NFL: Russell Wilson booed and loses on Seahawks return

LOS ANGELES -- Denver quarterback Russell Wilson's return to Seattle started with hearty boos and finished with a 17-16 loss to Geno Smith and the Seahawks on Monday.

Wilson piloted the Seahawks to nine winning seasons, eight playoff appearances, two NFC championships and a Super Bowl title in his 10-year tenure in Seattle.

But his relationship with the team soured and he departed in March for the Broncos -- the team he and the Seahawks beat 43-8 in the 2014 Super Bowl.

Earlier this month he signed a five-year deal worth a reported $245 million with Denver and none of his prior achievements in Seattle mattered to Seahawks fans who jeered him all night, while joyously cheering his former backup Smith.

While the focus was on Wilson and his return to Seattle, it was also a huge moment for Smith, who beat out Drew Lock for the starting job -- the first time he starts a season as a team's top quarterback since he played for the New York Jets back in 2014.

Smith rose to the occasion by completing 23 of 28 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns.

Both touchdowns came in the first half, when Smith was ruthlessly efficient in completing 17 of 18 passes for 164 yards.

"They wrote me off," Smith said of his critics in a post-game television interview.

Seattle didn't score in the second half, but they held on with the help of a solid defensive effort and the Broncos' inability to take advantage of their opportunities.

Wilson completed 29 of 42 passes for 340 yards, hitting Jerry Jeudy with a 67-yard touchdown pass.

But Denver committed 12 penalties and gave up two second-half fumbles on the goal line.

After those disappointments, Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett opted against going for it on fourth down with just five yards needed to extend Denver's final drive.

Instead he brought in kicker Brandon McManus, who missed a 64-yard field goal attempt.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said he was "surprised" the Broncos didn't let Wilson -- renowned for his fourth-quarter and overtime comebacks -- try to extend the drive.

But Wilson had no problem with the decision.

"I believe in coach Hackett," he said. "I believe in what we're doing here."

While it was the first time Wilson found himself on the wrong side of the notoriously noisy Seahawks crowd, he said the atmosphere didn't affect him.

"I couldn't have been more locked in," he said. "It just didn't go our way. But guess what? There's 16 more games to go."

Agence France-Presse

NFL: Browns confirm Watson trade after 'extensive' probe

LOS ANGELES -- The Cleveland Browns confirmed their acquisition of DeShaun Watson on Sunday, insisting the team carried out an "extensive" investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against the quarterback before completing the blockbuster deal.

The Browns stunned the NFL after swooping for Watson in a trade that will reportedly see the embattled former Houston Texans quarterback paid $230 million over five years.

The trade, first reported on Friday, came a week after prosecutors in Texas said the 26-year-old would not face criminal prosecution over a flurry of sexual misconduct allegations.

More than 20 women have accused Watson of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior during massages he paid for.

Watson -- one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL -- still faces a slew of civil claims over his conduct, and could still be hit with a hefty sanction from the NFL.

The Browns' pursuit of Watson has raised eyebrows among many NFL commentators, some painting the team's embrace of the quarterback as morally indefensible. A USA Today headline described the trade as a "repugnant black eye for the NFL."

On Sunday, however, the Browns defended Watson's signing, with owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam saying the team had carefully evaluated the allegations against Watson.

"We are acutely aware and empathetic to the highly personal sentiments expressed about this decision," the Haslams said in a statement.

"Our team's comprehensive evaluation process was of utmost importance due to the sensitive nature of his situation and the complex factors involved. We also understand there are still some legal proceedings that are ongoing and we will respect due process."

The owners said in meetings with team officials, Watson had been "humble, sincere and candid."

"In our conversations, Deshaun detailed his commitment to leading our team; he understands and embraces the hard work needed to build his name both in the community and on the field," the Haslams added.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry said the team had spent several months probing Watson.

"We have done extensive investigative, legal and reference work over the past several months to provide us with the appropriate information needed to make an informed decision about pursuing him and moving forward with him as our quarterback," Berry said. 

"Deshaun has been among the very best at the position and he understands the work needed to re-establish himself on and off the field in Cleveland."

However, attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents the 22 women who have made accusations against Watson, said no one from the Browns had contacted him in relation to the trade.

"The Browns organization did not reach out to me. I didn't expect them to do so, and can understand why they didn't. But, knowing what I know, they probably should have," Buzbee told ESPN.

Agence France-Presse

NFL: Brady caps milestone game with game-winning overtime TD pass

LOS ANGELES -- Tampa Bay's superstar quarterback Tom Brady nabbed yet another NFL passing record Sunday, but he saved his best for last in the Buccaneers' 33-27 overtime triumph over the Buffalo Bills.

Brady broke former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees's record for career pass completions in the second quarter, with a 20-yard toss to wide receiver Mike Evans that took his total to 7,143.

But the individual achievement was in danger of being overshadowed by a furious Bills fightback as Buffalo erased a 21-point second half deficit to force overtime.

As he has so often, Brady came through, finding wide receiver Breshad Perriman for a 58-yard game-winning touchdown -- the 700th TD pass of his career.

Brady, a 22-year veteran and three-time NFL Most Valuable Player, completed 31 of 46 0asses for 363 yards and two touchdowns as the Bucs extended their lead over Buffalo atop the AFC East division.

The Bucs looked headed to a comfortable win when they took a 24-3 lead into halftime.

But Bills quarterback Josh Allen ran for a third-quarter touchdown and a Buccaneers field goal early in the fourth was followed by three scores by the Bills.

