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Obama honors Patriots for Super Bowl win at White House

Xinhua, April 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

President Obama hosted the New England Patriots at the White House in honor of their Super Bowl XLIX championship here on Thursday.

This was the fourth time the Patriots have been guests at the White House after winning the Super Bowl. Patriots owner Robert Kraft presented Obama with a custom team jersey from the Super Bowl, a football, and a helmet. Quarterback Tom Brady did not attend the ceremony because of a family commitment.

"I want to offer my congratulations first of all to Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and I also want to acknowledge coach Bill Belichick," President Obama said. "I said to the team, and I think even those of us who have other teams we root for, the Patriots organization is as good an organization as there has ever been in professional sports. To be able to maintain that kind of consistent excellence is a rare thing in any field, including on the football field. And that's a testament to outstanding ownership, it's a testament to a Hall of Fame coach. " Endite