NFL: All business enterprise no excitement as Super Bowl 7 days receives off to tranquil start off

(Reuters) – The initially indicators that this is likely to be a pretty diverse Tremendous Bowl week came early on Monday when the normally glitzy Opening Night festivities have been replaced by a dry mid-morning kick-off to U.S. sport’s most significant occasion.

Just before COVID-19 compelled a rewrite of the Super Bowl plan, the script called for airport image oppportunities adopted by some Opening Night time zaniness to lighten the temper prior to teams having down to the really serious business of getting ready for Sunday’s National Soccer League championship match.

But this yr, to limit publicity to COVID-19, the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs will not even get there in Tampa right until Saturday although the Buccaneers, the very first group to enjoy in and host a Super Bowl, began the 7 days in virtual solitary confinement fielding issues on Zoom.

At earlier Opening Nights, fireworks and thumping music delivered the soundtrack as hundreds of gridiron lovers paid for the pleasure of observing media from close to the world do their work opportunities — inquiring queries.

A televised primary time issue-and-solution free-for-all for 1000’s of media in a packed arena where very little was out of bounds, Opening Night for some players and coaches was a grim obligation but most experienced developed to embrace the madness.

The whole function on Monday, however, had all the excitement of a shareholder meeting.

There ended up plenty of Tremendous Bowl-related issues but none of the unforgettable unusual and whacky audio bites from concerns asked by interlopers dressed as super heroes and tremendous models.

Crazy Working day

For Super Bowl veterans like Tampa quarterback Tom Brady, who will be participating in in his 10th championship recreation, there appeared to be disappointment as he stared blankly into a monitor in its place of out on dozens of cameras and hundreds of media.

“How appear I don’t get to see them at all, how occur I just get to see me?,” quizzed Brady. “It’s a crazy media working day. I’m sitting down below in an vacant home

“It’s really different than the other 9 experiences.”

The 43-year-previous Brady did not have to industry any proposals from an interviewer carrying a wedding ceremony costume or consider issues from an impersonator sporting a Tom Brady mask inquiring what he thinks of Tom Brady.

This yr Media Day was all small business.

Rob Gronkowski, the Bucs gregarious restricted finish who usually basks in the glow of the spotlight, also acknowledged that this year’s practical experience was not fairly the identical.

“I’m just sitting down here in a space by myself appropriate now,” he mentioned. “There’s no 1 all-around, so like the juices aren’t flowing as a great deal as if you’re in a space with media persons going insane, inquiring inquiries, enthusiasts cheering, songs heading.

“It continue to is Super Bowl Week but it is thoroughly different and, for a guy like myself, you appreciate all that, all that media, all that focus, like all that exhilaration.

“But I imply we’re in a pandemic ideal now.”