Allen connected with Dawson Knox and Gabriel Davis for touchdowns before Tyler Bass booted a field goal for the Bills that knotted score at 27-27 and forced overtime.

But Buffalo were unable to score on the first possession of overtime, opening the door for Brady and the Bucs who improved to 10-3 and remain in the hunt for the top seed in the AFC.

The San Francisco 49ers also won in overtime, breaking the Bengals' hearts in Cincinnati with a 26-23 victory.

The Bengals had opened the extra session with a field goal from Evan McPherson to take the lead, but San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk to clinch the victory.

Officials initially ruled that Aiyuk had come up short, but replay gave him the touchdown and gave the 7-6 49ers a needed victory.

The 49ers' Robbie Gould had missed a potential game-winning 47-yard field goal with four seconds left in regulation after Bengals quarterback threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Ja-Marr Chase to erase a 20-6 deficit.

- Chiefs rout Raiders -

Elsewhere, the Kansas City Chiefs offered a reminder of just how dangerous they can be as the post-season approaches, routing the Las Vegas Raiders 48-9.

The Chiefs, who struggled early in the season and were in last place in the AFC West at one point, notched their sixth straight victory and lead the division.

Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdown passes as the Chiefs built a 35-0 first-half lead.

The Chiefs defense, which sparked plenty of doubts earlier this season, forced five Vegas turnovers.

"We faced a lot of adversity early in the year (that) people hadn't seen, and people kind of threw us down and acted like we were done," Mahomes said. "But you're seeing now that we have the guys to do it."

The New Orleans Saints kept themselves in the NFC Wild Card hunt with a 30-9 victory over the New York Jets.

New Orleans quarterback Taysom Hill was playing with an injured finger on his throwing hand, but the Saints used a strong ground game to end a five-game losing streak.

The Baltimore Ravens suffered an especially painful 24-22 loss to the Cleveland Browns as quarterback Lamar Jackson exited in the first half with what coach John Harbaugh said after the game was a right ankle sprain.

"We'll look at it more tomorrow and see where we're at," Harbaugh said of the injury, which came when Jackson was tackled from behind by Browns rookie line backer Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

Down 24-9 heading into the fourth quarter the Ravens, with backup quarterback Tyler Huntley at the helm, came up just short of a comeback victory.

Agence France-Presse

Patriots cancel practice amid reports of new positive test

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots have canceled practice amid reports that a third player has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Sports Illustrated reported that reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore tested positive for the virus on Wednesday and was added to the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list. The Patriots did not give a reason for Wednesday’s cancellation and did not immediately respond when asked if it was related to a third positive test.

Starting quarterback Cam Newton missed New England’s loss at Kansas City on Monday night after a positive COVID-19 test and was added to the reserve list Saturday. Practice squad player Bill Murray joined him on the list Tuesday.

Newton’s positive test prompted the NFL to postpone the New England’s game with the Chiefs by a day.

Newton tweeted a picture of himself Wednesday morning wearing a mask, along with the caption: “WEAR YOUR MASK. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.”

The Patriots are scheduled to host the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

-Associated Press

Chiefs-Patriots game off amid report Newton has COVID-19

This NFL postponed this week’s game between New England and the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs after positive COVID-19 tests on both teams. ESPN reported on Saturday that Patriots quarterback Cam Newton was among those contracting the disease.

The NFL said Saturday that the game, originally scheduled for 4:25 p.m. EDT on Sunday, will be played on Monday or Tuesday. The league said the move followed “positive COVID-19 tests on both teams.” The Patriots confirmed that a player has tested positive but did not reveal his name.

It it the second game this weekend that has been affected by COVID-19. The matchup between Pittsburgh and Tennessee was postponed because of an outbreak on the Titans; it is now scheduled for Oct. 25.

The Patriots had been planning to fly to Kansas City on Saturday afternoon. Instead, players left the facility to await further instructions. The team said in a statement that the COVID-positive player has entered self-quarantine and that players, coaches and staff who were in close contact with him were tested Saturday morning and all were negative.

-Associated Press 

Ex-NFL quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, 36, dies in car crash

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Former NFL quarterback Tarvaris Jackson has died in a one-car crash outside Montgomery, authorities said Monday. He was 36.

The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro that Jackson was driving went off the road, struck a tree and overturned at 8:50 p.m. Sunday, Trooper Benjamin “Michael” Carswell, an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency spokesman, said in a news release. Jackson was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The wreck occurred on Pike Road, about seven miles south of Montgomery, his hometown. No other details were immediately released about the crash, which remained under investigation.

Jackson was hired as quarterbacks coach for Tennessee State last season after a 10-year NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll posted a Twitter message calling Jackson “a beloved teammate, competitor, and Seahawk.”

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson also posted about Jackson’s death: “TJack... you will be missed. Praying for your family...Love you man.”

Jackson was a second-round draft pick of the Vikings in 2006, starting 12 games in 2007 and going 8-4. He was part of the Seahawks’ Super Bowl championship team in 2014.

Jackson started 14 games for Seattle in 2011, leading the team to seven wins. The former Alabama State quarterback, who started his college career at Arkansas, went 17-17 as an NFL starter.

He passed for 7,263 yards with 39 touchdowns and 35 interceptions.

Jackson is survived by wife Lakitta and three children.

Associated Press

Kneeling protester Kaepernick agree to confidential NFL settlement

NEW YORK. United States – Colin Kaepernick, whose kneeling protests sparking a firestorm of controversy, has reached a settlement with the NFL over his collusion grievance against the league, his attorneys' said Friday (Saturday Manila Time).

