Pats 'happy' with Colts' hospitality

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - "Nice to be in Indy, nicest I've ever seen in February."

Kind words from Patriots coach Bill Belichick, the man Colt fans love to hate.

After a warm welcome at Indianapolis International Airport, the Patriots arrived Sunday at their home away from home, the University Place Hotel at IUPUI, welcomed by a media throng curious about how Belichick feels he'll be received in the home city of their longtime AFC rivals, the Indianapolis Colts.

"As far as the hospitality, I've never had too much Hoosier hospitality here until I went for it on fourth-and-2. And since then I've been greeted in a lot more friendly manner than I was in the past," said Belichick.

But not every Patriot is well-versed on the term Hoosier.

"Hoosier? What is that, Hoosier Hospitality? What does that consist of? Being friendly, OK, I gotcha. Absolutely. I think it's a little bit strange that we're going to be at the Colts facility practicing and everything like that. I don't know how much the people like that or anything. I don't know, that's yet to be seen," said receiver Wes Welker.

As for practicing on 56th Street, at the home of their arch-rivals?

Quarterback Tom Brady said it will be interesting, that’s for sure.

"I've never been out there. I've heard it's a really nice facility; I'm sure it would be. We’re really excited to get out there and see what it’s all about."

Lineman Logan Mankins agreed, with a nod to the longtime rivalry.

"It's really nice that we're practicing in there and not them, but it will be different seeing those blue colors around there and not getting booed there. That will be different."

But Pats owner Bob Kraft wasn’t about to comment on the somewhat strange circumstances.

"Boy, I'm not going to touch that one, we're happy we're here," he said.