Tom Brady makes NFL history on winning return to New England

LOS ANGELES -- Tom Brady became the NFL's all-time leading passer and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers squeezed past the Patriots 19-17 as New England's favorite son made an emotional return to Foxborough on Sunday night.

Brady was facing his former team for the first time after two decades of dominance in New England which resulted in six Super Bowl championships.

"I am not tearing up," the 44-year-old quarterback said. "I already went through all that. It was my home for 20 years. I have the best memories."

Playing in a steady rain, Brady became the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards after completing a 28-yard throw to teammate Mike Evans in the first quarter to pass Drew Brees by one yard.

Brady entered the contest needing 68 yards to pass the recently retired Brees. He now has 80,560 total yards compared to Brees' 80,358.

"I can throw a little bit and I am glad I have had some great guys to catch it," Brady said. 

"It's is pretty cool. Nothing in this sports can be accomplished without incredible teammates. Guys did a great job catching the ball for 22 years."

Brady completed 22 of 43 passes for 269 yards against the Patriots and threw no interceptions in the see-saw contest. He got a lot of help from his supporting cast, including running back Leonard Fournette, who rushed for 91 yards, and kicker Ryan Succop, who booted four field goals.

Brady said earlier in the week that he was in no mood for a stroll down memory lane, but after the game he admitted it has been an emotional ride.

"I was just trying to keep my poise," said Brady. "We did get a win on the road. It is a good win here in Foxborough."

Patriots fans clamored for tickets to Sunday's game, splurging up to $13,000 for the chance to pay tribute to Brady, who never had the chance to say his goodbyes.

The Patriots honored Brady with a one-minute video of his highlights before the game. He took the field in the warmup to chants of "Brady! Brady! Brady!" that filled the stadium.

There was a mixture of cheers and jeers from the rain-soaked crowd of 65,800 when he came on for the Buccaneers' first offensive drive of the opening quarter. 

The response was more low key when he set the all-time passing record with six minutes to go in the first quarter. The Patriots chose to not stop the game and honor Brady as play continued as if it was a normal 28-yard pass and run.

Succop kicked a 48-yard field goal with just under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to make it 19-17.

Nick Folk had a chance to give the Patriots the lead but his 56-yard field goal attempt clanked off the left upright with 55 seconds remaining and sailed harmlessly away. That allowed Brady to just run the clock down to the final buzzer.

Agence France-Presse

Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski makes 2 key caches in what could be his last game

ATLANTA — Rob Gronkowski rumbled down the field, got past two defenders and hauled in the football to set up New England’s go-ahead touchdown.

If this was the farewell performance for the Patriots tight end, he went out in playmaking style.

Was it his biggest catch ever?

“You tell me,” Gronkowski said after New England’s 13-3 Super Bowl victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night. “It’s up there. I like making big catches like that.”

That, of course, is what he has done his entire nine-year NFL career.

The 29-year-old Gronkowski is a three-time Super Bowl champion who has been one of the most dominant players at his position.

Ever.

But, whether the end is near — or, next — has been a question all season as back, knee, ankle and arm ailments have sapped him of his ability to stay on the field. And, when he did play this season, he looked mostly like a shell of his All-Pro self.

“Tonight, it’s about celebrating with my teammates and that decision will be made a week or two down the future,” Gronkowski said. “Because tonight, that’s what it’s about, is celebrating with my teammates. That’s what I’m worried about tonight.”

Gronkowski was seen limping out of Mercedes-Benz Stadium after the game after injuring a quadriceps muscle on a hit in the third quarter.

“Yeah, my quad, it hurts a lot,” he said. “I can barely walk right now.”

He was plenty mobile when it mattered most, though. His two biggest catches came after the painful hit.

Gronkowski finished with six catches for 87 yards, including two receptions on New England’s only touchdown drive. With the score tied at 3, Tom Brady found his tight end for an 18-yard gain on first down . Two plays later, the Patriots had second-and-3 from the Rams 31 when Brady saw Gronkowski get free down the left sideline.

He launched the ball and Gronkowski reached out to catch the ball and put New England at the 2.

“When it comes to crunch time,” Gronkowski said, “I always find a way.”

For a few moments, it was just like old times.

Brady to Gronk.

“Incredible catch,” Brady said. “He’s an awesome teammate, friend, and I’m just so proud of everything that he’s done for our team. He just had an incredible game.”

Added center David Andrews: “It was a hell of a catch. The best players show up at the best time.”

On the next play, Sony Michel ran it up the middle for a touchdown that put the Patriots ahead for good.

