It's no secret who President Donald Trump will be rooting for in the Super Bowl on Sunday.Trump lauded the three pillars of the New England Patriots organization - quarterback Tom Brady, head coach Bill Belichick, and owner Robert Kraft - admiring the trio's ability to work together."So, it's talent, it's chemistry - they have a great chemistry with each other - I mean, I like all three of them, as you know, I’m a very good friend with them. Coach Belichick endorsed me, you remember that?" Trump told The Daily Caller's Vince Coglianese and Saagar Enjeti.He continued: "Belichick is so tough and Kraft is a great guy. The three of them they just have - how good was Brady, I mean, the last game? Not the last game, the last two games. Brady plays better under pressure than he does in a regular game. I mean, that last two minutes, the way he was throwing the ball down the field - they were bullets."Trump praised commissioner Roger Goodell for reaching out to him after Canada joined the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ruled to block American Super Bowl ads, but the USMCA superseded the CRTC's decision."Commissioner Goodell called me and he thanked me, you know, they were working on that thing for years. It was having to do with the advertisements for the Super Bowl, it was a long-term problem and I got it solved," Trump said."I was very pleased that he called me to thank me for helping him with Canada and, yeah, it looks good. And their games have really been good, other than one call."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said last Tuesday that he believes Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald to be "unblockable," and his players seem to agree with the assertion ahead of Super Bowl LIII on Sunday."If you get your set wrong, that’s a problem," Patriots center David Andrews said, according to Stephen Holder of The Athletic. "That’s a really big thing. Getting off on a good set. If not, he’s going to take advantage of it. He knows exactly what he’s looking for. ... You make a mistake against a guy like that, there’s no recovery. You’ve got to be on your game at all times. You’ve got to be close to perfect."Andrews added: "He’s got such a great motor. He’s a guy that’s never blocked. That’s a term we like to use. You think you’ve got him blocked but he’s really not. You’ve got to stay on him."Donald submitted one of the most impressive campaigns by a defender in recent memory, recording 59 tackles, 20.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. He's widely considered the favorite to win his second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year Award."He's unblockable," Patriots tight end Dwayne Allen said. "Just unblockable."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Melvin Gordon is happy to wait before signing a new contract.The Los Angeles Chargers' Pro Bowl running back will play the 2019 season on a $5.6-million fifth-year option. Rather than ink an extension with the club, Gordon wants to see how the rest of the market plays out."I'm waiting. I'm sitting back waiting, waiting on Bell," Gordon said of free agent Le'Veon Bell on NFL Media's "Around The NFL" podcast, per Gilbert Manzano of the Orange County Register.Bell forced his way to the open market after refusing to sign a second franchise tag with the Pittsburgh Steelers. For Gordon, the hope is Bell will command a rich deal that will reset the market for running backs. Currently, the Los Angeles Rams' Todd Gurley owns the richest contract at the position. He signed a four-year deal worth $57.5 million in the summer."I'm glad it's changing because we were getting devalued for a little bit. But me, David Johnson, Todd Gurley, I can go down a whole list, Bell, you name it, Zeke (Ezekiel Elliott), just game-changers. Alvin Kamara, all those guys," he said.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A Pittsburgh TV station employee paid a heavy price for taking a high-profile shot at Tom Brady.Pittsburgh's CBS affiliate fired the employee responsible for identifying the New England Patriots' star quarterback as a "known cheater" in a graphic displayed Monday during KDKA-TV's 4 o'clock news program, a spokesman told Dan Gartland of Sports Illustrated. CBS is the broadcaster for Super Bowl LIII.

Rob Gronkowski didn't disclose Wednesday whether Super Bowl LIII will be his last NFL game, but the New England Patriots tight end admitted life in the league has taken a toll on him."The season's a grind. It's up and down. I'm not going to lie and sit here and say every week is the best," Gronkowski said, according to NBC Sports Boston's Nick Goss."Not at all. You go up, you go down. You can take some serious hits. To tell you the truth, just try and imagine getting hit all the time and trying to be where you want to be every day in life. It's tough, it's difficult. To take hits to the thigh, take hits to your head. Abusing your body isn't what your brain wants. When your body is abused, it can bring down your mood. You've got to be able to deal with that, too, throughout the season. You gotta be able to deal with that in the games."Gronkowski has long kept his retirement plans close to the vest, repeatedly telling reporters he doesn't know what his future holds. The five-time Pro Bowler contemplated walking away after the Super Bowl last year, and is believed to be considering it again as his ninth season winds down.The 29-year-old, who's endured numerous major injuries throughout his career, had one of his least-productive campaigns in 2018. He did, however, step up in the AFC Championship Game, posting six catches for 79 yards in the Patriots' overtime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs."Everyone expects us players to be wide awake every single day, and it's like, 'Yo, I just took 50 hits to my head' - or not to my head, but I'm saying I just took 50 collisions, and then like the next day everyone wants you to be up," Gronkowski added."They want practice full speed, next week they want the game to be full speed, but they don't understand sometimes what players are going through with their bodies, with their minds. That's why I've been saying you see a shift in players in games where people are down the whole game, and then you see, all of a sudden, the next week it's like, 'How did this team just go from one switch to the other?'"Gronkowski has spent his entire career with the Patriots. He'll be going for his third career Super Bowl ring on Sunday when New England faces the Los Angeles Rams in Atlanta.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sean Payton went into hiding immediately after his New Orleans Saints lost the NFC Championship Game.After falling short of the Super Bowl against the Los Angeles Rams, Payton spent his time in a self-described "cave.""I would say honestly after the game for two-to-three days, much like normal people, I sat and probably didn't come out of my room, ate Jeni's ice cream and watched Netflix for three straight days," Payton said Wednesday in his year-end press conference, per ESPN's Mike Triplett.For Payton and the entire fan base, much of the discontent centers around the blown pass interference call when the Rams' Nickell Robey-Coleman ran into Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis late in the contest.Now that he's had 10 days to stew on the play, Payton offered some perspective to angry Saints fans."It's not gonna happen overnight and it will take a little bit of time, obviously. But it's why we like this game. I mean, football is like life. It's not always gonna be how you planned it, it's not always gonna be fair," he said. "And sometimes you get punched and you get up."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson won't seek an offseason trade from the Arizona Cardinals despite asking the organization to move him before the 2018 trade deadline."I just want to apologize to everybody for asking for that trade in the middle of the season," Peterson told spectators Wednesday while golfing in the Phoenix Open Pro-Am. "I'm here to stay, baby."

