Heading back to his hometown, Jacoby Jones couldn't afford to tell the truth.
The All-Pro kick returner for the Baltimore Ravens got 15 tickets for the Super Bowl as a participating player. The demand from family and friends in New Orleans was way beyond that.
No Big Easy there.
Each Raven and San Francisco 49er player and coach had access to 15 tickets: two complimentary, the rest for purchase. Prices range this year from $800 to $1,200, the same as last year in Indianapolis.
When the game was last played in New Orleans 11 years ago, every seat cost $400.
Tickets also are available to players on injured reserve. For the 49ers, that's almost 90 people, not counting front office personnel who generally had access to two tickets each.