“Tom threw it to me and I had to make a play,” Gronkowski said. “I just come through where it needs to be that time. He knows to trust in me and throw that ball and I’m going to go grab it.”

But, for how much longer?

Gronkowski has danced around the question of retirement whenever the question has come up, but he’s due $9 million in base salary next season — a hefty amount for an aging player whose health will always be a concern.

Even if he wants to keep playing, the Patriots could very well say goodbye to one of their best and most popular players in the next few months.

And, if that’s the case, Gronkowski and the Patriots went out a winner. As they have so often done.

“I’ll tell you this: It was the most satisfying year I’ve ever been a part of,” Gronkowski said. “How we came together, the obstacles we had to overcome, the grind from the beginning of training camp to now, it’s just surreal.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

It’s Time! Patriots, Rams set to square off in Super Bowl

ATLANTA — Hey, have you guys been here before?

If you’re a New England Patriot, the answer pretty much is “all the time.”


If you play for the Rams, the reply basically is “never in my life.”

So if experience is a factor in Sunday’s Super Bowl, the overwhelming edge is with the 2½-point favorites from Foxborough who are 5-3 in NFL title games with Tom Brady at quarterback and Bill Belichick in the hoodie on the sideline.

The Rams, whose past two Super trips were representing St. Louis in 2000 and ’02, have four players who have gotten this far. New England has four on its defensive line alone.

“Probably, throughout the week, it gives them an advantage,” Rams tackle Andrew Whitworth says — and he’s finishing up his 13th NFL season, though it’s his first that ends in February.

“They kind of know this week. They know when things are a little anxious, when to kind of, ‘Hey, turn it on and get ready to play.’ They probably have a process and plan for the week.”

Athletes in every sport talk about how helpful a comfort zone can be. It’s even more pronounced when it accompanies events such as the Super Bowl, which, for better or worse, transcends football.

Brady and most of his teammates, in their third straight visit, barely flinch at all the attention, media demands and alterations to the norm they encounter during Super Bowl week — although they were taken aback somewhat by the cacophony and circus atmosphere of opening night on Monday. Aside from Aqib Talib, C.J. Anderson, Brandin Cooks and Sam Shields, for the Rams this is uncharted territory.

Rams coach Sean McVay tends to dismiss that theory, however. Using quarterback Jared Goff as an example, McVay could have been speaking for his entire squad, which has made a sensational turnaround in his two seasons in charge.

“He’s an unfazed quarterback,” McVay says. “I think his way to have success and handle adversity the same demonstrates that poise and confidence you want from your quarterback.”

Nowhere is the experience matchup more uneven than at QB. At 41, Brady already is the oldest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. Goff is 24 and one of the youngest.

Well, maybe nowhere is an exaggeration, because Belichick, at 66, could become the oldest coach to win a Super Bowl. He has worked 41 postseason games, with 30 victories, most among head coaches in NFL history. He’s the only head coach with five Super Bowl rings.

McVay is half his age and in his first NFL title game, the youngest Super Bowl head man.

Rams President Kevin Demoff hears all of that so-called evidence, then cites so many positives about McVay that he sounds like the next dominant coach.

Sunday will be a powerful acid test for McVay and his team.

Some other things to look for in Super Bowl 53:

GRONK’S FINALE?

There’s widespread speculation that Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski could be playing his final NFL game. The four-time All-Pro has been plagued by injuries for much of his career, and only in his first two pro seasons did he play a full 16-game schedule. In 2018, he made it into 13 games.

Gronkowski has battled through back, knee, ankle and arm injuries throughout his nine pro seasons, and thought about retirement after last year’s Super Bowl loss to the Eagles. If this will be it for the big-play tight end with superb blocking skills, he isn’t letting on.

“As of right now, those are the last things I’m thinking about,” Gronkowski says. “I love playing the game. After a long season, after the (Super Bowl), a few weeks down the road, you sit back, you relax, you get some downtime, enjoyment time. And you just see where you want to go with it. 



“That’s a tricky question. You’re trying to get around me. You’re just trying to get you some answers over there, baby. But like I said, I don’t know. I haven’t done that sit-down yet. I’ve got to do that sit-down. About two weeks after (the Super Bowl), then I’ll know.”

DONALD’S DOMINANCE

Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the only unanimous All-Pro this season, led the NFL with 20½ sacks.

Considering that Brady barely has been touched or pressured in two playoff games — both against teams with strong pass rushers — it is incumbent upon Donald to be a factor Sunday.

Make that a major factor.

