Super Bowl 2015 Update: Patriots Visit White House Without Tom Brady

The 2015 Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots visited the White House Thursday, where they were honored by President Barack Obama, who could not help but crack a few jokes here and there.

"I usually tell a bunch of jokes at these events, but with the Patriots in town, I was worried that 11 out of 12 of them would fall flat," Obama opened, referring to the Patriots' Deflategate scandal.

After receiving a smile paired with a playful thumbs down signal from head coach Bill Belichick, Obama said, "That whole story got blown a little out of proportion."

Throughout his speech, Obama commended the Patriots on their hard work and dominance on the field throughout the years.

"To be able to maintain that kind of consistent excellence is a rare thing in any field, including on the football field," Obama said. "And that's a testament to outstanding ownership. It's a testament to a Hall of Fame coach."

He added, "That's the story of the Patriots over this past 15 years. There's Belichick and [Tom] Brady -- the most successful player-coach tandem perhaps in NFL history. There's 'the Patriot Way' -- a group that values teamwork and hard work above all else. In a league that's known for its parity, they have set a standard for excellence that we may not see again for a very long time."

Right after the President accepted a No. 44 Patriots jersey and a team helmet from Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Belichick, he made one last joke and said, "Coach Belichick has agreed to hold a press conference...and he's going to go on forever!"

Notably absent during this event was Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady.

According to the team officials, Brady, 37, had to skip the event due to a prior family commitment. Brady has been to the White House the last three times he won the Super Bowls. During those times, George W. Bush was president.

During this visit, the players headed to the Walter Reed Medical Center first before entering the White House. The ceremony took place on the South Lawn.

The Patriots beat the defending champions, the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bow XLIX.