|
 Manning, the 18-year veteran and future Hall of Famer who may be
playing his last game in the Feb. 7 clash at Levi's Stadium in Santa
Clara, wore a conservative blue suit and orange tie representing the
Broncos' team colors for the trip.
Newton, the irrepressible, buoyant spirit of the upstart Panthers,
rocked a pair of zebra-print trousers and a black leather hoodie as
he disembarked the team plane that landed about an hour after
Denver's.
The 26-year-old Newton has vowed he will remain the same flamboyant
quarterback that led Carolina to the NFL's best regular season
record at 15-1 with his exuberant brand of passing and rushing as
the league's top dual-threat.
While Denver is the league's top defensive team, the Panthers are
the league's highest scoring offense.
Manning, 39, the longtime face of the National Football League and
one of its most marketable stars, has battled injuries and
diminished skills and now strives to play mistake-free to give the
team's vaunted defense a chance to control the game.
Both teams were given rousing send-offs by their fans before making
the trek to the Bay Area for next Sunday's Super Bowl.
Oddsmakers have made the Panthers a six-point favorite in the early
betting.
Other than Newton's bold fashion statement and colorful trousers,
described by the team's website as "Versace Yellow Barocco
Zebraprint pants", most of the players on both teams arrived on the
breezy sun-kissed day in dress suits.
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"Once we get on the bus, the trip starts," Broncos' linebacker
Shaquil Barrett told his team's web reporter before the team left
for their plane ride.
"It's business from there. We going to have today, maybe, to have a
little fun but it's a business trip. It's not no vacation. We're
ready to work to get the job done."
The Panthers and Broncos both largely put their game-plans together
in practice back home, leaving just some fine tuning ahead of the
big game.
Denver, playing in their record-tying eighth Super Bowl game, are
going for their third Lombardi Trophy.
Carolina are aiming for their first championship in their second
appearance in the Super Bowl.
(Editing by Andrew Both)
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