But a confidentiality clause will keep details of the arrangement private, the deal being made ahead of a planned final arbitration hearing on the grievance that was to be heard later this month.

Kaepernick and former San Francisco 49ers teammate Eric Reid both filed a lawsuit against the NFL saying owners and officials colluded to keep them off NFL rosters for their decision to make a kneeling protest during the US anthem.


Reid signed a one-year deal as an injury replacement last season with the Carolina Panthers and on Thursday inked a new three-year contract with the same club but Kaepernick has been unemployed since opting out of his contract in March 2017, missing two full NFL campaigns.

Kaepernick, a 31-year-old signal caller who guided the 49ers to the 2013 Super Bowl, had said he was only interested in a settlement if it meant a solid financial deal was reached.


But it could also mean that Kaepernick, who has signed a deal with Nike in the wake of being ignored by the NFL for two seasons, might yet return to the league.

NFL officials denied collusion claims by Kaepernick and Reid despite comments from US President Donald Trump that urged owners to fire any "son of a bitch" who kneeled during the anthem after many NFL players followed Kaepernick's lead in 2017.

Kaepernick and Reid said they were protesting racial inequality and social injustice. Trump claimed their actions were in insult to the flag, the nation and the military.

In an statement released on the Twitter account of attorney Mark Geragos, the law firm dealing with Kaepernick's legal action against the NFL, said the two sides have come to terms without indicating what those terms were.

"For the past several months, counsel for Mr. Kaepernick and Mr. Reid have engaged in an ongoing dialogue with representatives of the NFL," the Geragos and Geragos statement said.

"As a result of those discussions, the parties have decided to resolve the pending grievances. The resolution of this matter is subject to a confidentiality agreement so there will be no further comment by any party."

NFLPA backs settlement

The NFL Players Association supported the decision by Kaepernick and Reid despite not knowing exact details of the settlement.

"Today, we were informed by the NFL of the settlement of the Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid collusion cases. We are not privy to the details of the settlement, but support the decision by the players and their counsel," the NFLPA said.

"We continuously supported Colin and Eric from the start of their protests, participated with their lawyers throughout their legal proceedings and were prepared to participate in the upcoming trial in pursuit of both truth and justice for what we believe the NFL and its clubs did to them.

"We are glad that Eric has earned a job and a new contract, and we continue to hope that Colin gets his opportunity as well."

source: philstar.com

Brady wins sixth Super Bowl as Patriots outmuscle Rams

ATLANTA – Tom Brady wrote his name into the record books here Sunday (Monday Manila time), winning the Super Bowl for a sixth time as the New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in the lowest scoring NFL championship game in history.

Brady, 41, became the first player ever to win six Super Bowls, 17 years after leading the Patriots to his first title way back in 2002.

The total of 16 points scored in the game was the lowest ever in Super Bowl, surpassing Miami's 14-7 win over Washington in 1973.


Patriots icon Brady — already widely regarded as the greatest quarterback the National Football League has ever seen — provided the decisive moment to break open the game midway through the fourth quarter at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

With the score finely balanced at 3-3, Brady picked out tight end Rob Gronkowski for a 29-yard completion that left the Patriots just two yards from the line.

It was the first time in the game that either side had advanced to 1st and goal in a defense-dominated game that failed to live up to its billing.

The Patriots were in no mood to waste the hard-fought opportunity, and rookie running back Sony Michel crashed over for what turned out to be the crucial score.

The Rams looked to have finally found some fluency as they chased a touchdown to level, but quarterback Jared Goff was picked off by corner Stephon Gilmore to leave the Patriots in sight of victory.

The Patriots marched up field on the subsequent possession and Stephen Gostkowski's second field goal with 1min 16sec remaining made it a two-score game.

The Patriots' triumph saw them join the Pittsburgh Steelers with six Super Bowl titles, the most by any franchise.

Patriots receiver Julian Edelman was named Super Bowl MVP for a series of crucial receptions that kept the Patriots on the front foot at critical moments.

Missed chances

The Rams meanwhile were left reflecting on what might have been, with receiver Brandin Cooks twice having what looked like certain touchdowns denied by last-ditch defensive plays from New England in the second half.

It was a bitter end to the season for Rams coach Sean McVay, who at 33 would have been the youngest winner of the Super Bowl.

Instead McVay was outfoxed by Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, whose defensive gameplan choked the life out of the Rams, the second most potent offense in the NFL this season who had averaged more than 30 points a game.

Belichick, 66, becomes the oldest head coach to win the Super Bowl.

An attritional first half had seen defense dominate, with the Rams — the second most potent offense in the league this season — restricted to a meagre 57 yards.

The Patriots, meanwhile, looked the more composed with their run game making good yardage early on.

Although Brady suffered the indignity of throwing an interception with his first pass attempt, when cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman batted a pass intended for Chris Hogan into the arms of Cory Littleton, the Rams were unable to escape the Patriots defense.

Gostkowski missed an early field goal attempt from 46 yards but the Patriots finally got on the board early in the second quarter through the veteran kicker's 42-yard effort.

The Rams meanwhile mysteriously left star running back Todd Gurley on the sidelines for long periods, with doubts swirling about his fitness.

There was little improvement in the opening exchanges of the second half. Goff almost gave up a pick with his first attempt, but Dont'a Hightower was unable to haul the ball in.

Gurley raised Rams hopes with a 16-yard run but the drive fizzled once more.

Two more stalled possessions followed, and the Rams owed a massive debt to Johnny Hekker when he conjured a 65-yard kick, the longest punt in Super Bowl history, from behind his own line to get Los Angeles out of jail.

