The Patriots take the field to “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne. The Seahawks elect to go with The Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony.”
Two very different moods.
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The Patriots and Seahawks have announced their inactives for Super Bowl XLIX.
Inactive for New England are running backs Jonas Gray and James White, receivers Josh Bryce and Bryan Tyms, defensive linemen Zach Moore and Joe Vellano, and offensive lineman Jordan Devey.
Inactive for Seattle are quarterback B.J. Daniels, receiver Kevin Norwood, cornerback Marcus Burnley, defensive end David King, and offensive linemen Patrick Lewis, Keavon Milton and Garry Gilliam.
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Is the famed 12th Man boisterous enough to blow the roof off a stadium?
We won’t find out in Super Bowl XLIX.
The retractable roof at University of Phoenix Stadium will be open for the game, and so far the skies are cloudless. There was some doubt earlier in the day about whether the roof would be open for the game, because it was a rainy week and an uncharacteristically foggy morning (causing prolonged flight delays).
Arizona has one of the NFL’s four retractable-roof venues, with the others in Dallas, Houston and Indianapolis.
Under normal circumstances, it’s the home team that decides if the roof will be open, and that team has until 90 minutes before kickoff to make that call. Once opened, the roof cannot be closed except for hazardous conditions or rain.
According to NFL rules: “The roof will not be closed for rain any time after the five-minute mark of the fourth quarter, including overtime.” However, it can be closed at any time because of hazardous conditions such as lightning.
Former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner preferred to play with the roof closed.
“For me, it was just a feel thing,” Warner said in a text Sunday. “Just think I was so used to it. But it made no difference in throwing the ball.”
As for the noise factor, it might be louder in the stadium if the roof is closed. Then again, the Seahawks’ and Patriots’ home fields are open-air stadiums, and their crowds can get plenty loud.
Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