“We’ll get to him, but we have to stay patient and don’t get frustrated,” Donald says. “We’ve got a great secondary that will do its job and make sure he doesn’t have easy throws. If he has to hold onto the ball, we’ll have our chances. We just have to go get him.”

Otherwise, the most accomplished quarterback in Super Bowl history might tear them apart.

CLOSE ONES

The Rams’ past two trips to the big game were tight affairs in which they beat Tennessee and lost to New England. In all of the Patriots’ eight previous trips in the Brady-Belichick era, the result was in doubt until the final moments.

So to expect a romp at Mercedes-Benz Stadium seems foolhardy. 



“It would be nice to get one of those,” Patriots receiver Chris Hogan. “But the idea is to win, no matter how you do it.”

The largest margin in a Patriots Super Bowl under this regime has been the eight points the Eagles beat them by a year ago.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Offensive lines key in Super Bowl for both Rams and Patriots

ATLANTA — The Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots are bringing two of the top scoring offenses in the NFL to the Super Bowl.

The reason they’ve both played so well has a lot to do with the big guys playing up front.

Los Angeles had the same offensive line starters for all 16 games and both playoff contests. Their consistency has been key to everything Rams coach Sean McVay does with a team that averaged 32.9 points per game, ranked second in the league.

A line that has nobody who has ever played in a Super Bowl is being rewarded.

“Having that consistency is big in everything we do,” left tackle Andrew Whitworth said. “We know each other very well at this point, and that’s something that you can rely on when you’re in a tight game, when you need to execute at an important time in the game.”

The line has been just as dependable for the Patriots.

Tom Brady has not been sacked in either of New England’s two playoff wins, with defenses getting only three quarterback hits while chasing an offense that is part of a team averaging 27.3 points per game, ranked fourth in the NFL.

It hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Patriots’ 41-year-old quarterback.

In the days after their AFC championship game victory over Kansas City, Brady posted a picture on Instagram of his spotless jersey. He tagged each of his offensive linemen in the post, writing, “Not even 1 grass stain!”

The last time Brady wasn’t sacked through two playoff games was the 2003 season, when he wasn’t sacked at all during the Patriots’ three wins, including their Super Bowl victory over Carolina.

“I think they’ve performed incredible all year really,” Brady said. “We really haven’t had many sacks this year and I think they’ve done such a great job protecting, and the run game, I think that speaks for itself. That was just an incredible effort last week and we’re going to need it again because this group is obviously exceptional at (the defensive line).


“The D-line is certainly a great strength of theirs. We’ll be challenged. All those guys will be challenged.”

The 37-year-old Whitworth is the cornerstone of the Rams’ offensive turnaround, providing brilliant blocking and steady leadership ever since he left Cincinnati to join McVay on the West Coast two years ago. He has started every game except one in the past two seasons — and so have left guard Rodger Saffold, center John Sullivan and right tackle Rob Havenstein.

The Rams’ continuity on the line is remarkable in the modern NFL. Their only change from 2017 to 2018 was made at right guard, where Austin Blythe replaced the suspended Jamon Brown for the first two games of this season and played so well he never relinquished the spot.

The Rams’ offensive line is a reliable barometer for the success of their powerful offense. When the linemen are playing well, as they did through the first 10 weeks of the season, quarterback Jared Goff operates smoothly behind his protection and Todd Gurley finds gaping holes in their opponents’ defensive fronts.

When the line struggles, as it appeared to do at Detroit and Chicago in December, the offense stalls. Goff was pressured 51 times in a four-game stretch late in the regular season after getting pressured just 78 times in the first 10 games, directly leading to the Rams’ losses to the Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles.

“Everybody knows how much I love those guys,” Gurley said. “They’re responsible for everything. We’ve got the best line in the game, in my opinion, and they show it on the field every week.”

New England lost two starters on its offensive line in the offseason when tackles Nate Solder and Cam Fleming left in free agency. But with Marcus Cannon and Trent Brown taking their spots, joining center David Andrews and guards Shaq Mason and Joe Thuney, Brady was sacked 21 times during the regular season, compared with 35 times last season.

New England knows it will take a similar effort against a Rams’ defensive line that also features All-Pro Aaron Donald, Dante Fowler and Ndamukong Suh.

Andrews said one of the things they are so good at is changing up things, with Suh sometimes playing nose guard, and lining up on the edge other times.

