The English writers were worrying what all those 300 pounder in cleats were going to do to the wicket at the Oval, one of cricket's most hallowed grounds, where the Patriots practiced. New England's players didn't seem to realize that this was where Jim Laker once took 19 Australian wickets in one test match.

 

But Tom Brady stepped up to the microphone in the pavilion and immediately said, “so this is where England beat Australia for the Ashes this summer, huh?” and made it sound like he cared.

 

In fact, although the Patriots were following the sort of “we look at this as a business trip” approach pioneered by Tom Coughlin's Giants in their 2007 visit to London, they appeared to be enjoying the changed atmosphere, helped by an unusually balmy English autumn day. Remember too, in Britain “Indian summer” might well be a cool side dish served with your hot curry.

 

Five players were made available to the media for outdoor interviews, and the locals quickly got a lesson in New England hospitality from the traveling horde who accompanied the team. Personally, I found it extremely polite that no one corrected the reporter who referred to the Boston-London trip as a “cross-country” flight. That's a pretty liquid country down there, Yank.

 

They'd landed before the sun rose, and now, just after noon, they were waiting for practice to start, and maybe wondering why the Brits kept asking about the short trip – previously teams have flown in on Tuesday mornings.

 

Didn't the Patriots like London? Vince Wilfork held court on one podium, Junior Seau right behind him. When I asked if he'd change his name to Senior Seau, he groaned. Who would have thought he'd heard it before?

 

Sebastian Vollmer talked about growing up a Rhein Fire fan, causing an audible sigh from those of us based in Britain who used to relish each spring football season with NFL Europe, and particularly those trips to bars in the old town of beer-sozzled Dussledorf.

 

On the other hand, American reporters kept asking about the trans-Atlantic flight (just a clue in case some of you are as geographically challenged as that reporter). Wes Welker praised both the British stewardesses and the sleeper-seats, though not together. And thinking about the seats, in fairness you must concede he is the Patriots player best-designed to fit into one of them.

 

Welker also told us he thought it funny that everyone on the team was wearing casual clothes for sleeping on the plane, except Tom Brady, who wore a suit.

 

Just then, it was announced that Brady was ready to give his press conference inside, and the scrum around Wes bolted for the pavilion. Maybe it's the suits.

 

Inside, Brady was in a simple red T-shirt. But when asked about Welker's jest about his suits, Brady replied quickly, "I don't take fashion advice from Wes."

 

The British clearly see Brady and Giselle as the American equivalent of "Posh and Becks," though frankly, Brady's won a whole lot more than David Beckham, talks a whole lot better, and not only would no male in his right mind walk past Giselle to get to the cobra-faced Victoria Beckham, but Giselle dresses Tom a whole lot better too.

 

Just ask Wes Welker.