Super Bowl Media Day: Where unknown players become stars, and stars have to talk to media

SAN JOSE – The silliest exercise in the hype machine that is the Super Bowl is the “Media Day.” For Super Bowl 50, The NFL created Super Bowl “Opening Night,” a made for TV, prime-time event that took ridiculous to a new level.

For years, Media Day was always held on the field at the Super Bowl stadium and unofficially kicked off the madness for Super Bowl Week. Two years ago, because of weather concerns in New York, the NFL moved the event indoors to the Prudential Center in Newark, where the NHL’s Devils play.

They invited the public to watch from the stands, as media from all around the world descended upon NFL players to ask the widest ranging questions, most players had ever or will ever face. The league felt it went so well, they repeated the setup at The Phoenix Suns arena last year.

But this year The NFL took it a step further. By pushing it up a day, moving it to the evening and giving it a catchier name, “Opening Night” more media came to town sooner, and the un-informed, un-prepared, or un-aware media performed their verbal, and sometimes aesthetic assault on The Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers.

From kid reporter, to fake superheroes, internet stars (some guy named Flula), to extremely, uh, talented, Latina reporters, Media Day or, rather Opening Night is truly a sight to behold.

Yo @IAmSteveHarvey I found the real @MissUniverse at Super Bowl opening Night! #SB50 #Broncos pic.twitter.com/rcmFZD1HXJ

— Kenny Anunike (@ANU_NIKE91) February 2, 2016

Here are some sample exchanges:

Reporter: “What’s your favorite app?”

Panthers Quarterback Cam Newton: “Instagram.”

Reporter: “Are you the Lebron of The NFL?”

Newton: “Why can’t he be the Cam Newton of the NBA?”

Reporter: “Who’s your favorite character on ‘Full House’?”

Broncos Wide Receiver Emmanuel Sanders: “Uncle Jesse”

Broncos Cornerback Chris Harris: “Uncle Joey.”

Reporter: “Is this a must-win game?”

Panthers Center Ryan Kalil: “…….”

Reporter: “Where can I get some crawfish golf shorts?”

Broncos Quarterback Peyton Manning: “A store in New Orleans”

(Editor’s Note: That reporter, was former Bronco Brandon Stokley)

Some other highlights included Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child trying to get players to sing with her. Also, Cam Newton and Broncos Linebacker Shane Ray participated in Rap Battles. Panthers All-Pro Cornerback Josh Norman put on a Lucha Libre wrestling mask for a portion of his interview session, and all of the Broncos, including Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips, made a point of showing off their “bling.”

As promised: Talib and Phillips 'drippin'

WATCH: https://t.co/wnkFAJRBxT pic.twitter.com/sX70Z7DVW1

— Phil Milani (@philmilani) February 2, 2016

One thing that was obvious was that the Broncos fans clearly outnumbered the Panthers fans 10-1, and that will most likely be the case between now and Super Bowl Sunday.

The takeaway from “Media Day,” I mean “Opening Night” — if you’re a member of a Super Bowl team, people want to talk to you. If you’re a player on a podium (there were 11 podiums) hundreds of people want to talk to you. But, even if you’re a practice squad player, like Kapri Bibbs, or a player on IR like David Bruton and Omar Bolden, or Charles Tillman of the Panthers, people want to talk to you.

Monday afternoon on their way back from practice, The Broncos team bus was involved in a minor traffic accident. Monday night they survived an even bigger potential disaster, nearly 5,000 credentialed media from all over the world. They emerged from both unscathed, and based on the vibe of the players, it should be a Super week in San Francisco.

Check out all of BSN Broncos Super Bowl 50 coverage!

Brandon Stokely offers his thoughts on Peyton Manning’s future

DeMarcus Ware doesn’t need a fancy speech this time around 

Tony Gonzalez thinks Vernon Davis is lacking focus