INDIANAPOLIS -- The Patriots were still feeling the good vibes from their warm sendoff at Gillette Stadium after landing in Indianapolis late Sunday afternoon.
"We had a good day," said Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who was dressed in a suit for the first press conference of Super Bowl week. "We had a brief meeting this morning. Took care of a few things. Had a great turnout at the stadium. I don't know how many fans there were, but the whole lower deck was packed. The whole side of the field, all the way around the end zone. Our fans have been great all year."
Twenty-five thousand fans turned out for the pep rally, according to the Patriots.
One of the highlights of the day came when Tom Brady told the crowd he hoped to see even more fans back in a week, implying that a Super Bowl celebration could be in order.
The words got the crowd of Patriots fans cheering, and Brady was asked them Sunday night. Was he making a prediction? Was he hoping to inspire the team?
"It was a pep rally," Brady said plainly.
"Certainly the players were excited," he added. "I know the 25,000 fans that were there were excited as well. It's great to see the support. We get great support home and away. Hopefully we'll see some Patriots jerseys in the stands next Sunday night."
When the Patriots landed, they quickly felt Indy's Midwestern hospitality.
"In the city driving through, everyone was very excited, very welcoming," Wes Welker said. "We're just very fortunate, very blessed to be here. We're gonna try to live it up this week."
Even Belichick -- coach of the Colts' arch rival -- felt warmly received.
"I never had too much hospitality here until I went for it on fourth-and-2," he said with a smile. "Then since then, been greeted in a lot more friendly manner than I have been in the past."