With the Patriots forced to punt once more, the Rams then finally managed to string a drive together.

Cooks was denied a certain touchdown after hauling in the ball in the end zone only for Jason McCourty to bat the ball out of his control.

Goff suffered a sack on third down to leave Greg Zuerlein with a 53-yard effort but the Rams kicker stroked it over to level at 3-3 with just over two minutes remaining in the third.

But that was as good as it got for the Rams, who also saw Cooks denied a game-tying touchdown after he fumbled near the end zone.

source: philstar.com

Patriots to face Rams in Super Bowl 53 after OT NFL thrillers

WASHINGTON, United States – Five-time champion Tom Brady guided the New England Patriots into their third consecutive Super Bowl, where they will face a Los Angeles Rams squad that advanced Sunday (Monday Manila Time) in dramatic but controversial fashion.

The only day in NFL playoff history with two over-time thrillers saw the Patriots win 37-31 at Kansas City on Rex Burkhead's 2-yard touchdown run in the American Conference final.

"Over-time, on the road, against a great team, it required everything," Brady said. "This is crazy. That was a hell of a game. It's unbelievable."


The Rams edged host New Orleans 26-23 on Greg Zuerlein's club playoff record 57-yard over-time field goal in the National Conference final, their rally from 13-0 down the best in team playoff history.

"Unbelievable. Can't find the words," Rams quarterback Jared Goff said. "To be down 13-0, the defense to play the way they did. And our kicker made a 57-yard field goal. Unbelievable."


New England will face Los Angeles in Super Bowl 53 on February 3 in Atlanta in the NFL championship spectacular.

The Patriots seek their third title in five years in their ninth Super Bowl trip in 18 seasons under Brady, who at 41 could surpass 39-year-old Peyton Manning as the oldest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl and become the first to do it six times.

"It feels pretty sweet," Brady said. "We earned it and I'm really happy for us. It was awesome. What a game."

Brady became the first quarterback in NFL playoff history to go 3-0 in over-time, having won all three on the opening drive of the extra session.

This one came after four lead changes in the fourth quarter and a dramatic fightback drive by Kansas City to force the first extra-time American Conference final since 1986.

"The players just competed really hard today," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "You can't buy these. You've got to earn them and they earned this one."

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will not become the youngest Super Bowl champion quarterback at 23, but he served notice he could trade dramatic late-game drives with Brady, the sport's master of such heroics.

'Never get over it'

The Saints, meanwhile, were livid over the lack of a late-game penalty call when Rams defender Nickell Robey-Coleman ran into Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis on a third-down pass. New Orleans lost a chance to run down the clock and make a last-play short field goal try.

"They blew the call," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "I don't know if there was ever a more obvious pass interference call."

"It's a tough way to lose a game, especially when you're in a position like that to win it," Payton said. "We'll probably never get over it."

The Saints received the ball to begin over-time but Rams linebacker Dante Fowler hit Brees as he threw and safety John Johnson picked off the awkward lob while falling onto his back, the lone New Orleans turnover setting up Zuerlein's winner.

"I was crying on the bench," said Rams defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. "I've never been this excited."

Rams coach Sean McVay, who turns 33 on Thursday, became the youngest coach to reach the Super Bowl.

"It's a credit to the people you have around you," McVay said. "Our team demonstrated great mental toughness. It was a tough start. We had confidence and we got it done. It was a great win."

The Rams seek their fourth NFL crown but their first for Los Angeles in the Super Bowl era. The team won NFL titles in 1945 based in Cleveland, 1951 based in Los Angeles and by winning the 2000 Super Bowl while based in St. Louis. The franchise lost two other Super Bowl trips in 1980 (Los Angeles) and 2002 (St. Louis).

Drama at Kansas City

At Kansas City, there were four lead changes and a conference-finals record 38 points scored in the fourth quarter.

Brady marched the Patriots 65 yards in 84 seconds and New England seized a 31-28 lead thanks to Rex Burkhead's 4-yard touchdown run with 39 seconds remaining.

Mahomes then drove the Chiefs into position for Harrison Butker's 39-yard equalizer field goal with eight seconds remaining.

The Patriots took a 14-0 half-time lead on Sony Michel's 1-yard touchdown run 8:05 into the game and Brady's 29-yard touchdown pass to Phil Dorsett with 27 seconds to play in the second quarter.

Mahomes answered 2:04 into the second half on a 12-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce but the Patriots answered on Stephen Gostkowski's 47-yard field goal.

Damian Williams scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns for the Chiefs on catches of 1 and 23 yards from Mahomes and a 2-yard run.

Brady, 72-1 as a starter when up by 14 or more, marched the Patriots for rookie Michel's 10-yard touchdown run and Burkhead's go-ahead and winning touchdown runs.

source: philstar.com

Justin Timberlake says Janet Jackson not part of Super Bowl show

LONDON | Justin Timberlake caused a national controversy when he performed the Super Bowl halftime show with Janet Jackson in 2004, and the pop singer said on Thursday not to expect his partner in crime to appear this time around.

Timberlake on Sunday will return to America’s biggest stage 14 years after a “wardrobe malfunction” overshadowed his last gig at the National Football League’s championship game.

“To be honest I had a ton of grand ideas about special guests. There’s a whole list. I think Vegas has a lot of odds on it. From NSYNC to (Jay-Z) to Chris Stapleton to Janet,” Timberlake told a news conference in Minneapolis.

