Super Bowl 50 players have fun with opening night
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The overriding theme for both the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers at Super Bowl 50's opening night event was "Hey, we're all just here to have fun."
The tone of the evening, of course, lends itself to that as the NFL media takes a step back to allow the entertainment media to step forward and ask all their lifestyle and off-beat questions, with the understanding the football talk will come at the news conferences at the team hotels Wednesday and Thursday.
Particularly at ease as the Broncos kicked off the show was Peyton Manning, looking much like a man determined to enjoy his "last rodeo."
Manning came across as more the TV commercial pitch man than Hall of Fame quarterback as questions came from all corners, but it was his answer to a football question that raised more than a few ears and eyebrows.
Asked how strong his arm would be for the game Sunday, Manning said, "Honestly, my arm hasn't been the same since I had the neck injury four years ago. I did some permanent damage, and I've worked really hard to get to the point where I can kind of just manage it, but my arm isn't the same."
Having covered Manning's four Super Bowl appearances, his frank reply was a surprise.
DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller were at podiums next to each other and as animated as any Broncos at the show.
Ware enjoyed telling the media about his favorite cartoon characters and what it meant to him to be at the Super Bowl at this stage of his career. Miller was animated and bubbly but also surprisingly deferential to Ware.
At one point, Miller credited Ware for much of his success this season, saying, "It's just an unbelievable blessing to play with someone like DeMarcus. He's seen every move and every trick a blocker has and he's always teaching the rest of us how to be better."
If either side had an edge in cockiness or bluster, it was the Panthers.
Cam Newton showed up in a Super Bowl towel molded into a dew rag on his head and Josh Norman in a full mask that resembled a Batman mask in Panthers blue, including the team logo.
Norman avoided serious answers to any questions for the first 15 minutes or so, trying to sound more like a super hero than a football player before he finally removed the mask and began to act more normal.
Newton is an extremely impressive young man with a massive smile who easily commands a crowd and seemed to be on a mission to hit all the right notes.
Asked what he hoped to enjoy the most this week about the Bay Area and the Super Bowl, he talked about what a privilege it is to be in the Super Bowl, how it's going to be a business trip for him and his only goal is to win a championship.
This is the second Super Bowl for Charles "Peanut" Tillman, and when asked how disappointed he is to not play because of his torn ACL he said, "Hey, my injury is what it is. I'm here to do whatever it is to help my teammates win rings.
"I'll coach 'em up on the sidelines, fetch 'em water and towels, whatever I can do to help my team win."
There was one revelation for me at opening night. In spite of everything we've heard, I would have bet dollars to doughnuts Thomas Davis would not be able to go Sunday with his surgically repaired arm.
But listening to Davis talk about his commitment to playing and how he has been experimenting with the trainers and doctors on how to protect the arm, I came away convinced he will play Sunday.
It was clear both teams had a lot of fun, something that doesn't always happen enough for players and coaches at the Super Bowl.
• For more from Chicago Football editor Hub Arkush, visit chicagofootball.com. You can contact him at harkush@chicagofootball.com or follow on Twitter @Hub_Arkush.