“Obviously they’re both dynamic players,” Andrews said. “Aaron Donald is the best defensive football player in the league, there’s no doubt about that. So it’s going to be a big challenge. We’re going to have to do a lot of things well.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Patriots the early pick in Las Vegas books

LAS VEGAS — Oddsmakers made the Super Bowl essentially a tossup in opening lines Sunday, though bettors quickly turned the New England Patriots into a slight favorite in what is expected to be the most heavily bet — at least legally — title game ever.

Early bets moved the line at many books so the Patriots were either one- or two-point favorites. The over-under was 58 at some books, 58.5 at others.

Bettors pounced on early lines at the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook and William Hill chain that opened with the game as a tossup or the Rams a 1-point favorite. The early bets moved the line at most books in favor of the Patriots.

The Station Casinos chain opened the Patriots as a one-point pick, and it went to two points in early betting. Oddsmakers adjust betting lines to try and balance their action on both sides.

The rare disagreement among bookmakers came after two overtime conference championship games that drew heavy action in this city’s sports books.

The first Super Bowl since sports betting became legal outside Nevada is expected to draw record action in Nevada, and should blow past last year’s $158.6 million — itself a record — when the bets are tallied from a handful of states that now have sports betting.

Bookies wasted no time setting the line as the final seconds ticked off in New England’s dramatic win over Kansas City. Bettors then wasted no time testing the opinion of oddsmakers at the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook as they went to the window to get down the first Super Bowl bets with the Rams initially listed as a one-point favorite.

“It’s just been electric,” Westgate oddsmaker Jay Kornegay said. “We certainly expect to set a new record this year.”

The point spread will likely fluctuate around the city in upcoming days as big bettors make their moves.

Nevada sports books won only 0.7 percent of the last year’s handle for $1.17 million to narrowly avoid losing money on the Super Bowl for the third time in 28 years.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Patriotrs, team America loves to hate, headed to Super Bowl

NOT THEM AGAIN!

Sorry America — at least outside of New England — but the team you love to hate is headed back to the Super Bowl.


Sure, there are negatives to point out with these Patriots. They haven’t looked much more than mediocre on the road. Their defense is vulnerable, especially against dynamic passers, and Kansas City certainly has one of those in Patrick Mahomes.

New England’s coaching staff tends to take away an opponent’s biggest threat. Who is that with the Chiefs, though? Mahomes has Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Sammy Watkins as dangerous targets. He has a running game that hasn’t really missed Kareem Hunt since he was released.

Oh yeah, Tom Brady also is 41. At times, he’s looked it this season.

And there are so many positives to list, especially when the Patriots (12-5) get this far. Such as being to eight Super Bowls with Brady at quarterback, winning five. Such as their superb demolition of the Chargers, an opponent many thought was the most balanced team in the postseason; though the Chargers’ defense looked from the outset as if it wanted no part of frigid Foxborough.

Oh yeah, Brady is 41. He’s seen pretty much everything, and will particularly like the looks of the spotty pass coverage Kansas City (13-4) provides.

The entire environment seems to work for New England.

“Yeah, I think this team thrives on it,” receiver Phillip Dorsett says. “Obviously, there’s no elephant in the room, we’re 3-5 on the road and everybody is going to criticize us for that. We’ve got our backs against the wall and we’ve just got to go out there and play our best game. That’s the only thing that really matters.”

It also matters that Chiefs coach Andy Reid rarely outsmarts the Patriots. Indeed, Reid’s only Super Bowl trip was spoiled by New England when it beat Reid’s Eagles for the 2004 title. Reid is 2-6 vs. the Patriots, and lost 43-40 on Oct. 14 at Gillette Stadium.

The Chiefs are 3-point favorites, which accounts for the home-field edge. Except in the upcoming arctic conditions, and with the pedigree of the Patriots, this is a matchup Kansas City won’t win.

UPSET SPECIAL: PATRIOTS, 27-23

Los Angeles Rams (plus 3) at New Orleans Saints

A 45-35 shootout victory for Drew Brees and the Saints on Nov. 4 came in the Superdome. These two have a return matchup Sunday to get to the Super Bowl, and with all their firepower, this one could come down to one factor: experience.

That edge clearly falls to the hosts. New Orleans (14-3) has been a postseason regular since coach Sean Payton and Brees hooked up in 2006. This is the Saints’ third NFC championship appearance — a loss at Chicago in January 2007, an overtime win over Minnesota at home three years later. The Saints won the Super Bowl that season, as well.

Los Angeles (14-3) had the only unanimous member of the All-Pro team, defensive tackle Aaron Donald. And the Saints lost key DT Sheldon Rankins to a torn Achilles tendon last weekend. Still, this side of the ball looks like a wash.

The site of this game is more critical than in the AFC. The way the Superdome rocks can be disruptive to opponents, and uplifting to the homies. Just look at the Saints’ win against defending champion Philadelphia last Sunday.

So give us Brees’ calmness and creativity over Jared Goff’s relative newness.

BEST BET: SAINTS, 34-26

source: sports.inquirer.net

Familiar issues, but no panic for Patriots after 1-2 start

BOSTON — Two weeks, two head-shaking losses by the New England Patriots.

In Week 2, the Patriots’ defense was deficient in a 31-20 loss to Jacksonville in which the Patriots were victimized on third down.


There were problems all over the field in Sunday’s stunning 26-10 loss at Detroit, though it was Tom Brady and the Patriots offense that struggled the most against a defense coached by former Patriots defensive coordinator and new Lions head coach Matt Patricia.

It’s left New England at 1-2 for the first time since 2012. Things won’t get any easier as the Patriots prepare to open their division schedule against 3-0 Miami.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said he sees problems everywhere on the field right now.

“We’re not making enough plays in any phase of the game, so we’ve just got to perform better,” he said. “I think the energy and the effort and all of that — we’re trying. Everybody’s trying hard. We’re just not getting it done, which is all that matters.”

One of the most surprising things in Sunday’s loss to the Lions was how ineffective Detroit managed to render quarterback Tom Brady.

The reigning regular-season MVP completed just 14 of 26 passes for 133 yards with one touchdown. He also had a costly interception midway through the fourth quarter that helped the Lions seal the victory.

The 133 passing yards for Brady were his fewest in a game since he went 8 of 16 for 80 yards against Buffalo on Dec. 28, 2014.

What’s more troubling, though, is an offense that over the past two weeks has gone 6 of 21 on third down.

“We’re not scoring enough points. We’re not executing well enough on a down-by-down basis. Certainly, at a high level, we should have our expectations set in,” Brady said.


“The process has been the same, there’s been a lot of talk about it in practice, and we’re going through it and watching the film and correcting stuff, it’s just not getting done on the field. And we have to get it corrected soon.”

One common theme in the way the Jaguars and Lions succeeded in limiting the Patriots offensively, was keying on tight end Rob Gronkowski. One of Brady’s favorite options, Gronk has just 13 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown this season.

He hasn’t scored in either of the two losses, hauling in only six total receptions.

But Gronkowski said no one inside the Patriots’ locker room is panicking about starting 1-2.

“I mean, it’s early, it’s football and it’s the NFL,” he said. “Some crazy things happen every single week and we’ve just got to bounce back. We can’t put our heads down, we have to keep them up. We’ve got to keep on fighting and there’s another week next week.”

“We’ve got a big division game next week versus Miami. We’ve just got to keep on fighting. It’s a long season, I know we’re 1-2 right now, but we’ve got to keep on fighting and keep on going. There’s no other way to do it.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Super Bowl winner Kubiak steps down as Broncos coach

An emotional Gary Kubiak stepped down as coach of the Denver Broncos on Monday because of health concerns, less than a year after he led the team to a Super Bowl crown.

The 55-year-old fought back tears as he told reporters he was “retiring from coaching” at a farewell press conference in Denver, hours after the club confirmed his departure in a statement.

“This decision is strictly my decision, based on what I’ve been through this year and how I’m feeling,” Kubiak said.

“I just feel like it’s time for me to do something different. Now, I’m retiring from coaching, I’m getting out of coaching, but I’ve got a lot to give and I’m going to find something else to do… but it’s time for me to step away from the coaching field.”

Kubiak said it wasn’t a specific medical problem that prompted his decision but rather a feeling that he couldn’t meet the demands of the job as he would like.

“I’ve always taken a lot of pride that I could coach the football team, be there for the players, be there for the coaches, be there for the organization, do a game plan, call some plays on Sunday.

“I’ve always taken a lot of pride in the fact I could do all those things, but this year I haven’t been able to do that.

“It’s been tough and for the first time I’ve had to tell myself, ‘Hey, you can’t do that anymore.'”

Kubiak was hospitalized briefly in October and missed coaching one game with what doctors called a “complex migraine condition” characterized by extreme fatigue and weakness.

In 2013 while Kubiak was head coach of the Houston Texans he collapsed during a game with what was diagnosed as a “mini stroke.”

Kubiak had told players and staff after Sunday’s season-ending 24-6 victory over the playoff-bound Oakland Raiders that he was giving up the job after two years with the team.

“Although we fell short of our goals this year, I’m proud of our teams these past two seasons. Helping to bring Mr. (Pat) Bowlen, his family and this organization its third Super Bowl is something that will always be very special to me,” Kubiak said in a statement.

Super Bowl triumph

John Elway, a former Broncos star quarterback and now executive vice president of football operations/general manager, was expected to begin searching for a replacement immediately.

Elway hired Kubiak — his backup in their playing days — as the 15th head coach in franchise history on January 19, 2015 and Kubiak helped the Broncos to the second-most wins in the NFL in his two seasons with a 24-11 (.686) record.

During the 2015 season Kubiak became only the fourth head coach in NFL history to lead a team to a Super Bowl victory in his first year, the Broncos beating the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50 in February 2016.

Elway called Kubiak’s management of the team over that season “one of the best coaching jobs I’ve ever seen.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Tom Brady rallies Patriots to 28-24 Super Bowl win over Seahawks

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes, Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson in the end zone and the New England Patriots rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Brady overcame two interceptions to lead the Patriots to their fourth Super Bowl championship, becoming the third quarterback along with Pittsburgh’s Terry Bradshaw and San Francisco’s Joe Montana to win four titles.

Brady, coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots needed three tries to win their fourth title since 2001. They lost to the New York Giants twice before dethroning the defending champion Seahawks.

After Jermaine Kearse made a twisting, turning, tumbling catch for a 33-yard gain to the Patriots 5, Marshawn Lynch ran 4 yards to the 1. But Wilson, operating from the shotgun, was intercepted on a pass intended for Ricardo Lockette.

Brady jumped up and down on the sideline and hugged Belichick to celebrate the win. A dejected Wilson walked off the field stunned.

As the Patriots (15-4) ran out the clock, players on both sides fought and Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin was ejected.

Down 10 to start the fourth, Brady rallied the Patriots with a 5-yard TD pass Danny Amendola in the back of the end zone and a 3-yarder to Julian Edelman with 2:02 left in the fourth for the go-ahead score.

With the Seahawks leading 24-14, the Patriots’ defense held as Rob Ninkovich sacked Russell Wilson to force a punt. After Brady was sacked on the first play, he drove the offense 76 yards to get New England within a field goal. Brady’s scoring strike to Amendola gave him a Super Bowl record 11 TD passes. Brady also set a Super Bowl record with 37 completions. He finished with 328 yards passing.

After Katy Perry’s colorful halftime performance, the Seahawks came out firing.

Wilson threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin after Brady’s second interception of the game and the Seahawks took a 24-14 lead over the Patriots going into the fourth.

Unknown receiver Chris Matthews had a breakout game in the first three quarters, making his first four career catches for 109 yards. Matthews, a cousin of Hall of Fame defensive end Reggie White, played in just three games before he made the crucial onside kick recovery in the NFC title game against Green Bay.

His first catch was a twisting 44-yard reception over Kyle Arrington to the Patriots 11. Two runs later, Lynch scored on third-and-goal from the 3. Matthews’ next catch was an 11-yard TD with 2 seconds left in the second quarter. He had a 45-yard catch on the first series of the third quarter to set up Steven Hauschka’s 27-yard field goal for a 17-14 lead.

On the ensuing possession by New England, All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner stepped in front of Brady’s pass to Rob Gronkowski and returned 6 yards to the Patriots 34. Wilson had a 15-yard run and Lynch ran 14 yards before the TD pass to Baldwin, who drew an unsportsmanlike penalty for his celebration.

Brady, the first quarterback to start six Super Bowls, had only two interceptions in his first five. He threw his first pick in the end zone in the first quarter.

The teams got down to football under the open retractable roof at University of Phoenix Stadium after dealing with distractions far beyond typical Super Bowl hype over the past two weeks.

The Patriots are being investigated for using under-inflated footballs in their 45-7 win over Indianapolis in the AFC championship game.

Meanwhile, star running back Lynch was a daily sideshow for the Seahawks this week because he refused to answer questions from the media.

In the 12th matchup between No. 1 seeds since 1975 and the second in a row, the Seahawks (14-5) were trying to become the first team to win consecutive Super Bowls since the Patriots a decade ago. Seattle routed Denver 43-8 last year.

Brady bounced back after his first pick to throw his NFL record-setting 50th postseason TD pass — an 11-yarder to Brandon LaFell on the next drive. He threw a 22-yarder pass to Gronkowski with 31 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Patriots a 14-7 lead.

But the Seahawks answered quickly. Wilson drove them 80 yards on five plays in only 29 seconds.