“But this year… my band, the Tennessee Kids, I feel like they are my special guests and I am excited this year to rock the stage and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Timberlake infamously ripped off part of Jackson’s garment during their halftime show performance in Houston and briefly bared her breast. The incident coined the phrase “wardrobe malfunction.”


The Parents Television Council published an open letter to Timberlake on Thursday asking the 10-times Grammy winner to keep his performance, which is estimated to draw more than 100 million viewers, friendly and safe for children.

“The fallout of your performance during Super Bowl XXXVIII has left an indelible mark. You really threw us – and millions of parents who were watching with their kids,” the group wrote.

“The now-infamous wardrobe malfunction was the biggest news story for weeks, even at a time when the nation had launched into war in Iraq.”

The letter continued, “We ask you to keep the halftime show friendly and safe for the children watching, and who may be hoping to emulate you one day.”

NEW ELEMENTS

Timberlake did not reveal too many details of his upcoming performance but did say his “Can’t Stop The Feeling” hit song from the movie “Trolls” will be included along with plenty of dancing, while also promising something new.

“Without giving too much away we are doing a few things with this halftime show that they have never quite done before,” said Timberlake, whose new album “Man of the Woods” come out on Friday.

“I always like to push, to be able to do something like that. But also, on a more serious note, it’s a moment where you have the opportunity to bring so many people together through what I think is the greatest art form, which is music.”

Timberlake will have around 13 minutes to perform at halftime of the game between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles in Minneapolis.

Timberlake, who turned 37 on Wednesday and was serenaded to “Happy Birthday” by some of the attending media, took many light-hearted questions but also stressed how grateful he was to be able to share his passion for writing and performing music.

“We want everyone to have a ton of fun, that’s my main objective with the halftime show,” said Timberlake. “I like to make dance music so I hope everyone’s dancing. I think that’s the greatest thing anyone can do to express joy.”

source: interaksyon.com

Peyton Manning, Broncos triumph in Super Bowl 50 with win over Panthers

Peyton Manning clinched a fairytale second Super Bowl victory as the Denver Broncos produced an astonishing defensive display to defeat the Carolina Panthers 24-10 on Sunday.

Denver running back C.J Anderson crashed over for the decisive touchdown late in the fourth quarter as the Broncos defense harried Panthers quarterback Cam Newton into a string of mistakes at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

The much anticipated duel between Manning — the oldest starting quarterback in Super Bowl history — and NFL Most Valuable Player Newton never materialised.

Instead it was left to Denver’s suffocating defense to decide the contest, with Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware smothering the Panthers at every opportunity as the Broncos racked up a record-equalling seven sacks.

Miller ultimately set up the crucial Denver score, forcing Newton into a fumble which the Broncos recovered close to the Carolina goal line, handing Anderson the chance to barge over.

Manning, 39, was largely a peripheral figure throughout, struggling to make any impression with his passing game as defenses dominated.

The veteran quarterback is widely expected to call time on his career at the end of the season, and can now do so with a second Super Bowl ring to set alongside the one he earned with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007.

- Carolina rattled -

An absorbing first half saw defenses on top, with Denver’s vaunted unit rattling the free-scoring Carolina offense.

Denver drew first blood, Manning quickly into his rhythm to march the Broncos upfield in a 10-play 64-yard drive that culminated with Brandon McManus drilling over a 34-yard field goal.

After punting on their first possession the Panthers looked nervy on their second possession, unable to find any room for maneuver in the face of Denver defenders playing like men possessed.

Disaster struck on a long third down on the Carolina 15-yard line, when Miller swarmed through to smother Newton, stripping the ball loose and allowing Malik Jackson to recover for a dramatic touchdown for 10-0.

As the first quarter drew to a close there were signs that Newton was finally kicking into top gear.

A trademark 11-yard run and another 12-yard gallop upfield stretched Denver’s defense and helped propel Carolina deep into the red zone from where Jonathan Stewart barreled over from one yard for the touchdown.

Graham Gano duly added the extra point and suddenly the Panthers were on the front foot, forcing Denver to kick away three consecutive possessions.

- Chance spurned -

Denver went 13-7 up with another McManus field goal before Carolina spurned the chance to draw closer when Gano missed a 44-yard effort.

It was left for Denver to get the first points on the board in the second half, with Manning twice connecting with Emmanuel Sanders in a 54-yard drive to Carolina’s 12-yard line.

Once again though, the Broncos were unable to make a red zone visit pay with a touchdown, with McManus adding his third field goal to give Denver a nine-point lead.

Carolina looked to be building ominous momentum on the next drive, when Newton launched a long pass to find Corey Brown for a 42-yard gain.

But the drive ended when Newton’s long pass to Ginn was intercepted by Broncos safety T.J. Ward who fumbled only to see his team-mates recover.

Denver were unable to make any impression on the Carolina defense and seemed to be content to punt again knowing that the Panthers were getting little joy from the Broncos defense.

The tactic proved vindicated on the next Carolina drive, which stalled when Miller sacked Newton for the second time in the match forcing a punt.

But Denver’s own offense was always struggling to capitalize on their opponent’s problems, and they squandered a 1st and 10 situation on Carolina’s 37-yard line when Manning twice fumbled on successive plays to hand the ball back to the Panthers who reduced the deficit to 16-10 with a Gano field goal.

Yet once again Denver’s defense came through when it mattered, and when Miller forced Newton into his late fumble, Denver were home.

source: interaksyon.com

Super Bowl halftime show a big stage, even for music’s biggest stars

LOS ANGELES | As Coldplay gears up to take the Super Bowl halftime stage on Sunday, there’s a lot at stake — even for a band Rolling Stone deemed “one of the most commercially successful acts of the new millennium.”

