Migos? Michael Jackson? Drake? Pats and Eagles Reveal Their Dream Halftime Shows

"MoneyBagg Yo."

Sorry, Justin—Shaq Mason, Super Bowl-bound offensive lineman for the New England Patriots (wearing No. 69, he's easy to spot), is unequivocal about the ideal Super Bowl halftime show performer. It's up-and-coming Tennessee rapper MoneyBagg Yo or bust—though upon further reflection, he concedes that he might "throw Drake in there, too, since he'll get everybody going."

He's reflecting on his dream Super Bowl halftime show at Monday's Super Bowl LII Opening Night, the beginning of a week that will conclude with (among many other things) Justin Timberlake taking the Super Bowl stage for a third time. It's a show that none of the players in the room will be watching, so B/R gave both the Eagles and the Patriots the chance to produce their own imaginary spectacle.

Some chose to stick with what's worked. "Beyonce, Rihanna...my wife is gonna kill me," said Eagles cornerback Patrick Robinson, laughing. "Beyonce, Rihanna and Bruno Mars."

His teammate Joe Walker, a linebacker, was the only player B/R spoke with excited about this year's selection. "Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson, maybe?" he said. Walker's dad works with an L.A.-based production company that makes stages for the Super Bowl and other big events.

"I worked for him a while and made the Super Bowl stage like four or five years ago," Walker said. This year, though, he has a different job on game day—and his dad will be watching Justin Timberlake from the stands.

Many players' dream Super Bowl halftime shows, sadly, have no way of being realized. "I would like to see Marvin Gaye and Ray Charles, on stage at the same time seeing what they can put together," Patriots defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois said.

Rusty Kennedy/Associated Press

Michael Jackson was the night's most mentioned name, often as a part of impressive ensemble casts. Eagles tackle Will Beatty had one particularly creative idea: "I would have Michael Jackson performing on one side and Michael Jordan playing on the other side," he said. "You've got Jackson to your right, Jordan to your left; music, basketball, football—that's the life right there."

"It would have to be Michael Jackson, Lil Wayne, Drake...and this is going to sound crazy, but then I'd do something with Bernie Mac," said Eagles wide receiver Marcus Johnson. "He'd start everything, and then he'd finish it off. Bernie Mac is hilarious to me—rest in peace, Bernie Mac."

The one thing the two teams could agree on, in fact, was that Michael Jackson and Chris Brown would be an unstoppable combo onstage. Patriots tight end Will Tye, who may have a future in event production, said: "Michael Jackson, Chris Brown, Whitney Houston, J.Lo...and then some dancing group." Eagles wide receiver Greg Ward was of a similar mindset: "I need Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson and Chris Brown to make a collab," he said.

Others wanted to see a halftime show with more modern flair—closer to what's being played in the locker room than the Top 40. "Migos, Kodak Black, NBA YoungBoy, Yo Gotti...some upstarts," Patriots running back Mike Gillislee said. "I wish I could hear 'Tunnel Vision' by Kodak Black. It would be a helluva show. I'm a Floridian, so I like music from down South."

Peter Barreras/Associated Press

Patriots defensive back Brandon King took the prize for the most unorthodox lineup. "I'd go with Yo Gotti and Luke Bryan. That would be a nice combo," he said. "[Bryan] grew on me—I had a couple teammates in the past who were really into him, so it kind of rubbed off on me."

But it was LaAdrian Waddle, a Patriots offensive lineman, who offered the most succinct—and probably most honest—response. "The show of the game we win," he said.