Patriots, fans celebrate with snowy parade

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.

Riding in duck boat s, 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.

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.” — AFP