Upwards of 100 million U.S. viewers are expected to tune in for the intensely choreographed live 15-minute set, more than 50 times the audience of the band’s last major tour in 2012, according to figures from concert tracker Pollstar.

“In an incredibly divided and fragmented media environment, the Super Bowl halftime show is absolutely one of the biggest, if not the single biggest way to expose music to an enormous audience,” said Brian Hiatt, senior writer at Rolling Stone.

With a third of the U.S. population expected to watch the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos battle for the National Football League championship, the Super Bowl offers a rare and coveted opportunity for advertisers and performers alike.

Coldplay, better known for brooding hits such as “Yellow” and “Fix You,” takes the halftime stage on the heels of high-octane crowd pleasers Katy Perry, Beyonce and Bruno Mars.

“It’s all about the artist and their brand,” Keith Caulfield, co-director of Billboard charts, told Reuters.

Coldplay last week announced a U.S. tour and released a new music video featuring Beyonce, who is reportedly joining the halftime show this year after headlining in 2013. Rihanna, who just released a new album, is also reported to be a potential performer.

While there is no definitive way to quantify it, spikes in sales and on social media suggest a significant Super Bowl effect.

Last year, 118 million U.S. viewers tuned in to Perry’s pyrotechnics-laden extravaganza featuring a 1,600-pound robotic lion and dancing sharks.

Despite no new album or U.S. tour last year, sales of Perry’s existing work surged 92 percent in the week after her performance. YouTube videos of Perry’s halftime show racked up views in the millions.

Mars, best known for R&B and funk-infused radio hits such as “Uptown Funk!” was one of the lesser-known headliners in 2014.

Mars saw an 82 percent bump in album sales post-performance according to Billboard, and grossed $84 million in concert ticket sales, according to Pollstar.

“There are sports fans who aren’t watching the Grammys or American Music Awards and are not familiar with artists as a live spectacle, and maybe they would be interested in seeing them after the Super Bowl,” Caulfield said.

source: interaksyon.com

Openly gay Michael Sam ‘steps away’ from football

Michael Sam, who last year became the first openly gay player drafted by a National Football League team, said on Friday he was stepping away from football, citing concerns over his mental health.

The Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes, with whom he signed a contract in May, said on its team website that Sam had left the team for personal reasons and as a result had been placed on the team’s suspended list.

“The last 12 months have been very difficult for me, to the point where I became concerned with my mental health,” Sam wrote on Twitter. “Because of this I am going to step away from the game at this time.”

“Thank you all for your understanding and support,” he added.

Sam also thanked the Alouettes, and said he hoped to be back on the field soon. The defensive lineman was suspended by the Alouettes in June after he left the team’s training camp for unexplained personal reasons.

The National Football League’s St. Louis Rams selected Sam in the seventh round of the 2014 draft but waived him in the final round of cuts. He was picked up by the Dallas Cowboys but they released him from their practice squad in October.

Sam was the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at the University of Missouri before graduating in December 2013.

The following February, before the NFL Draft, he announced he was gay.

ESPN reported that Sam agreed to a two-year deal with the Alouettes this summer. It also reported that he sat out the team’s first five games and that he failed to record a tackle during his team debut on August 7.

Sam’s supporters have said that his sexuality is irrelevant to his performance and have dismissed suggestions that an openly gay player would be a distraction for a professional football team.

source: interaksyon.com

Katy Perry to headline NFL’s 2015 Super Bowl halftime show

LOS ANGELES | Pop singer Katy Perry will headline the halftime entertainment at February’s Super Bowl, the most-watched U.S. sporting and television event, according to an announcement by the National Football League on Sunday.

The 30-year-old “Roar” singer joins the likes of Madonna, Beyonce and Prince to perform at the NFL’s Super Bowl halftime show, which regularly attracts more viewers than the average for the championship game itself.

Sportscaster Bob Costas announced the performance at halftime of the Cowboys-Giants game on “Sunday Night Football.”

The Super Bowl will be played on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona, and broadcast on Comcast Corp-owned network NBC.

Perry acknowledged the announcement on her Twitter feed while watching the game in Australia, where she is currently on her Prismatic World Tour.

“Yeppers!” she wrote. “And I’ve already started testing out ideas!”

A few minutes before the announcement was made, Perry hinted that she was looking forward to the performance.

“My band is in the other room screaming at the TV (and each other) over this Cowboys-Giants game. Can’t wait for February 1st,” she wrote on her Twitter feed, following the words with a picture of a microphone and a football.

The announcement came as Perry won favorite female pop/rock artist at Sunday’s American Music Awards.

This year’s Super Bowl averaged a record 112.2 million viewers on network Fox, while the halftime performance by singer Bruno Mars and rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers drew 115.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

The music industry considers the Super Bowl its top promotional venue because artists can expect a strong recording sales bump following the performance. It is also often used as a spring board to launch new music or tour announcements.

The NFL came under criticism from the music industry this year for reportedly asking performers to either help contribute financially to play the corporate-sponsored show or share some of their post-Super Bowl tour profits with America’s most popular sports league.

It is not known if Perry will contribute financially in any way to the performance but she hinted during a television appearance last month that she would not.

“I’m not the type of girl who would pay to play the Super Bowl,” Perry said on ESPN’s college football “College GameDay” program.

source: interaksyon.com

Beyonce brings out Destiny’s Child for Super Bowl thrill

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – Pop diva Beyonce thrilled the Super Bowl crowd Sunday with a pyrotechnic half-time spectacular that doubled as a much-anticipated Destiny’s Child reunion.

