03:48 PM EDT on Monday, May 10, 2004

By JOHN E. MULLIGAN
Journal Washington bureau

AP photo President Bush, left, smiles at Patriots coach Bill Belichick after cracking a joke about the coach's word efficiency. The president joked that the coach -- a man of few words when visiting the White House two years ago -- this year said even fewer when presenting a commemorative ball.

Video

Watch the Rose Garden ceremony

WASHINGTON -- President Bush welcomed "the mighty New England Pats" for a second visit to the Rose Garden today, saluting their second Super Bowl championship and the morale building value that U.S. athletes bring to American troops around the world.

The president kept most of his remarks on a lighter note during the brief ceremony, which was Webcast live on the White House site.

He jokingly suggested that quarterback Tom Brady could show him what it's like to be a "“real celebrity."

He paid tribute to Patriots owner Robert Kraft's market savvy for seeing to it that the Patriots won every home game.

And he took note of place kicker Adam Vinaitieri's “coolness under fire,” asking the kicker to give him some pointers before press conferences.

Bush also noted fans gathered in the Rose Garden today for the ceremony and made particular references to fans “wearing the uniforms of the United States military.”

“I can’t tell you how important it is for them to see the action from home, to see the great players performing on the field of play,” he said.

From Kraft, the president accepted a Patriots' locker-room jersey emblazoned on the back with the name Bush and the number one. He got a commemorative football from coach Bill Belichick and a big laugh by noting that the taciturn coach had limited his remarks to two words…: "“Mr. President."

Then Belichick handed off the ball to the president and said, to more laughter, “"Congratulations."”

The Patriots earned their repeat moment in the Rose Garden sun today after winningthis year's Super Bowl, 32-29, against the Carolina Panthers on Feb. 1.

The team won its first Super Bowl, 20-17, over the St. Louis Rams on Feb 3, 2002.

Bush told the team, dressed in suits and ties, and lined up on steps behind him, that he hoped they would return to the Rose Garden again, adding, "My hope, of course, is that I’m back here to see you again next year."

-- With projo.com staff reports