The Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul was transformed into Super Bowl Central on Monday evening as the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles made their first public appearances in the Twin Cities.

International media packed into the arena to get their first chance to speak with Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and Nick Foles ahead of Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday.

Here's a quick look at the highlights:

Nick Foles, Eagles players get booed

There were plenty of Vikings fans in the crowd, and they're finding it tough to get over their team's loss to the Eagles in the NFC Championship game – not to mention the behavior of the home fans in Philadelphia.

Boos for the Vikings' conquerors naturally ensued – and Philly fans are equal parts outraged/reveling in it.

Tom Brady is basically Minnesotan

We've reported before that Patriots QB and future hall of famer Tom Brady has a Minnesotan mother and he would spend time in Browerville with his relations while growing up.

He spoke about it with Boston 25 reporter Kerry Kavanaugh, who went out to see his family in central Minnesota, and described his Minnesotan roots as a "very special" part of his life.

Ok Tom, we'll root for the Patriots.

Bill Belichick was typically deadpan

He gives Mike Zimmer a run for his money in the "annoyed by media questions" stakes, but this is still a pretty funny response.

Carson Wentz was in the house

The Eagles QB is a popular man in the Midwest as a former Bison, and it's a real shame his ACL injury is forcing him out of the Super Bowl after a spectacular regular season.

It still hurts

This has nothing to do with Opening Night, but rather the wistful fantasies of "what if."

It sucks hard that the Vikings didn't make it to the Super Bowl after getting so far – think how fun Monday night would have been had they got there? It would have basically been a giant pep rally.

Still, there's always next year...