Fireworks burst into the sky from the Superdome field just vacated by the game-leading Baltimore Ravens and lagging San Francisco 49s as the 31-year-old chart-topper took the stage with “Crazy in Love”.



Blowing a kiss to the live television camera after her opening number, she looked relieved to get the much-hyped, 15-minute show underway, but the real treat came when Destiny’s Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams joined her on stage.

They appeared in matching Rubin Singer black leather warrior-woman bodysuits and dizzying stilettos as did an ever-growing, all-female army of dancers, with musicians cast off on the sidelines.

“Bootylicious”, “Halo”, and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” rounded out the greatest-hits performance with a sci-fi edge that set it apart from Madonna’s hyperactive Super Bowl half-time effort last year.

“Thank you for this moment,” a beaming Beyonce told the cheering crowd at the conclusion, “God bless you all.”

Beyonce had promised to sing live at the Super Bowl, acknowledging that she had sung over a pre-recorded version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at President Barack Obama’s second-term inauguration on January 21.

Singing the pre-game national anthem Sunday was Alicia Keys, performing solo at a grand piano, after Jennifer Hudson and the Sandy Hook Elementary School choir from Newtown, Connecticut sang “America the Beautiful”.

The school was the scene of one of the worst mass murders in US history in December when a lone young gunman cut down 20 pupils and six teachers before taking his own life. He had earlier killed his mother at their home.

source: interaksyon.com

Jets report: Rex Ryan struggling to regain team's 'pulse'

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—After the Jets lost the final three games of the 2011 season and missed the playoffs, Rex Ryan admitted he had lost the “pulse” of his team.

One has to wonder if Ryan, a players’ coach, is having the same problem this season. Ryan said he “never saw this coming” after the Jets (3-5) were embarrassed by visiting Miami on Sunday, claiming his team had a great week of practice.


Certainly Ryan and his staff will have a lot to do during the bye week as they try to fix the myriad problems. He already announced he is giving his players the entire week off before they return Nov. 5 to prepare for the game at Seattle six days later.

This would seem a logical time to perhaps make the switch at quarterback from struggling Mark Sanchez to Tim Tebow, given the fact offensive coordinator Tony Sparano will have an extra week to design a game plan around Tebow’s skill-set.

Still, there is a lot more wrong with this team besides Sanchez. The Jets’ defense and rushing game on offense aren’t as strong as those units were for Denver last season, when Tebow had his success.

One wonders if Tebow truly can make a difference without those elements in place, but it wouldn’t be all that surprising if Ryan, Sparano and the desperate Jets decide to go that way.

source:  aol.sportingnews.com

NFL bounty case means Jerry Gray should tread lightly

In these bounty-sensitive times, Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray has delivered a message that may prove costly.

Gray told SN correspondent Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean that he wants his unit to play less timid, without worrying about fines. But Gray also made reference to the Gator cart, a vehicle used to take injured players off the field.

“If you are worrying about that, you are not going to go out and try to blow the guy up,” Gray told The Tennessean. “Great football players have to put that out of their mind. You have to say, ‘This is my territory between the numbers, and if you throw the football, you better bring the Gator truck.’ And that’s how you have to play. You can’t play timid in the NFL.

“Have we blown anybody up? … Maybe we’re playing too timid.”

With the league preaching increased emphasis on player safety, it would be wise for coaches to refrain from references to the Gator. Gray’s defense is already giving up too many points. Surrendering money for fines will not make the situation any better.

According to ESPN.com, the NFL is already reviewing Gray's comments, and Gray himself has apologized.

"This is football, but my choice of words under the circumstances was probably bad,'' Gray told the network. "If I could take that part of it back, I would. I don't want guys thinking about injuring people, and when you say 'Gator truck' that's probably what comes up. I just want our guys to be tougher.''

source: aol.sportingnews.com

Dez Bryant needs work; former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Drew Pearson knows it

Dez Bryant was so disappointed about his Week 4 woes, he’s working out at the team’s Valley Ranch headquarters during the Dallas Cowboys’ bye week.

Drew Pearson’s comments likely won’t make him feel any better.


Pearson, one of Dallas’ best-ever receivers and a member of the club’s highly prestigious Ring of Honor, criticized Bryant’s effort in a third person-filled analysis to the Midland Reporter-Register.

And Pearson’s disdain appeared to be centered around Dez’s jersey—No. 88, the same number Pearson and Michael Irvin wore during their respective careers.

“He’s not living up to the expectations that were placed on him by wearing that number,” Pearson told the newspaper. “Drew Pearson took it to the Ring of Honor level and Michael Irvin took it way beyond that to the Hall of Fame level. When Michael and I had a chance to talk to Dez when he came in his rookie year we told him, ‘Don’t do what Drew Pearson did in it. Don’t do what Michael did in it. Do more than that.’ I know that’s a lot to live up to, but what else is there?”

Bryant, in his third season, actually had one of his best statistical outings in Monday’s 34-18 loss to Chicago. He had eight catches for 105 yards, just his second career 100-yard receiving game.

The downside: Bryant dropped two passes and ran the wrong route on a play that resulted in a Bears pick-six. It was one of Tony Romo’s five interceptions in the game.

Other than choosing to wear 88, something of a sacred franchise number, expectations have been abnormally high for Bryant since his rookie season due mainly to his immense talent.

He was thought to be a surefire top-five pick before being suspended for the second half of his junior season at Oklahoma State for violating an NCAA rule—Bryant had improper contact with Deion Sanders, who coincidentally also starred for the Cowboys.

