FOXBORO -- Rob Ninkovich has heard there may be distractions during Super Bowl week, but he's not all that concerned about losing his focus in Indy.
He grew up in New Lenox, Illinois, just three hours northwest of Indianapolis. He went to college at Purdue in Richmond, Indiana "just down the street" from the Super Bowl host city, he says. He knows what Indy has -- and doesn't have -- to offer.
It isn't Miami; the nearest ocean-side night club is about 600 miles away. It isn't New Orleans; its version of Mardi Gras is the 500 Festival, a month of wholesome, family-friendly events leading up to the Indianapolis 500.
"It's not a very big city," Ninkovich admitted. "It's not gonna be warm. I'm gonna be alright to just stay in side with family, visit with my parents. It'll be fun."
But not too much fun, which is important.
There have been instances in which players have had issues staying on the straight-and-narrow during the week leading up to the Super Bowl. The long layoff combined with the parties and general hoopla surrounding of the big game have taken their toll on teams in the past.
Most famously, the day before Super Bowl XXXIII in Miami, just hours after receiving the Bart Starr Award for his "high moral character," Eugene Robinson was arrested for offering an undercover policewoman 40 to perform a sex act. He played, but the Falcons lost to the Broncos, 34-19.
Two days before Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego, Oakland Raiders offensive lineman Barrett Robbins went missing. According to some teammates, the first-team all-pro and Pro Bowler went on a drunken binge in Tijuana. The Raiders lost to the Buccaneers, 48-21.
Trouble has come up after the game, too. Though he was eventually cleared of everything except an obstruction of justice charge, Ray Lewis was arrested as a suspect in a murder at a party following Super Bowl XXXIV. Patriots cornerback Willie Andrews was arrested two days after playing in the Super Bowl XLII and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Anything is possible, but something about the Midwestern temptations of Indianapolis seem to make these kinds of issues less likely.
For Ninkovich, even ticket requests -- a distraction for just about every player -- have been anything but. His family and his Purdue connections have left him alone for the most part.
"It's been kind of quiet," Ninkovich said.
"Just close family will be at the game. I couldn't get everybody tickets so just mom, dad, sister, nephew and fiance. That's it."
They will be there to share in the game Ninkovich has looked forward to since even before he was a Division 1 college prospect coming out out of Joliet Junior College.
"You wait your whole life to be in this moment right now," he said. "I'm going to enjoy it, but also stay focused on the job."
So focused he won't even have a chance to visit his hometown before the game?
"Not 'til I get back to Foxboro and get everything settled after the Super Bowl," Ninkovich said. "Then go back and celebrate."