The first signs that this is going to be a very different Super Bowl week came early on Monday when the usually glitzy Opening Night festivities were replaced by a dry mid-morning kick-off to U.S. sport¡¯s biggest party.
Before COVID-19 forced a rewrite of the Super Bowl program, the script called for airport photo opportunities followed by some Opening Night zaniness to lighten the mood prior to teams getting down to the serious business of preparing for Sunday¡¯s National Football League championship game.
But this year, to limit exposure to COVID-19, the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs will not even arrive in Tampa until Saturday, while the Buccaneers, the first team to play in and host a Super Bowl, began the week in virtual solitary confinement fielding questions on Zoom.
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