That caused Bryant’s draft stock to slide before Dallas snatched him up with the No. 24 overall selection in 2010.

source: aol.sportingnews.com

Five Money-Losing Investments by NFL Players

Financial boo-boos of NFL players

NFL players make the same kinds of financial mistakes regular people make. They live beyond their means, become victims of Ponzi schemes and make risky investments.





Click ahead to read about the money mistakes of five current and former NFL players and what you can learn from them.

John Elway tackled by Ponzi scheme

Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway often escaped trouble on the field. But in 2010, Elway and a business partner invested $15 million with a hedge-fund manager who was arrested on charges that he ran a Ponzi scheme, The Denver Post reported. Elway lost $3 million.

Athletes can fall victim to Ponzi schemes if they do a poor job vetting the people who are handling their investments, says Michael Chasnoff, chief executive of Truepoint Inc., a wealth management company in Cincinnati.

Athletes often think they can trust the person investing their money if he or she was recommended by someone the athlete respects.

Investors have to perform their own due diligence no matter how much they trust the person who recommends an investment adviser, Chasnoff says.

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors offers a questionnaire to help investors interview potential advisers. Before signing on, an investor should also contact the adviser's other clients as a reference.

Look for advisers who are known in the community and give back to the community through charities or nonprofit groups. "They are usually very professional, high-integrity people," Chasnoff says.

Car dealership trips up Deuce McAllister

Former New Orleans Saints running back Dulymus Jenod "Deuce" McAllister had more success on the field than he did selling cars. In 2009, Nissan sued McAllister's car dealership in federal district court for the return of vehicles valued at almost $5.7 million. Soon after, the dealership filed for bankruptcy.

"It's basically the tough economic times that we're in," McAllister told The Associated Press.

Benjamin F. Renzo, author of "Hall of Fame: How to Manage Financial Success as a Professional Athlete," is a big proponent of athletes trying to build successful businesses.

Even so, a lot of players don't hire advisers who understand the risks of starting a business, Renzo says. Some athletes have their agents advise them on these issues. But they're not qualified to give financial advice.

Athletes should invest only what they can afford to lose. Private investments should only make up about 10% to 15% of an athlete's investing net worth, Chasnoff says.

"You don't want to be swinging for the fences," Chasnoff says. "It's not a prudent way to go about accumulating wealth."

Mark Brunell invests heavily in real estate

New York Jets backup quarterback Mark Brunell filed for bankruptcy protection in 2010. He owes $7.4 million.

Brunell was forced to file for bankruptcy because of two failed business partnerships. These included a real estate development company called Champion LLC and a partnership that invested in 12 Whataburger restaurant franchises in the Jacksonville area, according to The Florida Times-Union.

When investing in real estate or a real estate development company, an athlete needs to be able to finance it for five to 10 years to give the business time to get off the ground, Chasnoff says.

A good rule of thumb on any investment is to spend as much time thinking about what will happen if it fails as you do thinking about what will happen if it succeeds, he says.

Drew Bledsoe loses on technology investment

In 2008, former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe and some other current and former players sued UBS Securities LLC and UBS Financial Services Inc. Bledsoe invested in a startup company called Pay by Touch through UBS, according to lawsuit filed by the players in Superior Court in San Francisco.

Bledsoe and the other plaintiffs allege that UBS concealed the past legal troubles of the founder of Pay By Touch. Pay By Touch was developing technology to allow people to use a fingerprint to pay for things with a credit card rather than having to actually swipe the card.

"(John P.) Rogers had such a detailed history of criminal and civil misconduct and tax evasion prior to his involvement with Pay By Touch that any knowledge of this would have warned investors," the lawsuit states.

source: foxbusiness.com

Seattle Seahawks reveal QB Matt Flynn is injured

The Seahawks are struggling offensively with rookie quarterback Russell Wilson at the reins of what Pete Carroll calls a scaled-back scheme. But Carroll, despite his team having the NFL's worst passing game (No. 32) isn't thinking about making a change to high-priced veteran acquisition Matt Flynn—because Flynn isn't healthy enough to play.

"We have a little bit of a problem with Matt," Carroll revealed to ESPN Seattle on Monday. "Matt's still not full speed. Anybody that thinks, OK, let's go with the other guy, well, he can't practice yet."





The problem, according to Carroll, is an elbow injury which affects Flynn's ability to throw the ball. So at the moment, Flynn, signed away from Green Bay in the offseason, isn't an option to create a quarter-pole quarterback controversy.

"He throws 15 throws a day, a couple days a week, so that's not really enough to get him ready in a game plan," Carroll told ESPN Seattle. "He has to throw 50 balls a day to get ready, so that's not even an issue for us yet to have a chance to put him in."

So now the questions are when exactly did Flynn get hurt to such a degree, and whether Carroll chose Wilson outright for the starting job in the preseason without factoring in injury.

Flynn was a hot free agent after the former Packers backup to Aaron Rodgers threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns in a Week 17 win over Detroit last season. Consider in four starts this season, Wilson has throw for only a combined 594 yards.

The Seahawks have a strong, physical defense with a strong, physical running game led by Marshawn Lynch to match. At an asterisked 2-2 with a tough matchup at Carolina coming up in Week 5, they're not getting enough from Wilson and their receivers to be a legitimate NFC playoff threat.

It will be interesting to see what happens if the offense continues to stagnate and the Seahawks keep losing with teens on the scoreboard. At this rate, when Flynn is healthy, Carroll strongly needs to consider making a change.

source: aol.sportingnews.com