Super Bowl 52 Opening Night: Tom Brady Doesn’t Want Inappropriate Radio Host Fired

Saint Paul, Minn – What do a shark, several (under) dog masks and Nancy Kerrigan have in common? They were all on the floor at Xcel Energy Center as the Eagles and Patriots spoke with the media for the first of several times this week. As Opening Nights go, this rendition was rather tame. Players, coaches and owners fielded questions about strategy, how the teams match up and what defines them.

“We’ve showed a lot of resiliency. Every year there is something,” said Tom Brady in reference to the Patriots’ string of controversy. “Individuals deal with things. We’ve dealt as a team. We’ve taken the punches, then fought right back.”

“The underdog is a matter of fact,” said Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. “I don’t think people anticipated Nick [Foles] was a big time quarterback. I understand that.”

The overall lack of brash talkers and renown names contributed to the more muted sessions. But this was Opening Night and there had to be some dose of ridiculousness. A station from China asked players to read something about the Year of the Dog in Chinese. Other players were asked to pick XFL names in honor of the newly announced league in which Vince McMahon is pouring $100 million. Pats safety Duron Harmon was asked to wear a sombrero. Brady was asked about his man crush. (Hint: It’s not Jimmy Garoppolo). There were fireworks. In an arena.

Still, relevancy took center stage. Brady showed great compassion when asked to address the biggest story of early Super Bowl week, a Boston radio host inexplicably calling his 5-year-old daughter an “annoying pissant.”

“We all have careers and make mistakes,” he said. “I’d hate for someone to have to change their life over something like that. That was certainly not what he intended.”

Brady was the centerpiece for the Patriots session as was Nick Foles for the Eagles’ later version. Foles and the Eagles were booed when they were introduced shortly before 9PM by a crowd swarming with Vikings fans. They should get used to it. The week is still young and Minnesotans are still reeling.

We at TFG continued our time honored tradition of posing the same question to a bevy of figures. This year’s version: If you could change one NFL rule, what would it be? You will be stunned to read Bill Belichick’s answer at the end.

Eagles TE Brent Celek: I’m not a big fan of the catch rule. It’s too hard to tell.

Eagles DT Fletcher Cox: You can celebrate now. Defensive holding on the defensive lineman. That rule has to go. How can you get holding on the defensive linemen? I got called for one this year, by the way, that’s why I got so fired up about it. But I think it’s…yeah we’re not going to talk about that.

Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery: That catch rule is pretty crazy. You don’t know what is and isn’t a catch these days. Against Atlanta, one of the catches before the last catch wasn’t a catch but the play before…I don’t know. I think they need to do a better job of figuring out what is a catch and is not a catch.

Eagles RB Darren Sproles: We got to move back the kickoff. We want more kickoff returns for touchdowns. Everybody is kneeling now.

Patriots DE: Trey Flowers: Quarterbacks. You know how QBs. You almost can’t hit them now. It is what it is.

Patriots ST Matthew Slater: Move kickoffs back.

Patriots safety Patrick Chung: Another day off.

Patriots CB: Stephon Gilmore: The yardage on the pass interference rule.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick: I don’t know. I’m just focused on the Philadelphia Eagles.