Wilfork’s comments echoed the team’s general mood upon its arrival. They presented a united front of excitement about playing in the United Kingdom. Any veiled cynicism and expected kvetching about having to travel across the Atlantic Ocean to play a regular-season road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tomorrow at Wembley Stadium didn’t make it through customs.
Make no mistake, the Patriots will not remember their excursion fondly if they lose to the 0-6 Bucs, but touching down in London town has given the team an appreciation for the unique experience of traveling abroad to play a meaningful game.
“We understand what this means. We know we’re over here to play a game. We’re over here representing the NFL and the New England Patriots organization,’’ said Wilfork.
“First of all, we have to win. That’s what we came over here for. But to come out here a couple of days early gives us a chance to get out and see the history. We’ll take a day for that and go sightseeing and [today] pick it right back up. We came here for one reason only and that’s to be 5-2 going back home. We have to take care of business first. Like I said, if I like what I see I’ll come back on my own time.’’
It was an odd sight, the regal Brit Oval, which has hosted cricket matches since 1845, lined with yard markers and outfitted with temporary goal posts. The home pitch of the Surrey County Cricket Club was retrofitted as the Patriots’ place for a day, as the team had a refresher practice in shorts and light shoulder pads.
“There is a first time for everything,’’ said Wilfork of practicing on the cricket ground.
The historic and unusual backdrop even led Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who is so disciplined in his focus that he could show the Buckingham Palace guards a thing or two about stoicism, to drop his guard a bit about this being strictly a business trip.
