INDIANAPOLIS —
Thursday was the final day players will be made available before Super Bowl XLVI, and it’s probably just as well.
Storylines, evidently, are beginning to run dry. And New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was caught in the middle.
The New York Post obtained a private email sent by Brady’s wife, Gisele Bundchen, to friends and family and turned it into a front page story for Thursday’s edition.
The email implored recipients to “pray” for Brady and his teammates and to send “positive energy” to the team. The Post took it as a sign that Bundchen is not confident in her husband’s chances against the New York Giants on Sunday.
Brady claimed to have no knowledge of the story, but he was well aware of the second controversy he stirred.
During Wednesday’s press conference, Brady made a disparaging remark about the hotels in Buffalo, N.Y. He apologized Thursday morning, and noted he was the cause of the team’s regular-season loss in the city on Sept. 25.
“Buffalo was tough on us this year in Buffalo,” he said. “I should have picked a non-NFL city for that (comment). Any time you throw four picks, it’s going to be tough.”
Hoosier hospitality
Indianapolis Colts fans have made no secret of their preference for the Giants.
But Brady said he and his teammates have felt at home this week in enemy territory.
“It’s a bit surreal to be playing in Indy’s home stadium and to be practicing at their facility,” he said. “I think all of us have enjoyed the experience. It’s been a fun place to be this week. We’re certainly appreciative of all the fans here. There have been a lot of Colts jerseys out there. We’ve had a great welcome here.”
Daily Gronk beat
Little has changed with the status of tight end Rob Gronkowski.
He’s still not practicing. He says his ankle still is improving. And he’s still listening to his trainers’ advice.
He also knows time is growing short, and he’s growing anxious to play.
“Every day is an inch closer to game day,” Gronkowski said. “This is wild.
This is a dream come true that we’re going to play in the Super Bowl. We all got here together, we worked hard. It’s going to be a lot of fun when it comes to it.”
Gronkowski said he will make the final call on whether he’s ready to play on game day.
Parade talk
New York Giants defensive end Chris Canty told the media he expects New York to host a championship parade next week.
Given a chance for rebuttal, the Patriots declined to take the bait. “We’re just going to go play Sunday and see what happens,” linebacker Rob Ninkovich said. “We’re working hard this week to prepare well for their team, and we’re going to go play them tough. We’re not going to say anything. We’re going to just go play.”
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