Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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By Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

ATLANTA -- Super Bowl Opening Night has always been a proverbial circus, and on Monday a clown reporter even made an appearance.

Cue all of the jokes about "fake news" and the current state of journalism, but the clown in question was actually three-time Marconi Award winning sportscaster Dan McDowell, of 1310 The Ticket in Dallas.

McDowell's unusual, but fitting, getup for Monday night's event actually has an inspiring back-story.

"This was a bet that I had with my Dad," McDowell told NJ Advance Media Monday night at State Farm Arena. "It was one of his last wishes, before he died, he always challenged me to do something crazy out here. He'd see media day, and I promised him that I would. He actually died, and that's why we're messing around this year.

"Every year, we'd be at NFL media day, and my Dad would watch on TV and try to see us in the background."

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While McDowell's tribute to his late-father typifies the chaotic nature of the annual event that kicks off Super Bowl week, it was far from the craziest sight on Monday night.

Here's a look at the craziest sights and sounds from Super Bowl Opening Night 2019:

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Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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Comedian J.B. Smoove was in the house ...

For the third consecutive year, comedian and star of Curb Your Enthusiasm J.B. Smoove was on the floor of Super Bowl Opening Night.

In addition to rattling off one-liners to any camera or microphone that he found himself in front of, Smoove spent time teaching the Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders some new moves, and re-enacting the controversial non-pass interference call that allowed the Rams to come back against the Saints to win the NFC Championship Game.

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Does Osi Umenyiora think Giants can still win a Super Bowl with Eli Manning?

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Saints fan J.B. Smoove is still not over the NFC Championship Game. pic.twitter.com/spPPi9BWTd — Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) January 29, 2019

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Gronk Being Gronk ...

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is nothing if not a character, and he stole the show during the Patriots' availability.

Gronk wore a sombrero and was offered a tray of Mexican food by a woman in a sombrero. He turned it down.

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Rob Gronkowski, and #SuperBowl Opening Night both draw all kinds of characters ... pic.twitter.com/regbnQ7SCa — Matt Lombardo (@MattLombardoNFL) January 29, 2019

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Later, Gronkowski was asked his favorite emoji. He picked the 'kiss' emoji and blew one. He was asked what emjoi he would create. He said a 'gotcha' emjoi. He was asked what emjoi he will use for his retirement. He said the 'party' emjoi.

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Rob Gronkowski with Guillermo from @JimmyKimmelLive and reading a passage from his biography. #SuperBowl opening night pic.twitter.com/CHyk9WC7zt — Ryan Dunleavy (@rydunleavy) January 29, 2019

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Apparently there are two Tom Bradys here at #SuperBowl opening night ... pic.twitter.com/KFvu8KJAeQ — Matt Lombardo (@MattLombardoNFL) January 29, 2019

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Two Tom Bradys?!

During the past two Super Bowls, a fan wearing a mask that is eerily similar to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, has been on the floor of Opening Night.

While the masked fan in question was nowhere to be found this year, a Patriots fan in the front row of State Farm Arena made an appearance wearing a Brady jersey with a goat mask, implying that Brady is the Greatest of All Time.

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Rob Gronkowski wants ‘revenge’ on Jets, Jamal Adams for Pat Patriot injury

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E.T. Phone Goff?

There was a reporter who showed up dressed as E.T., who probed Rams quarterback Jared Goff about his thoughts and predictions regarding this season of the Bachelor, featuring former NFL practice squad linebacker Colton Underwood.

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Remember the Nickelodeon show Double-Dare? Mark Somers putting #Patriots and #Rams players through old school challenges ... #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/eVPqZvvJwD — Matt Lombardo (@MattLombardoNFL) January 29, 2019

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Double Dare!

Nickelodeon's Double Dare, featuring Mark Somers, was a game show that originally aired in the 1980s and 1990s, that the Network rebooted in 2018.

Somers and the crew set up shop at Super Bowl Opening Night and put players from both teams through various challenges that made the show a hit among millennials.

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NJ Advance Media

WATCH: Patriots' Duron Harmon's Double Dare challenge

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Cats or Dogs?

In case you couldn't already tell, football typically takes a backseat during Super Bowl Opening Night.

Similar to the kind of question that one would expect on The Newlywed Game, Rams wide receiver Brandin Cooks was asked about running back Todd Gurley's pet preferences.

A reporter asked Cooks if Gurley is a dog person or a cat person? Cooks said 'dog.' The correct answer is 'cat.'

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NJ Advance Media's Ryan Dunleavy contributed to this report.

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Matt Lombardo may be reached at MLombardo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardoNFL