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Drama, Drama, Drama

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FOXBOROUGH – (Wire Service Report) – New England Patriots defensive back Malcolm Butler took to social media on Tuesday to push back at reports and speculation regarding his benching for Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis.

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Malcolm Butler in pre-Super Bowl interview session

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A report by Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network indicated that Butler was benched for all but one play of the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles due to a “perfect storm” of issues including illness that caused him to arrive from Boston a day after the rest of the team, a poor week of practice, a missed curfew and frustration.

Butler went onto Twitter and Instagram to say he spent every night of Super Bowl week with his family and that he neither broke curfew nor attended any concerts.

“They are not only false but hurtful, to me and my family,” the cornerback wrote.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said after the game and again Monday that Butler was benched with the team’s best interest in mind and denied that it was a disciplinary action.

Butler is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Parts of the post, which began with him thanking owner Robert Kraft, coaches and teammates, sounded like an acknowledgment that he will not return to the team next season but expects to catch on with another team.

“I can’t wait for the 2018 season to get here. I will be ready!” he concluded.

Though he did not shed light on why he was benched, Butler did address remarks he made after the Super Bowl.

“Finally, I want to apologize to any offended by language reported immediately after the game during a very emotional time,” he wrote. “It was out of character for me and my character, and heart with Gods’ help is what got me to where I am today.”

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady commented on Butler’s Instagram post, writing, “Love you Malcolm. You are an incredible player and teammate and friend. Always!”

— Field Level Media

Philly, Philly!

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Philadelphia 41, New England 33

When: 6:30 PM ET, Sunday, February 4, 2018
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Attendance: 67,612
Special to Digital Sports Desk by Field Level Media
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MINNEAPOLIS – The Philadelphia Eagles, behind constant, relentless execution of offensive plays quarterbacked by Eagles reserve Nick Foles, upset the five-time champion New England Patriots, 41-33, to win the first Super Bowl title for the City of Philadelphia.

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Zach Ertz with Super Bowl winning touchdown catch

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Yes, for the first time, the Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl champions.

A Hail Mary pass attempt by Tom Brady fell incomplete in the end zone as time expired, and the New England Patriots fell to the Eagles 41-33 on Sunday in Super Bowl LI at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Jake Elliott nailed a 48-yard field goal with 1:05 remaining to give the Eagles an eight-point edge.

Philadelphia defensive end Brandon Graham punched the ball out of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s clutches with 2:09 left, and Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett recovered the fumble.

Graham told NBC of the strip-sack, “Just kept going, you know? We said we needed a play. If we got one more opportunity, we were going to give everything we got — and I just so happened to get there.

“I’m just thankful because we’ve got a team that’s resilient. You know, we’re gonna stick around for a long time — cause we world champs, baby, and it feels so good.”

Moments before Graham’s key play, tight end Zach Ertz lunged over the goal line for a touchdown with 2:21 remaining, giving the Eagles a 38-33 edge.

On the go-ahead, 11-yard scoring play, Ertz made the grab of a Nick Foles pass at the 2-yard line, then dived in front of Patriots safety Devin McCourty to cross the goal line.

Replay review confirmed the score and prompted Philadelphia to go for a two-point conversion, but the attempt — a swing pass to Eagles rookie running back Corey Clement — failed.

Foles finished 28 of 43 for 337 yards with three touchdown passes and one interception. Brady completed 28 of 47 passes for 505 yards and three TDs.

Clement caught four passes for 100 yards, while the Patriots had three players hit triple digits in receiving yards: Danny Amendola, eight catches, 152 yards; Chris Hogan, six catches, 128 yards, one touchdown; and Rob Gronkowski, nine catches, 116 yards, two TDs.

New England surged ahead 33-32 when Gronkowski caught Brady’s third touchdown pass of the game, a 4-yard toss with 9:22 left. Stephen Gostkowski’s extra point put New England on top for the first time in the game.

The Eagles took a 32-26 lead 51 seconds into the fourth quarter on a Elliott field goal, creating a bit of breathing space after Brady threw two third-quarter TD passes.

Brady’s 5-yard scoring toss to Gronkowski and 26-yard TD pass to Chris Hogan sandwiched the Eagles’ lone third-quarter score, a 22-yard catch by rookie running back Corey Clement of a Foles throw.

The Clement catch was reviewed because he appeared to slightly bobble the ball near the back of the end zone, but the officials ruled that he had both feet inbounds with possession.

Through three quarters, the teams already had set a Super Bowl record for total yards.

A gutsy trick play on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line staked the Eagles to a 22-12 halftime lead.

Foles caught the fourth-down touchdown toss from backup tight end Trey Burton. Lined up on the left side, Burton got the ball from Clement in the backfield and threw to a wide-open Foles on the right side.

Clement ping-ponged through the Patriots’ defense to set the Eagles up for first-and-goal at the 8, and on fourth down, coach Doug Pederson went for it.

Patriots running back James White plowed through the Eagles’ defense to make it at 15-12 game with 2:04 remaining in the half, but New England missed the extra point.

Gostkowski nailed a second field goal to trim the deficit to nine.

New England regained possession when cornerback Stephon Gilmore tipped the ball away from wide receiver Alshon Jeffery at the New England 7-yard line and Patriots safety Duron Harmon secured Foles’ pass attempt.

Jeffery hauled in a 34-yard score over Patriots cornerback Eric Rowe late in the first quarter to push the Philadelphia lead to 9-3. Elliott missed the extra point.

Philadelphia received the opening kickoff and began the scoring with Elliott punching in a 25-yard field goal to cap the game-starting drive.

New England knotted the score 3-3 with 4:20 left in the first quarter on a 26-yard field goal by Gostkowski.

Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks left the game with 12:59 left in the second quarter due to a head injury. He caught a pass over the middle, turned back to run and was hit helmet-to-helmet by Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, whom Cooks never saw coming.

Cooks was escorted to the locker room by medical personnel for New England, and he was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

New England trailed 28-3 in Super Bowl LI last February in Houston but rallied to beat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime.

–Field Level Media

 

Butler Sits, Stews; Might Be Gone

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MINNEAPOLIS – (Wire Service Report) – Three years after Malcolm Butler sealed a Super Bowl win for the New England Patriots with a last-minute interception, the cornerback did not play on defense Sunday in Super Bowl LII due to a “coach’s decision.”

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Malcolm Butler

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The move did not sit well with Butler.

“They gave up on me. (expletive). It is what it is,” Butler reportedly told ESPN Boston after New England’s 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Minneapolis.

The Eagles shredded the Patriots for 538 total yards, 374 of it through the air, prompting Butler to add, “I could have changed that game.”

According to ESPN, Butler played 97.8 percent of the Patriots’ regular-season snaps on defense. Butler, who was not at Monday’s media night and was limited Wednesday while reportedly dealing with flu-like symptoms, did see snaps Sunday on special teams.

New England coach Bill Belichick told NBC at halftime only that he “made the decision that gives us the best chance to win.”

The Patriots opened the game with Eric Rowe in primary coverage on wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who caught the game’s first touchdown. New England made the switch to have Stephon Gilmore shadow Jeffery, his college teammate at South Carolina. Jeffery wound up with three catches for 73 yards.

In Super Bowl XLIX, Butler intercepted a Russell Wilson pass at the goal line with 26 seconds left to clinch New England’s 28-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks. At the time, Butler was a little-known undrafted rookie. He subsequently became a mainstay for the Patriots and was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 2015 season.

Butler was the subject of trade rumors last offseason, and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.

–Field Level Media

Foles Earns MVP

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MINNEAPOLIS – In the span of eight weeks, Nick Foles went from forgotten backup quarterback to Super Bowl MVP.

Foles threw three touchdown passes and caught a score Sunday as the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl for the first time ever, and he was selected the game’s top player.

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NBC’s Dan Patrick Interviews MVP Nick Foles

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“Unbelievable,” Foles said on the field after the game. “We felt confident coming in, and we just went out there and played football. We played this game since we were little kids, we dreamed about this moment.

“We’re very blessed.”

The Patriots got a last-gasp possession facing an eight-point deficit, but they fell short in a 41-33 decision at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

“Nick made some outstanding throws,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. “It kind of felt like whoever had the ball last could win this game.”

Foles completed 28 of 43 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns, and he became the first quarterback in Super Bowl history to catch a touchdown pass.

The TD toss from backup tight end Trey Burton to Foles was a play call dubbed “Philly special,” Pederson said.

“We hit it at the right time — we’ve probably worked on it for a month,” Foles said of the trick play the Eagles used on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line in the second quarter.

Foles took over the starting job after regular-season MVP candidate Carson Wentz sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Week 14. Foles went 2-1 as a starter to finish the regular season, but the Eagles entered the postseason with serious question marks on offense after losing 6-0 to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 while Foles completed 4 of 11 passes for 39 yards and an interception.

He answered his critics by completing 77.8 percent of his passes for 598 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions while leading the Eagles to victories over the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings to reach the Super Bowl.

Pederson vowed to remain aggressive with Foles under center, and that included calling for two successful fourth-and-1 plays in the Super Bowl. The first was the trick-play touchdown, and the second was a 2-yard completion from Foles to tight end Zach Ertz from Philadelphia’s own 45-yard line with the Eagles clinging to a five-point lead in the fourth quarter.

“My mentality coming into the game was, listen, I’m going to stay aggressive with Nick and let him use his playmakers to make plays,” said Pederson.

Foles wound up with the win over Patriots quarterback Tom Brady — 28 of 48, 505 yards, three touchdowns — in the most prolific offensive display in Super Bowl history.

“We talked a lot this last week, there was a time where I was thinking about hanging up the cleats,” Foles said. “I felt pretty good. It’s a big game. It doesn’t get any bigger than this. The big thing for me was knowing I didn’t have to be Superman. Not look at the scoreboard, not look at the time, just go out there and play. I didn’t switch my mindset. I was just playing ball.”

–Field Level Media

Father Time? Not Yet Says Brady

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MINNEAPOLIS – (Staff and wire Service Report) – The New England Patriot ran out of time in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LII, but Patriots star QB Tom Brady isn’t ready to concede to Father Time yet.

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New England Patriots QB Tom Patriots

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The 40-year-old New England Patriots quarterback, fresh off winning the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award for the third time, told Westwood One radio on Sunday: “Yeah, you’re gonna see me playing football next year. I don’t envision not playing.”

Brady threw for 505 yards and three touchdowns Sunday, but the Patriots fell 41-33 to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII.

Afterward, asked whether he would be back next season, Brady said, “I certainly hope so. I certainly hope so.”

Although Brady is under contract for next season, speculation about his future increased last month when ESPN reported a rift had formed between Brady, New England coach Bill Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft.

Patriots president Jonathan Kraft said in the days before the Super Bowl that Brady had earned the right to decide when it would be time for him to step aside. Such leeway would mark a departure from the team’s standard procedure under Belichick, who often has moved on from players before it seemed to be their time.

In Brady’s Westwood One interview with Jim Gray, the quarterback said of the Super Bowl, “You’re at the end of the race but you’ve got your biggest mountain to climb right at the end. Hopefully all the lessons we’ve learned have allowed us to be at our very best for this moment, and that’s what it’s going to take and that’s what we’re prepared for and that’s what I go out and expect our team to do.”

This season, Brady led the NFL with 4,577 passing yards, 36 passing touchdowns and a 111.0 passer rating.

He appeared in his record eighth Super Bowl and already held the record among quarterbacks with five titles entering play Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Steady Confidence in MVP Foles

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MINNEAPOLIS – Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles was selected the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl LII after throwing for 373 yards in leading the Eagles to a 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday night in Minneapolis.

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MVP Nick Foles

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Foles capped one of the more improbable storylines for a Super Bowl MVP, completing 28 of 43 passes while also becoming the first quarterback in Super Bowl history catch a touchdown pass.

“Unbelievable,” Foles said on the field after the game. “We felt confident coming in, and we just went out there and played football. We played this game since we were little kids, we dreamed about this moment.

“We’re very blessed.”

Foles took over the starting job after regular-season MVP candidate Carson Wentz sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Week 14. Foles went 2-1 as a starter to finish the regular season, but the Eagles entered the postseason with serious question marks on offense after being shut out 6-0 by the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 while Foles completed 4 of 11 passes for 39 yards and an interception.

He answered his critics by completing 77.8 percent of his passes for 598 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions while leading the Eagles to victories over the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings to reach the Super Bowl.

Coach Doug Pederson vowed to remain aggressive with Foles under center, and that included calling for two successful fourth-and-1 plays Sunday. The first was a touchdown pass to Foles from tight end Trey Burton on a trick play, and the second was a 2-yard completion from Foles to tight end Zach Ertz from Philadelphia’s own 45-yard line with the Eagles clinging to a five-point lead in the fourth quarter.

“My mentality coming into the game was, listen, I’m going to stay aggressive with Nick and let him use his playmakers to make plays,” said Pederson.

–Field Level Media

Super Bowl: Game Scout

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Philadelphia Eagles (15-3) vs. New England Patriots (15-3)

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When: 6:30 PM ET, Sunday, February 4, 2018
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Special Preview for digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

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MINNEAPOLIS – No team has won back-to-back Super Bowls since the New England Patriots held off the Philadelphia Eagles in February 2005 — the franchise’s third championship in four seasons. Thirteen years later, the Super Bowl script is unchanged: The Patriots are vying to win consecutive titles and the Eagles are trying to prevent Tom Brady and Bill Belichick from hoisting a third Lombardi Trophy in four years.

Making its eighth Super Bowl appearance in 17 seasons behind the most successful coach-quarterback combination in NFL history, New England has won five championships in that span, including last season’s dramatic 34-28 overtime victory over Atlanta that featured the greatest comeback on the NFL’s grandest stage. “It’s just been an unbelievable run and I think everyone should be really proud of what we’ve accomplished,” said four-time Super Bowl MVP Brady, who is hoping star tight end Rob Gronkowski will be available. “I’m proud of our team. It’s been a great year and it would be really great if we can take care of business in the next game.” Top-seeded Philadelphia is on quite a run of its own, embracing its underdog status following a season-ending injury to starting quarterback Carson Wentz and rallying behind backup Nick Foles to stomp No. 2 seed Minnesota 38-7 and earn its first trip to the Super Bowl since that 24-21 loss to the Patriots. “We know what we’re faced against, we know the opponent we’re going against,” Eagles second-year coach Doug Pederson said. “Lot of respect for them obviously and what they’ve done and what they’ve accomplished. It’s about what we do. How our players handle this week and eliminate distractions and eliminate the noise and how well they prepare and get themselves ready to go.”

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, NBC. LINE: Patriots -4.5. O/U: 48

ABOUT THE EAGLES (15-3): With Foles no longer looking like a weak link following a superb performance against Minnesota, in which he threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns, Philadelphia presents a balanced offense the likes of which New England hasn’t faced since Week 15 at Pittsburgh. Foles has multiple weapons in wideouts Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith, who combined for 10 catches and three touchdowns in the NFC title game, along with tight end Zach Ertz (11 receptions in both playoff games). Jay Ajayi has rushed for 127 yards in the two postseason games and is complemented by sledgehammer back LeGarrette Blount, who has 10 career playoff touchdowns and won a Super Bowl last season with the Patriots. Philadelphia’s defense ranked No. 1 against the run (79.2 yards per game) and also tied for fourth with 19 interceptions.

ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (15-3): Brady has been spectacular in the past two Super Bowl victories, rallying New England from 25 points down last season and erasing a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit against Seattle three years ago. The Patriots also had to come from 10 points down in the AFC Championship Game despite the absence of Gronkowski, who was limited in practice Wednesday and remains in the league’s concussion protocol. Danny Amendola caught a pair of fourth-quarter TD passes versus Jacksonville and has 18 receptions in the two playoff games while speedster Brandin Cooks has nine. Ex-Eagle Dion Lewis has carried the running game over the second half of the season but all three backs are threats in the passing game, particularly James White. New England’s defense looked vulnerable against Jacksonville but has 11 sacks in the postseason.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Patriots are looking to join the Steelers as the only team with six Super Bowl championships.

2. Foles is the only QB to post a passer rating of at least 100 in his first three postseason games.

3. Gronkowski has 10 postseason touchdowns, including seven in his last seven playoff games.

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When the Eagles have the ball: There is no question that Nick Foles is the X-factor. Teammates have voiced strong support for the embattled backup quarterback throughout the week, pointing to his strong performance in the rout of Minnesota during the NFC Championship Game. However, there is also the combined 23-for-49 passing for 202 yards over the final two regular-season games and Philadelphia scraping by with 15 points in the Divisional Playoff victory over Atlanta.

Given two weeks to prepare, Patriots coach Bill Belichick is a proven master of exploiting weaknesses.

New England likes to be varied in how it attacks opponents, but the Patriots are pretty clear in this case — keeping Foles unsettled, which could come in the form of pass-rushing specialist James Harrison & Co. pressuring Foles’ blind side against backup left tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai.

Philadelphia finished third in rushing during the regular season. Belichick will no doubt load up to contain Jay Ajayi, LeGarrette Blount and Corey Clement. If the Patriots are successful in those efforts, it will be incumbent upon Foles to step up and makes plays while avoiding turnovers.

When the Patriots have the ball: New England finished the regular season second in points scored, first in total yards and second in passing yards. If there’s a potential weakness, it’s with the ground game that averaged 118.1 yards per game and 3.5 yards per carry. By the same token, the versatile personnel in the Patriots’ backfield does contribute heavily to that passing game — essentially as an extension of the run.

New England’s committee of backs combined to rank second in rushing touchdowns, receptions, receiving yards and scrimmage yards while leading the league in touchdown receptions. The versatility of Dion Lewis and James White likely will factor heavily into New England’s game plan as the Patriots test the Eagles’ linebackers in coverage.

The strength of the Eagles’ formidable defense lies with the pass rush. Having quarterback Tom Brady simply stand in the pocket and wait for receivers to get open is asking for trouble. Expect Lewis and White to be heavily involved from the outset in an attempt to force Philadelphia to adjust its personnel packages, and for the Eagles potentially to counter with three-safety looks.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski has been cleared from the concussion protocol and provides a critical element to the game plan.

He likely will be shadowed heavily by safety Malcolm Jenkins, which is one of the marquee matchups — and Gronkowski’s presence also stresses the personnel charged with dealing with complementary weapons such as Brandin Cooks and Danny Amendola.

Notes: The Patriots are appearing in their eighth Super Bowl since 2002, seeking their sixth title during that span. The Eagles are 0-2 all-time in Super Bowls, including a 24-21 loss to New England in Super Bowl XXXIX. … The Patriots seek to tie the Pittsburgh Steelers (six) for the most Super Bowl titles. … This will mark the seventh “rematch” in Super Bowl history. … The Patriots lead the NFL with 10 Super Bowl appearances. … Foles seeks to become the eighth backup quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory. Brady led the Patriots to a win in Super Bowl XXXVI after Drew Bledsoe was injured. … Brady seeks to become the first player to lead the NFL in passing yards during the regular season and win the Super Bowl. … White had 14 catches and three touchdowns in Super Bowl LI last year.

For the Eagles to Win: One school of thought is that the Eagles would be wise to build an early lead, turn to their ground game and control the clock. That’s Football 101. But after watching Brady overcome double-digit deficits against Atlanta in last year’s Super Bowl and Jacksonville two weeks ago, Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said he really doesn’t want to see Brady in the four-minute offense.

The Jaguars puckered when they considered putting their season on Blake Bortles’ arm. Philadelphia coach Doug Pederson is far more aggressive by nature, and he won’t be afraid to sink or swim if Foles needs to make a play — or four. Whether Philly is protecting a lead or forced to try to rally for a late score, the Eagles’ hopes for that elusive first Super Bowl title will come down to the backup quarterback who considered retirement this time last year.

For the Patriots to Win: Unlike past comeback performances, the Patriots can not afford to get behind by two touchdowns against the Philly defense. The Patriots need a strong first quarter performance and a consistent pass-rush against Philadelphia’s Nick Foles, a QB without Super Bowl experience. From there, Tom Brady will need to spread the Eagles’ secondary out by hitting his tight end, Rob Gronkowski, who will undoubtedly see double-coverage.

If Brady can establish Gronkowski early, it will open up the running game, short “West Coast” style screens for the running backs and allow the NE wide-receivers some room with single coverage on Cooks, Amendola and Chris Hogan.

New England needs to control the ball, keep the Philly defense on the field, then let experience and history show in the fourth quarter.

Can Patriots Coach Bill Belichick devise his schemes to keep the ball away from former NE RB LaGarrete Blount and the newly acquired Jay Ajayi?

Will James Harrison and the pass rush on Foles be a major factor?

Can New England’s defense and secondary force Foles to turn the ball over, or fold under the pressure of a close game in the fourth quarter?

Prediction?

New England 24, Philadelphia 21 — Rob Gronkowski (MVP)

  • Field Level Media and Staff report

Gronk Cleared and Pats Ready

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BLOOMINGTON  (Minn) – (Wire Service Report for Digital Sports Desk) – Eleven days after leaving the AFC Championship Game with a head injury, Rob Gronkowski was cleared from NFL concussion protocol on Thursday and practiced without limitation with the New England Patriots during the team’s afternoon workout at the Minnesota Vikings’ practice facility 15 miles away in Eden Prairie.

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Rob Gronkowski (87)

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“I knew I was going to be playing (in the Super Bowl) the whole time,” Gronkowski said in his first meeting of the week with media members at Mall of America. While in concussion protocol, players are not allowed to participate in press conferences.

“The biggest test was just waiting to get cleared. And waiting. And waiting. I was just waiting for that day. I knew I was going to prepare, be prepared, that wasn’t going to be a problem.”

Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said the Patriots do have a game plan in place should Gronkowski regress for any reason and not be able to play. Dwayne Allen, who is mostly used as an inline blocker and will be vital in pass protection on Sunday, had only 10 catches in 2017 but said Thursday he would be prepared to play any role of significance if it helps the Patriots beat the Philadelphia Eagles.

While officially he will be listed as questionable for Super Bowl LII, Gronkowski presents a major problem for Philadelphia. The Eagles could use safety Malcolm Jenkins exclusively on Gronkowski, but rarely do teams hold up for four quarters when lining up in man schemes against the big tight end.

Gronkowski said he is not upset with Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church, who was flagged and fined $24,309 for the open-field collision that concussed the 6-foot-6, 265-pound Gronkowski.

“It’s football,” Gronkowski said before a media throng of at least 25 tripod TV cameras and more than 100 reporters. “It’s a split second to make a decision. It’s running full speed one way. I’m going the other way. It’s just part of the game. It happens. Just got to move on.”

Quarterback Tom Brady said he saw the usual Gronkowski on the field Thursday. He is thrilled to see Gronkowski return to the field considering his top receiver from 2016, Julian Edelman, missed the entire season due to injury. Gronkowski did not play against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI last February because he was on injured reserve due to back surgery.

“He’s a dynamic player,” Brady said of Gronkowski, who led the team with 69 receptions, 1,084 yards and nine touchdowns in 2017. “He means a ton to our offense. We’re obviously all hoping he’s out there.”

Like Brady, head coach Bill Belichick left open some doubt about Gronkowski’s game-day status. However, there is not an ounce of ambiguity about what Gronkowski believes to be the plan Sunday night.

“I’m cleared, I’m ready to roll,” he said.

Brady wore tape on his healing right hand at Thursday’s practice, now 15 days since a practice collision with running back Rex Burkhead caused a laceration on his throwing hand that required stitches. Brady wore a black glove to his press session Thursday night and said he is even sleeping in the custom-made Under Armour mitten.

“I’m doing better,” Brady said. “Good to be out there and participate the way that I have. Obviously still not where I want to be.”

Brady said Under Armour sent him the glove because it is great for recovery.

With Gronkowski back, the Patriots are at full strength offensively. They said that’s the only way to beat the Eagles — with every weapon available.

“The defense is good in a lot of ways,” Gronkowski said. “Putting pressure on the quarterback, their wide-9 (defensive ends) stand out.”

But in Brady’s past three starts against a defense coached by current Eagles coordinator Jim Schwartz — all three games were against different teams — the Patriots scored 37 or more points. Those games include New England wins of 40-23 (2006, Tennessee Titans), 45-24 (2010, Detroit Lions) and 37-22 (2014, Buffalo Bills).

Philadelphia’s penchant for push at all four positions on the defensive line and the Eagles’ dominant run defense might put Brady in position to attack with short, quick passes to running backs, plus Gronkowski and Allen.

Brady echoed Gronkowski’s sentiments about contending with the Eagles’ defensive line.

“Their D-line is the best we’ve faced all year,” Brady said. “Eight deep. They play the run. They strip-sack the quarterback. … They’re not going to tire out. They haven’t tired out all season.”

Brady, who is 5-2 all-time in Super Bowls and starting his eighth this week, said “not 1 easy yard” will be gained against the Eagles, but the team that finds big plays will be celebrating at U.S. Bank Stadium and the other will have “a pretty crappy Sunday.”

–By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Super Slogan? – “Billy, Billy!”

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BLOOMINGTON (Minn) – (Special to Digital Sports Desk by Field Level Media) – Only two months had passed. There was no way Bill Belichick had already forgotten the Patriots had hoisted their second Lombardi Trophy in three years when New England opened minicamp in April.

“You would have thought we went 2-14,” said safety Devin McCourty of the edge with which Belichick facilitated the team’s first practice back together in 2017 after winning the Super Bowl over the Atlanta Falcons last February. “He was ripping us apart.”

Accountability drives the bus in New England.

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Bill Belichick

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Belichick hands out position-specific checklists corresponding to the game plan. Players will be quizzed in position meetings and in front of the team if Belichick gets the urge. Game week is as much academic as anything for the Patriots.

Every alignment the Eagles might use in Super Bowl LII and the team’s propensity to run certain plays from that set are to be engrained in New England’s defense well before the team takes a group photo at U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday.

Preparation helps define the Patriots.

“Take nothing for granted,” said wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who is in his first season with the Patriots after an offseason trade from the New Orleans Saints. “I’ve got a lot of respect for him. He prepares every year like it’s his last.”

McCourty, a team captain since his second season in the NFL, said there is never a fear that Belichick will leave well enough alone. There’s no such thing as a perfect game. And you won’t have to ask Belichick to be told as much if you’re one of his 53 players.

“He keeps our sense of urgency high,” McCourty said. “A lot of it, that’s just him. The love for the game.”

Is human nature not a factor for Belichick?

“I don’t think he’s human,” McCourty quipped. “I don’t know what tests we need to run, but probably not.”

Belichick gently rolled back multiple questions Wednesday afternoon. Typical responses such as “not giving away our game plan” and “my focus is on Sunday night.”

Media might be sensitive to Belichick’s stance in the sessions, but players see a pretty similar posture.

McCourty said the treatment in the captain’s meeting, with longtime Patriots Tom Brady and Matthew Slater flanking the 30-year-old safety, is no different than it would be for a room full of rookies.

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Devin McCourty

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Former and current assistants rave, but fail to put into words and context, Belichick’s genius. Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz broke into the NFL as an assistant and scout under Belichick with the Cleveland Browns in 1993. The experience, Schwartz said Wednesday, was “an absolute football education.”

Schwartz said Belichick coaches everyone — every single one — in the building.

Every granular detail has importance, and Belichick demands of every staff member to make sure the 65-year-old coach gets to determine the significance of each item.

“Everyone understood — get on the same page, there is only one direction. And Bill set that direction,” Schwartz said. “He makes it clear with his philosophy.”

Twenty-five years later, Belichick is still dictating scouts chart the width of offensive line splits and asking them to equate the information to play selection. About the only thing that has changed with Belichick is the weight of his ring-clad fingers.

Even if the Patriots add a sixth Lombardi Trophy since 2002 on Sunday night, McCourty knows the celebration can only last so long around Belichick.

“Bill says it all the time,” McCourty said. “There’s a lot of hot air outside the building but if you want the truth, come to the 8 a.m. meeting.”

–By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Sports Biz: Daily Fantasy Strikes Back with Super Bowl Showdown

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BOSTON – (Staff Report) – Serious fantasy football players go into withdrawal, usually right after the 16th week of NFL season, when most season-long fantasy leagues and contests conclude. A small portion of players, then, do one of two things:

  • They turn to Daily Fantasy Sports offerings; or …
  • They pack it in for the year and move on to prepare for Baseball

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Draft Kings has a Super Showdown Game this Weekend

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If they turn to DFS, as the playoffs progress there are fewer and fewer games being played and the game offerings and number of player choices dwindle.

Up until this playoff season, it’s been a major issue of contention for players and fantasy providers alike.

Why?

Reviewing the laws of these United States, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) does not allow for fantasy gambling on a single “event,” as the Federal law (backed up by many a State) calls for DFS to be played on “multiple real world sporting or other events.” In the past most game providers, fearing any issues with their credit card processing partners, have backed away from single game fantasy.

Massachusetts-based Draft Kings took another look at the picture and came up with “Showdown,” a single football game offering that calls for DK account holders to use a salary cap system to select four “offensive” position players and two “defensive” position players from a combination of the rosters of the two teams to form a single fantasy team for the week. The game is (apparently, well, at least, currently) legal in 41 US States as it has multiple scoring events (wink, wink) occurring within the single game, noting those many series of events (runs, catches, throws, tackles, etc) do not involved a single team or single athlete.

DK launched the games in early January, after the regular season and now hope for a “Super-Sized” payoff when the New England Patriots face the Philadelphia Eagles in this weekend’s Super Bowl LII.

While Draft Kings does its thing with Showdown, bigtime rival Fan Duel has more or less punted and is offering “Big Game Bingo” as the headliner on its site. Another company, WinView, is pushing the limits of UIGEA with its bevy of “Prop” bets and play predictions offerings that include action on the Super Bowl, with “paid” – let’s call it like it is – Pay-to-Play – options legal in 36 States.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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