Countdown to Super Bowl XLVI - Patriots get a nice sendoff - Ingles

Several thousand Patriots fans poured into Gillette Stadium today to see the team off before they headed to Indianapolis this afternoon to prepare for the Super Bowl.

Patriots players wore suits as they walked onto the field to address the crowd, and several of them spoke to the seriousness of the trip they were about to undertake.

“We’re going down here on a business trip, and hopefully we’re bringing back a championship,” said linebacker Jerod Mayo.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick addressed the crowd very briefly, and he stressed to his players beforehand to keep their speeches short as well.

“We’re really excited about the trip,” Belichick said. “Appreciate the support. I’m sure we’ll see some of you out in Indy. Go Pats.”

The event was hosted by Patriots radio play-by-play announcer Gil Santos. About half a dozen players addressed the crowd, as did Patriots chairman Robert Kraft and team president Jonathan Kraft. The event was particularly poignant for the Kraft family after Myra Kraft passed away last year following a long battle with cancer.

“I’m a very spiritual person,” said Robert Kraft. “I know that a lot of you, just like our family, have lost dear ones recently. I want you to know that they are ardent Patriots fans. And they’ve all been smiling down on us over this past year. But especially this past game at this stadium, I saw one smiling face along with your dear ones, smiling down on us to make sure the end of the game went the way we wanted.”

The Patriots have dedicated their season to Kraft and to her life of service. As a tribute to her work, the team selected 10 New England residents from service industries across New England to go to the Super Bowl.

Kevin Faulk, Vince Wilfork, Wes Welker, Deoin Branch, and Tom Brady also addressed the crowd.

“It’s been a long, exciting, tough year,” said Wilfork. “Hopefully we go down to Indy and have one more win in us.”

Brady -- who is quarterbacking the Patriots to his fifth Super Bowl in 11 seasons -- said, “We’re going down there for one reason. We’re going to give it our best. Hopefully we have a lot more people at our party next weekend.”

The Patriots arrived in Indianapolis Sunday. Their opponents, the New York Giants, are scheduled to arrive Monday.

(source Boston Globe)