SANTA CLARA, Calif. — It was the Patriots’ day off, but 10 players still spoke to reporters, and nine were obligated to do so.

We last left you at Super Bowl LX Opening Night, which was held this year inside a drab, echoey convention center hall, rather than a football stadium, hockey rink or basketball arena, where the event typically takes place.

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I wrapped up the night writing more stories than I expected, one of which was the backstory behind Wes Welker getting benched in a divisional-round playoff game for making fun of then-Jets head coach Rex Ryan’s foot fetish.

A little story behind the story: Patriots outside linebackers coach Mike Smith mentioned after he was hired that he’s best friends with Wes Welker, and that he and Ryan used to mess with Welker before Jets-Patriots games. That immediately made me think of the infamous press conference in which Welker made 10 foot references and got benched for a series. All season, I was trying to find the perfect time to ask Smith about it, but I was never able to get him alone, and I didn’t want other reporters writing up the story. So, I found Smith, who might be the most interesting assistant coach I’ve ever covered, walking around by himself at media night and figured that was the perfect opportunity.

I also listened back to everything Drake Maye said at his podium and wrote up 11 things we learned about the Patriots quarterback. Tom Brady also mentioned on his podcast that he doesn’t have a dog in the fight of this year’s Super Bowl and that he’s not rooting for either team. Listen, I know Brady is a co-owner of the Raiders, and they’re likely going to hire Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as their head coach, but c’mon, Tom. You only played for the Patriots for 20 years. They built a statue of you outside of Gillette Stadium! We’re not asking you to join the cheerleaders’ squad, but you could at least throw a little support behind Robert Kraft, Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels.

I woke up to the news that Kraft was not going to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While that won’t get the same level of discussion as Bill Belichick’s snub, it’s almost as equally ridiculous. If you’re going to induct any owners, which the hall has, then you need to induct Kraft. How many owners in professional sports have had a better run in a 30-year span? The Patriots have made 11 Super Bowls with Kraft as the owner.

Our Celtics beat reporter, Zack Cox, who is covering Super Bowl week with us through Thursday, offered to write that up and throw it in our notes. I worked with Zack at NESN for years. This is the fifth Super Bowl we’ve covered together.

Next, we had a 9 a.m. shuttle to take from the media center in San Francisco to the Santa Clara Marriott, where the Patriots are staying. There, head coach Mike Vrabel held a press conference, and WR Kayshon Boutte, OT Will Campbell, OLB K’Lavon Chaisson, WR DeMario Douglas, LB Christian Elliss, S Jaylinn Hawkins, RB TreVeyon Henderson, NT Khyiris Tonga, LG Jared Wilson and S Craig Woodson spoke at podiums inside of a tent outside the hotel.

Players were off Tuesday, so the team and league obligated nine players to speak to reporters. Chaisson also volunteered, so the Patriots set up a 10th podium.

Boutte said his plan was to spend time with teammates after his hour-long media obligation was over. The Patriots have talked all year about how close they are as a team.

Douglas later said that he feels like he can talk to anyone on the team, whether they’re on offense or defense.

A couple of reporters from Germany and London stopped me to chat about the state of the Patriots. I answered a few questions on German TV and chatted with Skye Laurence Pank, of London, who asked Vrabel a question about the Seahawks’ pressure rate but propensity to give up yards after catch.

Vrabel gave his first question to Karen Guregian, formerly of the Herald and now at MassLive, as is typical. It was about Kraft’s hall snub. Vrabel’s response was similar to what he said when asked about Belichick not being first ballot: “I would just say that’s unfortunate. My experience is Robert is more than deserving. He’ll be in the hall of fame.”

Campbell was asked what he thinks about Lane Kiffin coming in to coach his old alma mater, LSU.

He said he was excited for LSU to make some noise and noted that Kiffin recruited him to go to Ole Miss. Campbell was later asked about his infamous predraft workout with Vrabel, when he knocked his future head coach on his butt during a blocking drill. Campbell said he took the Patriots contingent out to his favorite restaurant in Baton Route, La., Phil’s Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant.

I asked Chaisson if the Patriots’ Super Bowl run feels sweeter after he spent last season on the 4-13 Raiders. He said he was recently talking to linebacker Robert Spillane, who was also on that Raiders team, about how much life can change in one year.

Chaisson is one of many Patriots players having career years this season. He credited the team’s chemistry and relationship with the coaching staff for his success.

Henderson was asked why he wears No. 32, and he said he does it for his mom, since his grandfather, who was nicknamed “Airplane,” wore No. 32. Henderson said he used to be called Airplane and did a flying celebration. Ironically, when later asked about his greatest fear, Henderson said it was flying and that he wishes he could drive everywhere. It’s fitting for a running back to prefer a ground game.

Boutte was asked if he could accept an award for best performance, which game he would pick. He chose a 14-catch, 308-yard, three-touchdown showing against Ole Miss as a freshman at LSU. As for his favorite play, he said, “the next one.”

Reporters then took a media shuttle back over to San Francisco to the media center/radio row, where I podcasted with my Pats Chat co-host Michael Hurley and stopped to chat with friends. I saw a couple of former Patriots players, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and quarterback Joe Milton doing media over there.

Tomorrow: More player availability, plus takeaways from the media party at the EA Sports campus.