Super Bowl braces for big chill on Feb 2

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Forecasters predict the coldest Super Bowl and a chance of rain or even snow for the Feb 2 National Football League title showdown, but players say they don't fear sub-freezing conditions.

The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks arrived on Sunday in suburban New York for Super Bowl XLVIII, which will be the first outdoor cold-weather clash in the NFL's Super Bowl era that began in 1967.

"We are not really concerned," said Denver safety David Bruton. "We have played numerous cold games.

The coldest Super Bowl was played in 4 C at New Orleans in 1972, but this one is likelier to be even cooler and with a 30 percent chance of rain or snow.

"It would be fun to play in some snow," said Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman.

"It could be 10 below (zero), 20 below, you know. It's the Super Bowl. It's going to be rocking. Nobody's going to really care."

The Seahawks have tried to stress they will do the same things that put them in the Super Bowl, no matter the distractions.

"Our mentality is strong," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "We know how to play in games like this."

NFL team owners voted in 2010 to have the game played in New York, with one notion being that a successful Big Apple appearance could open doors for future cold-weather Super Bowls.

Rocky Mountain chills are common for the Broncos in the winter months.

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is confident because the team has played and worked out in the cold for weeks, even though wind and snow could play havoc with Denver's record-setting precision passing attack.

Denver cornerback Champ Bailey has played 15 seasons to reach his first Super Bowl. He is ready for the chill.

"Once you are out there, you just deal with it. Everybody has to deal with it," he said.

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Anne Ruisi is an editor at China Daily online with more than 30 years of experience as a newspaper editor and reporter. She has worked at newspapers in the U.S., including The Birmingham News in Alabama and City Newspaper of Rochester, N.Y.