Patriots happy to settle into routine
INDIANAPOLIS -- Since arriving here Sunday afternoon, the Patriots' time on the Super Bowl site involved gaining their bearings, exploring the city and dealing with the throngs of media thirsting for content.
On Monday, amid unfamiliar routines and territory, the Patriots happily found normalcy.
"It's always a little different when you're on the road, but once you step on the field, the field is still 100 yards, 52 yards or 53 yards across," running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis said. "It felt like a practice field. I don't care if we're practicing in the back yard or wherever it's at, I'm just excited to go out there and play ball."
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Excited and relieved were the emotions coming from the Patriots following their workout Monday. They left Boston to a wild pep rally in front of tens of thousands of fans and were plopped into downtown Indianapolis at the epicenter of the crazy Super Bowl surroundings.
None of the waves of reporters or foreign street signs existed at the Colts practice facility, however. The return of hash marks and sidelines couldn't come soon enough.
"Coming off the big pep rally that we had before we left was kind of cool, then you get on a plane and it's still kind of surreal," safety Devin McCourty said. "But, as soon as we got there and put our equipment on and went out to practice, it was like right back to work."
Bill Belichick didn't ease his team into the work week, either. The coach opted for a full-pads practice to open the workouts. His players understood the message delivered. The business aspect of this trip is officially under way.
"This was an important day to just kind of set the tone," McCourty said. "When we got here and going out last night to get something to eat, you don't want it to feel like a vacation. Waking up this morning, going to meetings, going over to the facility, going to practice, guys started to go through their natural routine of the week. We get in routines and once we get in it, we don't know anything else."
Serious business
Most have noted how laid back and relaxed Belichick seemed during the first few days of the week. He has been snapping off jokes and playing around with reporters more than normal. He even uttered self-deprecation Sunday about how he has seen more hospitality in Indianapolis since he famously failed to convert on fourth-and-2 against the Colts a few years ago.
According to his players, however, the joking ended as soon as he left the podium.
"No," wide receiver Deion Branch said when asked if Belichick appears looser. "It's serious. There's no jokes going on with us."
Daily Gronk
The latest update on tight end Rob Gronkowski's injured left ankle came from Belichick on Monday. He said Gronkowski didn't practice. Not shockingly, he didn't go into any further detail.
Vollmer healing
Offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer hasn't played since Nov. 12, but Belichick sounded optimistic he could see the only German-born player in the NFL on the field Sunday.
"He practiced [Monday]," Belichick said. "We'll see how the week goes and how he holds up but there's definitely a possibility. I don't really know if we'll know that before we put him through the whole week of practice."
Wilfork in water?
Deion Branch couldn't help but joke when asked about the athleticism of 6-foot-2, 325-pound lineman Vince Wilfork. Belichick told a story of Wilfork catching a punt at the end of a practice during his rookie year to win a bet that gave the team a day off. The coach went on to express how impressive Wilfork was in running down Baltimore's Joe Flacco and Ray Rice while playing in the area of his 60th snap last week.
Branch picked a different anecdote.
"He talks about swimming all the time," Branch said. "He's a guy that can swim like a whale, man."