Robert Turbin ran 19 yards. Wilson followed with a 17-yard run. Wilson then connected with Lockette for 23 yards and a facemask penalty away from the ball tacked on 10 yards.

Instead of kicking a field goal, the Seahawks ran one more play with 6 seconds remaining. Matthews beat Logan Ryan to make the catch.

Jeremy Lane made his first career interception on Brady’s first poor throw and weaved his way to the 14 before Edelman knocked his own helmet off while making the tackle. Lane went to the locker room after being hurt on the return and was ruled out for the rest of the game with an arm injury.

The Patriots tied Dallas and Pittsburgh for most Super Bowl appearances with eight. They became the sixth franchise to win at least four. Brady and Belichick — the only coach-QB combo to reach six together — led the Patriots to three Super Bowl titles from 2001-04.

After John Legend delivered a stirring rendition of “America The Beautiful,” Idina Menzel followed with a rousing performance of the national anthem. A pro-Seahawks crowd booed when Belichick was shown on the video screen during the anthem.

At halftime, the lights went out, and Perry took over the stadium with a spectacular concert that included Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Sam finds comfortable landing spot in St. Louis

NEW YORK — In St. Louis, Michael Sam might have found the perfect spot to pursue an NFL career and try to become the league’s first openly gay player.

He’ll have three former Missouri teammates with him on the Rams, including fellow draft pick E.J. Gaines. Sam will be playing for a team with many fans that rooted for him when he was in college, and supported him when he publicly came out. And in coach Jeff Fisher, he’ll be playing for someone who didn’t shy away from being part of NFL history.

Maybe more than any other place in the NFL, Sam will be allowed to concentrate on playing football and making the team, which is no guarantee for a seventh-round draft choice.

“I think Michael and his entire team feel he went to what was ultimately the right stage and the right place, with the right coach and the right system,” said Howard Bragman, a public relations expert who has been working with Sam. “Any rookie already has pressure and Michael has added pressure.”

Sam was picked by St. Louis near the end of the seventh round Saturday, with the 248th overall pick.

He’ll join former Missouri players T.J. Moe, a receiver, and Tim Barnes, a center, along with Gaines, when the Rams start preparing for the 2014 season. Moe and Sam were in the same recruiting class at Missouri.

“I’ll certainly do my best to make him feel right at home,” Moe said. “It’s much bigger deal to the media than it is to the players. Here it’s all about football.”

An NFL.com writer was in the Rams’ draft room and reported late Saturday night that Fisher unexpectedly suggested taking Sam, a player the team had not given much consideration to before.

Fisher is going into his third season with St. Louis after spending 17 seasons with the Titans franchise.

“We’re in an age of diversity. Players understand that, they know that,” Fisher said. “People will try to make it a distraction but it’s not a distraction.”

Wade Davis, who is gay and came out publicly well after his playing days, was in training camp with the Tennessee Titans twice when Fisher was their coach.

“As someone who played for Coach Fisher, Michael Sam couldn’t be going to a better place,” said Davis, who is now the executive director of the “You Can Play Project,” an advocacy group that works to take homophobia out of sports.

Davis said that while Sam is breaking new ground as an openly gay athlete entering a major male professional sports league, he won’t be the first gay athlete whose teammates knew he was gay.

Davis added the bond and intimacy that comes from being a teammate, and the hard work it requires, makes pro sports a better place than most to integrate a gay co-worker.

“I’m a firm believer that sports team, unlike any other job, are more accepting of differences because you put them aside to pursue a common goal,” David said.

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel lived through that scenario. Sam came out to his teammates and coaches before the Tigers’ 2013 season. They went on to play in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Sam was the conference’s defensive player of the year.

“It’s amazing how sports can have influence on everything,” he said. “I think sports will have such a big influence that one day this will not be big news. My whole thing is, everybody’s different. Just respect people.”

At Missouri, students and the Columbia community rallied around Sam after he came out. In February, Samand the rest of the football team were honored at halftime of a Missouri basketball game. An anti-gay group held a protest outside the arena. Fans and students surrounded the arena, many wearing T-shirts with the slogan “Stand With Sam” on them, to ensure the protesters didn’t get too close.

Columbia is about 2 hours from St. Louis, pretty much halfway between St. Louis and Kansas City on I-70. There is plenty of overlap between Missouri fans and Rams fans.

Sam’s story has been told in detail in the St. Louis market and he was allowed to come out on his own schedule.

