HOUSTON -- New England Patriots reserve running back Mike Cloud didn't mince words yesterday when it came to describing the experience at Super Bowl XXVIII Media Day: "It's like a zoo," he said.
"There are just a ton of questions," said the Portsmouth native as hundreds media types swarmed around him and his teammates at Reliant Stadium. "But it's fun. You meet a lot of people from different parts of the country."
Before the Patriots and the Carolina Panthers got back to preparing for Sunday's game, each team spent an hour yesterday morning facing an onslaught of journalists, television personalities, photographers and cameramen. There were representatives from all walks of the media, ranging from the standard NFL beat writers to entertainment television.
"I've never seen media like this ever," said Pats safety Rodney Harrison. "When I was in San Diego and we got to the Super Bowl, we had a lot of media, but nothing like this. This is crazy."
With the more high profile players stationed at podiums along the edge of the field, others sitting up in the stands and others milling around on the sideline, they fielded a wide range of questions, did promos for various radio and television stations and fulfilled any number of other odd requests.
Jamil Soriano, a guard/tackle on New England's practice squad, agreed to read a list of bogus rumors for Los Angeles-based Spike TV. "I'm just passing this on," said Soriano reading off of a cue card, "But there's talk that Tom Brady once kissed Marsha, Marsha, Marsha."
There were plenty of the more serious X's and O's questions about Sunday's game and how the Pats and the Panthers feel they match up in the NFL's showdown of the year.
And then there were the not-so-serious questions, like the ones being pitched by a green and orange caped crusader named "Pick Boy" for example. The "reporter" from the kids' television network Nickelodeon asked Patriots quarterback Tom Brady how he feels about his hair getting "messed up" from wearing a football helmet.
Representing Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids, 13-year-old cub reporter Justin Phillips asked players to take part in a spelling bee and tried to stump them with questions about the opposing team. (Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi forgot the second "m" in Carolina QB Jake Delhomme's last name, but correctly identified the roman numeral for 38.)
Phillips also went around trying to guess players' weights, that is until 300-pound New England defensive lineman Ty Warren broke the scale.
Mitch Fatel, an intern for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, convinced players to do all sorts of crazy things. Carolina tackle Tutan Reyes agreed to let him "jiggle his belly," when Fatel told him the Panthers would win the Super Bowl if he did. Panther Melvin Tuten agreed to wear a candy necklace for good luck. And flashing a pearly white smile, defensive end Mike Rucker was glad to offer Fatel tips on how to brush his teeth.
Patriots tight end Christian Fauria asked more questions than he answered yesterday, as he agreed to do some sideline reporting for a Boston television station.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do," he said, thoroughly enjoying the chance to interview his teammates. "I told myself I was going to be myself and have a good time and whatever happens happens. As long as I don't put my foot in my mouth too many times, I think the day will be a good day. I'm having fun with it. Then after this, we'll totally shut it down and get back to work."
Of the many questions asked of them yesterday, the players seemed to agree upon the "dumbest" question of all -- Are you excited to be at the Super Bowl?
"I think that is the oddest one," said Cloud. "Of course we're all happy to be here. All the hard work paid off. There's 32 teams and only two make it, and just one of the 32 walks away with a victory. So it's been a very exciting time."
