The Niners began practice on a drizzly practice field where the group of big, fast, well-paid men went about their business insulated from a Bay Area which is filling with hopes and expectations. After practice, the team opened its locker room to reporters for a few minutes.
Reporters had one main question. Were they feeling it yet? The 49ers have an opportunity to bring the Bay Area its second world championship in five months.
"That would be something special for the city and something we hope to give it to them, but we still have to prepare pretty well and it won't be easy," center Jonathan Goodwin said.
Asked if he felt different now that he was going to the Super Bowl, offensive lineman Joe Staley replied, "No and I hope it doesn't change. I hope it doesn't. I'm going to take everything in and enjoy the moment but as well as all that, I want to treat it like a normal game."
"I don't feel pressure," he added.
That is about what fans would expect to hear the players say with the Super Bowl less than two weeks away.
