McCourty, Slater Reflect On Super Bowl Win & Offseason Fun
BOSTON (CBS) -- The New England Patriots are back at Gillette Stadium, ready to begin the process that goes with defending a Super Bowl championship.
That defense began on Monday, when the team reported for Organized Team Activities (OTAs), their first step towards a new year.
But that didn't stop them from reflecting back on what could go down as one of the best Super Bowls ever played. Team captains Devin McCourty and Matthew Slater were the first Patriots to address the media since the start of OTAs, and both reflected on their 28-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX on Tuesday.
"It's been fun," McCourty said of the last two months. "I guess you never really think about what you do after you win, but I had a good time and celebrated some. I'm ready to work now."
"It's a tremendous experience. That's why we all play the game, to have a chance to win that game," said Slater. "I think I'll be able to better enjoy it when I'm retired. Now I'm focused on 2015. I had my time to enjoy it, many of us did and rightfully so, but now it's time to move forward."
But Slater certainly isn't going to sell hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy short.
"It's the best feeling in sports," he said. "You put so much into this game, sacrifice so much. To be able to get to that point and get over the hurdle, it really means a lot."
Slater said the Super Bowl win could only be topped by one thing: His wedding this offseason. Smart man, that Matthew Slater.
But as much as they enjoyed the win, don't think the team spent their offseason watching the Super Bowl on a continuous loop. McCourty said he watched the game again after the victory parade through Boston, but Slater has only seen the coaches film, which he watches after every game. He has yet to re-watch the whole game, but is still in amazement whenever he sees a replay of Malcolm Butler picking off Russell Wilson at the one-yard line.
"I mean, I still can't believe what happened. It was a tremendous play by a great young man, and a great team effort," he said. "There were a lot of plays in that game that enabled us to be victorious in the end."
The Patriots will head to the White House on Thursday to meet with President Barack Obama, a trip they will no doubt enjoy and cherish. But then they'll be focusing on one thing and one thing only, the 2015 season.
"We're going to enjoy it, and we should," said Slater, adding the visit will close the book on 2014. "Our focus needs to shift, because the other teams' focus has already shifted."
While the business of moving forward was one of the main topics on Tuesday, reporters also had some fun asking about individual celebrations throughout the offseason. First up was Tom Brady's cliff diving, which neither captain had too much of an issue with.
"I think Tom has a good handle of what he's doing," said Slater. "So I wasn't too worried about him."
But don't worry about them becoming lemmings and following Brady off that cliff.
"I wouldn't have jumped. I can't swim," said McCourty.
As for tight end Rob Gronkowski, McCourty said he doesn't have trouble keeping up with him on the field, but off the field is a whole other story.
"Maybe for like two days," McCourty said. "I'm not too old, so maybe for two days. But he'll probably outlast me after that."
But McCourty doesn't have any problem with Gronk enjoying life the way he does.
"I think it's cool," he said. "I think the good thing is every time that you see him, it looks like he just came out of a workout. I think people kind of forget that the guy is all about working out and having fun. I think he's always ready as a football player and whatever else he chooses to do is on him."
