.
Watch Kraft, Wilfork, and Brady at the sendoff:
"At the beginning of the season, Jonathan and I met with the team, and told them that they would wear an MHK patch over their hearts. And what it meant to us, and we were dedicating this season to her and all the volunteers in America who make this country great," said Kraft.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady also took the mic before departing for his fifth Super Bowl appearance. He will be looking to win his fourth ring and avenge a heartbreaking loss to the Giants four years ago in the big game.
"We're going down there for one reason. We're going to give it our best, and hopefully we have a lot more people at our party next weekend," said Brady, at the rally.
Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch was not on that 2007 squad, but was on two of the previous Patriots Super Bowl-winning teams before a stint with the Seahawks.
"This is the reason why I wanted to be back here, for this one reason right here baby, to have the opportunity to go and play for a championship and play for a Super Bowl, and bring this trophy back to you all," said Branch, at the rally.
After the sendoff rally inside the Stadium, the team boarded buses headed for Logan Airport. Some of the players thanked fans on Twitter.
As the buses drove out of Gillette Stadium and onto Route 1, fans packed each side of the roadway and held up signs for the team, including one that asked bus drivers to "Honk For Gronk."
The Patriots flew out of Logan after 2 p.m.
