Tom Brady proves elusive on and off the field

SportsPulse: We take you to the press conference room to hear what Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and Rob Gronkowski have to say after their victory at the Super Bowl LIII.
USA TODAY (19659003) ATLANTA – Reporters are waiting for Tom Brady in his locker after the New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 on Sunday night at the Super Bowl LIII should give a new appreciation to this sneaky 41-year-old quarterback player.

Brady returned to his locker and prepared his gym bag before even taking off his uniform. Then a quarter of the Patriots dragged this bag into the shower area.

And after the owner of the Patriots, Robert Kraft, handed out the victory cigars, Brady was gone.

"He came in holding the trophy," he said. a security A goalkeeper at the Mercedes-Benz stadium who refused to identify near the Patriots team buses told USA TODAY Sports

Rob Gronkowski, on the contrary, was overrun by the media while he was leaving the locker room of the Patriots limping and snuggling. had a canned meal. So it was time to consider how Brady was escaping the post-game.

A few minutes after arriving in the locker room, Brady stood in front of his locker, lifted his right forefinger in the air and wrapped his left arm. around a smiling man. It was Alex Guerrero, his personal trainer.

In addition to his teammates and friends, Brady said that he wanted space. And then he went to work, quickly cleaning his locker and storing things in a gym bag. One of the first things to put in the bag: a small statue of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of Hinduism.

Or Remover of Obstacles, as Ganesha is also known and Brady had once again overcame obstacles – throws an interception on his first pass of the match, but ends 21 with 35 assists for a total of 262 yards and set the only Patriots touchdown with a nice 29-yard pass to Rob Gronkowski. And then inside the locker room, the distractions began.

Patriots carrying an oversized retro boombox – Bumpboxx – who unleashed hip-hop. [19659005] Patrick Chung, the mighty Patriots keeper who broke his right arm in the second half screaming in pain as a member of the team helped him get dressed.

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Kraft, owner of the Patriots, distributes victory cigars and talks with Devin and Jason McCourty's cornerba ck, the first two identical twins to play in the Super Bowl.

And suddenly, Brady 's locker looked very, very empty.

Four hangers.

Two sandwich halves not consumed in Saran Wrap.

A black Sharpie – but no Brady to sign autographs. And no Brady to answer questions (although he had a group interview since a podium earlier).

Hustling to the cars got one in position to see Patriots coach Bill Belichick and his girlfriend Linda Holliday and then Gronkowski. But it was way too late to catch up with the 41-year-old neighborhood that was sacked only once Sunday night.

"The safety of the team told me not to let anyone pass," said the stadium security officer. In reality, journalists have no chance of succeeding.

Follow Josh Peter of USA TODAY Sports on Twitter @ joshlpeter11 .

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