VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL AND WIDE RECEIVER KAYSHON BOUTTE, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS HEAD COACH MIKE MCDONALD AND WIDE RECEIVER JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA (COMPLETE SHOTLIST TO FOLLOW) SHOWS: SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 3, 2026) (NFL NETWORK – Editorial use only. Must courtesy 'NFL Network'. No resales. No monetisation.) 1. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL SPEAKING AT SUPER BOWL DAILY MEDIA AVAILABILITY 2. (SOUNDBITE)(English) PATRIOTS HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL AFTER BEING ASKED WHY PEOPLE LIKE TO SEE UNDERDOGS DO WELL, SAYING: "No, we've always tried to focus on how things are going to go right and not worry about what could happen and go wrong. I think I would say the majority of Americans or a majority of people probably are more underdogs than they are favorites. Favorites are the talented, elite, top 10 percent. Most groups are made out of a lot of people that are average and 80%, and we're trying to make the 80% a little bit better. Talent's talent. There's a lot of things that are God-given. We try to focus on things that we can realistically improve." 3. WHITE FLASH 4. (SOUNDBITE)(English) PATRIOTS HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL AFTER BEING ASKED IF LEGALIZED GAMBLING PUTS ANY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON THE TEAM, SAYING: "The pressure in our business is always going to be there, whether people wager on it legally or not. We understand the nature of this business and how competitive it is. As you can see, the turnover in coaching staffs, turnovers in rosters, the draft every year, how competitive this business is as it starts to bleed into college and the landscape that we're starting to see. So, gambling has nothing to do with our willingness to work, the pressure that we're under and the expectations." 5. PATRIOTS WIDE RECEIVER KAYSHON BOUTTE SPEAKING AT REPORTERS AT PLAYERS MEDIA AVAILABILITY 6. (SOUNDBITE)(English) PATRIOTS WIDE RECEIVER KAYSHON BOUTTE AFTER BEING ASKED HOW IT IS PLAYING FOR COACH VRABEL, SAYING: 7. WHITE FLASH 8. (SOUNDBITE)(English) PATRIOTS WIDE RECEIVER KAYSHON BOUTTE AFTER BEING ASKED HOW THIS SEASON HAS BEEN FOR HIM, SAYING: SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 3, 2026) (NFL NETWORK – Editorial use only. Must courtesy 'NFL Network'. No resales. No monetisation.) 9. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS HEAD COACH MIKE MCDONALD SPEAKING AT MEDIA AVAILABILITY 10. (SOUNDBITE)(English) SEAHAWKS HEAD COACH MIKE MCDONALD AFTER BEING ASKED WHY PEOPLE LIKE TO SEE UNDERDOGS DO WELL, SAYING: 11. WHITE FLASH 12. (SOUNDBITE)(English) SEAHAWKS HEAD COACH MIKE MCDONALD AFTER BEING ASKED ABOUT BEING DEFENSIVE FOCUSED HEAD COACH WINNING SUPER BOWL, SAYING: 13. SEAHAWKS WIDE RECEIVER JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA SPEAKING AT PLAYERS MEDIA AVAILABILITY 14. (SOUNDBITE)(English) SEAHAWKS WIDE RECEIVER JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA AFTER BEING ASKED HOW SUPER BOWL IS GOING SO FAR, SAYING: 15. WHITE FLASH 16. (SOUNDBITE)(English) SEAHAWKS WIDE RECEIVER JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, WHO IS FROM TEXAS AND IS A DALLAS MAVERICKS FAN, AFTER BEING ASKED HOW HE FELT WHEN LUKA DONCIC WAS TRADED TO LAKERS, SAYING: STORY: New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel not only feels at ease with his team's underdog status, he also sees it as an integral part of American culture as they get ready for their Super Bowl showdown with Seattle. "The majority of Americans, or a majority of people, probably are more underdogs than they are favorites," Vrabel explained during Tuesday's press conference in Santa Clara. "Favorites are the talented, elite, top 10%. And most groups are made out of a lot of people that are average and 80%, and we're trying to make the 80% a little bit better," he added. It's a philosophy that has carried the Patriots to their first Super Bowl under Vrabel's leadership, a remarkable achievement in his inaugural season with the team. The 50-year-old Ohio native won three Super Bowl championships with the Patriots as a player. The former linebacker is now looking to join an elite group of coaches who have won a Super Bowl both as a player and as a head coach. As a player, Vrabel was known for his versatility as a two-way force. In Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers in 2004, he caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the fourth quarter, while also recording two sacks and a forced fumble. (Production: David Grip)
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