Victory Party? Tom Brady Hands Giants Early Bulletin-Board Fodder
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — It sounds like Tom Brady is already planning a victory party.
Packed to capacity in the lower level on one side of Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Patriots fans watched replays from the AFC championship victory that put New England in the Super Bowl.
A few minutes later, those roughly 25,000 fans sent the players off in style.
Before a spirited crowd that filled approximately one-third of Gillette Stadium, the Patriots officially began their short journey to Indianapolis by attending a free send-off rally.
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"We wish we could take all of you guys to Indy with us," said Brady, who will tie the record for quarterbacks with his fifth Super Bowl start. "Hopefully we'll have a lot more people at our party next weekend."
Party next weekend?
As in a championship parade?
Brady may have just provided the Giants some measurable bulletin-board material. In a report published by the Post last week, a handful of New York defenders admitted Brady's pre-game "arrogance" fueled their Super Bowl XLII win.
Brady was asked about his "party" comment at the team hotel Sunday night.
"Well, it was a pep rally," he said to laughter. "People were pretty excited."
Following Sunday's 13-minute program on a stage constructed at the 50-yard line, Patriots players skirted the lower level of seats on their way out of the stadium, high-fiving fans and filming the celebration along the way before boarding busses bound for the airport.
The Giants' boarding process figures to be more low-key. According to the New York Post, Big Blue will leave on a charter flight from Newark on Monday and land in Indianapolis around 2:15 p.m.
"I want a pep rally for cryin' out loud!" WFAN's Craig Carton said Monday morning. "It's embarrassing!"
New England will play New York Sunday — a little more than four years after the Giants spoiled the Patriots' perfect season with a stunning 17-14 Super Bowl victory.
Giants fans, did Brady get under your skin with his "party" comment? Sound off below...
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