NFL: Patriots, fans celebrate with snowy parade
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick hold Super Bowl trophies during a rally Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Boston to celebrate Sunday’s 34-28 win over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game in Houston. (Barry Chin /The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
Members of the New England Patriots hold up Super Bowl trophies and gesture to the crowd during a rally Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Boston to celebrate Sunday’s 34-28 win over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game in Houston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
NEW YORK—Thousands of New England Patriots supporters filled Boston streets on a cold and snowy Tuesday for the NFL team’s Super Bowl 51 victory celebration parade.
The Patriots defeated Atlanta 34-28 in overtime on Sunday in Houston, bringing star quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick their fifth NFL crowns.
READ: Brady leads biggest Super Bowl comeback, Patriots win in OT
Riding in duck boats, a trademark land and water vehicle familiar to the Boston faithful, the Patriots slowly made their way down Boylston Street in downtown Boston on the way to City Hall.
Fans chanted Brady’s name at times and he even caught a football and threw it back with a perfect spiral to a telecaster. At City Hall, a pep rally allowed Brady to speak with the fans.
“One more,” Brady yelled. “I told you we were going to bring this sucker home and we brought it home. Thank you guys. We do it for you.
“These aren’t easy to do, but this team gave everything it had and… damn, that game was hard. That game was real hard, but you know what, we’re going to remember this moment for the rest of our lives.”
Brady threw for a Super Bowl record 466 yards and two touchdowns to earn a fourth Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award.
READ: Brady gives credit to his mom, White for Super Bowl MVP win
Patriots owner Robert Kraft called Brady and Belichick the greatest of all time, using the initials G.O.A.T.
“There has been a lot of talk over the last couple weeks about goats,” Kraft said. “And you all know we have the G.O.A.T. when it comes to players in Tom Brady. We have the G.O.A.T. when it comes to coaches in Bill Belichick. And I (want) you to know that my family and our organization feel that we have the G.O.A.T. of fans on the planet.”
Belichick led fans in chants of “No days off”.
“These players, they work harder than any team I’ve ever coached,” Belichick said. “They came to work every day and there were no days off.”
Fans watch a parade for the New England Patriots, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, through Copley Square in Boston, to celebrate the team’s 34-28 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Sunday’s NFL Super Bowl 51 football game in Houston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