“The media knows him and has protected him in the past,” Bragman said. “He feels perfectly comfortable, with a support system in place. That’s huge.”

St. Louis is a relatively small media market and the Rams, a promising team, but one coming off consecutive 7-9 seasons, are not one of the NFL’s marquee teams. Bragman said Sam, who grew up in Galveston, Texas, should have some space and comfort in St. Louis that he wouldn’t have elsewhere.

“He’s not a particularly worldly kid. Now all of sudden, he’s in Seattle or San Francisco, far away from home. Or in New York, with Page 6,” said Bragman, referencing the New York Post’s famous gossip page.

That’s not a problem in St. Louis.

“I don’t think there could have been a better situation,” Bragman said.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Adrian Peterson has dealt with tragedy often

MINNEAPOLIS—When Adrian Peterson was 7, he saw his older brother die in a bike accident when he was hit by a drunken driver.

For Peterson’s teenage years, his father was in prison. He grew up poor in east Texas. Shortly before the Minnesota Vikings drafted him in 2007, a half-brother, was shot and killed.

Long before Peterson began running through the NFL record book, he learned to turn tragedy into fuel for an exceptional career. Football has always been his escape, and now he’s dealing with more off-the-field strife.

One of Peterson’s sons, a victim of alleged child abuse, died Friday of severe head injuries suffered in the attack. The man charged in the case, Joseph Patterson, was home alone with the 2-year-old boy Wednesday and called 911 to report he was choking, according to police. Patterson was the boyfriend of the child’s mother.

Peterson missed practice Thursday to be in Sioux Falls, S.D., where the boy lived with his mother and Patterson. He returned to the Vikings on Friday.

“Things that I go through, I’ve said a thousand times, it helps me play this game to a different level,” he said after practice, about an hour after the child’s death. “I’m able to kind of release a lot of my stress through this sport, so that’s what I plan on doing.”

Twitter has been filled with public condolences for Peterson and his loved ones. From LeBron James to Barry Sanders to Josh Groban, his peers, opponents and admirers expressed their sadness and support.

“Praying for you and your family. May God give you the strength,” tweeted New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck, whose team plays the Vikings on Oct. 21.

The Vikings play Carolina on Sunday, and Peterson promised to participate.

“I’ll be ready to roll, focused,” he said.

That’s no surprise to anyone who’s known him.

“The death of his brother at that young age drove him to want to be the very best that he could be,” said Steve Eudey, who was Peterson’s youth football coach and a mentor to him growing up. “Because in his opinion, Brian was always better than he was and he felt he had to live up to those expectations.”

Peterson’s relationship with the dead son was not known publicly, but the boy did not carry Peterson’s name. Peterson has another son, Adrian Jr., who lives with him, he confirmed on Twitter on Saturday in attempt to clarify his family situation.

“He’s a wonderful human being,” said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, who coached Peterson in college. “He’s a very faithful, strong, Christian guy that we all dearly, we all love him. We’re all there for him. Incredibly tragic event. He’s a great a kid, a great man, a great kid when I had him.”

Adrian Peterson Jr. showed up at training camp this year and posed for pictures after one practice with his dad. Peterson also has a daughter; he tweeted last month about how she teased him about Minnesota’s loss that afternoon to Cleveland.

“So my daughter is laying here under me and just out the blue she says … I can’t believe you lost to the Browns Daddy!” Peterson posted Sept. 22.

Peterson’s half brother, Chris Paris, was killed in Houston the night before the NFL’s scouting combine, where Peterson and the rest of the draft prospects worked out for all 32 teams. After wondering whether he could find the strength to participate, he remembered Paris’s recent encouragement to him to represent his hometown of Palestine, Texas, well with a strong showing there in Indianapolis.

That day was hard, but growing up might’ve been ever harder.

Peterson’s dad, Nelson Peterson, was sent to prison for drug dealing when his soon-to-be-famous son was 13. Six years prior to that, Peterson’s brother, Brian, who was 11 months older than him, died in front of him in that horrific

car-bike crash. The two Peterson boys were tight.

So after all that, then came the latest sorrow. Peterson was surrounded by a swarm of media members, cameras and recorders in a three-deep half-circle in the Vikings’ locker room Friday. He was asked how he has dealt with such adversity.

“Just staying prayed up. One thing I always bounce back to is that the good Lord never gives you more than you can bear, than you can handle. So I’m built tough,” he said.

His teammates didn’t have to be reminded about that.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. We’re there for him with whatever he needs and try and help his morale and be there for him,” fellow running back Toby Gerhart said.

source: sports.inquirer.net