Patriots celebrate with parade

BOSTON (AP) — With cheers of “We want seven!” and “Next year, right here!” hundreds of thousands of jubilant fans jammed downtown Boston on Tuesday for a parade celebrating the New England Patriots' sixth Super Bowl title.

A party atmosphere enveloped the city on the unseasonably mild day. Red, white and blue confetti rained down and music blared as fans packed along sidewalks hoping to catch a glimpse of quarterback Tom Brady, coach Bill Belichick and the rest of the beloved team.

It's a familiar feeling in Boston. The city's teams have now won twelve championships since 2001. Just four months ago, the city feted the Red Sox for their World Series victory over another Los Angeles team, the Dodgers.

Boston resident Tom Collins was beaming as he took in the spectacle across from the city's historic Common, his ticket from this year's Super Bowl dangling from a lanyard around his neck.

After celebrating in Atlanta, Collins said he and his wife drove nearly non-stop to get home for the parade.

“We had to be a part,” he said as he smoked a cigar and held up a homemade Vince Lombardi trophy. “We had to bring the trophy back to Boston.”

Leigh Hickman, of Swanzey, New Hampshire, drew cheers as he stalked the crowd wearing a rubber goat mask, a Tom Brady shirt and a sign that read: “We're Still Here.”