Super Bowl LIII will feature a pair of teams on opposite ends of the BMI (body mass index) spectrum, according to a study conducted by Tick Pick.The group analyzed the BMI - a number that reflects body weight adjusted for height - of every NFL team in the 2018 season.The Seattle Seahawks claimed the top spot with an average BMI of 32.02. They're followed by the Carolina Panthers (31.99) and New England Patriots (31.78).The Los Angeles Rams - who will face the Patriots in the Super Bowl on Sunday - came in last with an average BMI of 30.55.Defensive tackle Danny Shelton has the highest BMI among Patriots players (44.39), while center Brian Allen leads the Rams (38.90).The study also shows the NFL positions with the highest and lowest average BMI.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Super Bowl performances often define a quarterback's legacy, with a captive audience tuning in for America's greatest sporting event.So theScore editors Michael McClymont, Arun Srinivasan, Alex Chippin, and Sean Tomlinson ranked all 104 starting quarterback performances in the Super Bowl, with an emphasis on clutch moments, statistical production, and, of course, the game's final result.Best of the bestThere are a number of excellent performances throughout Super Bowl history, and the following are the absolute best.Joe Montana, 49ers vs. Broncos, SB 2422-for-29, 297 yards, 5 TDMontana capped off the best all-time postseason run with a masterclass against the Broncos, dicing up the opponent immediately, starting with the 49ers' first drive. He became the third player to win Super Bowl MVP and NFL MVP in the same season, and although he'd long cemented his place in history, this game was a legacy-defining performance.Steve Young, 49ers vs. Chargers, SB 2924-for-36, 325 yards, 6 TDYoung was simply unfair against the Chargers. In his finest hour, he torched San Diego with two early first-quarter touchdowns, then calmly continued to destroy the opposition. He also led the 49ers with 49 rushing yards on five carries.Joe Montana, 49ers vs. Dolphins, SB 1924-for-35, 331 yards, 3 TD, 1 rush TDNot only did Montana best Dan Marino with his 331 passing yards and three touchdowns, he also added a rushing score and set a record at the time for the most quarterback rushing yards in the Super Bowl.Doug Williams, Redskins vs. Broncos, SB 2218-for-29, 340 yards, 4 TD, 1 INTWilliams' performance was historic in many ways, and it's best remembered for its social significance after he became the first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl. He tossed an unprecedented four touchdown passes in the second quarter alone to earn Super Bowl XXII MVP honors.Troy Aikman, Cowboys vs. Bills, SB 2722-for-30, 273 yards, 4 TDAikman was flawless in his Super Bowl debut, lifting Dallas to its first of three championships over a four-year span. His four touchdown passes helped the Cowboys drop 52 points on the Bills.Phil Simms, Giants vs. Broncos, SB 2122-for-25, 268 yards, 3 TDSimms set Super Bowl records for completion percentage (88.0) and passer rating (150.92) while pushing the Giants to a 19-point rout of the John Elway-led Broncos.Tom Brady, Patriots vs. Falcons, SB 5143-for-62, 466 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT (returned for TD)It was a tale of two halves for Brady, and during the final two quarters, he showed why he's the best quarterback ever. Brady rallied the Patriots to victory after trailing 28-3 in the third quarter.Drew Brees, Saints vs. Colts, SB 4432-for-39, 288 yards, 2 TDBrees was clinically efficient while steering the Saints to a comeback victory over the Colts, a win that permanently pushed him to another tier among the all-time greats.Kurt Warner, Rams vs. Titans, SB 3424-for-45, 414 yards, 2 TDThe Hall of Famer threw a go-ahead touchdown in the dying minutes and didn't commit a turnover in 45 pass attempts.Tom Brady, Patriots vs. Panthers, SB 3832-for-48, 354 yards, 3 TD, 1 INTBrady threw for 156 yards in the fourth quarter alone, with much of that (67 yards) coming on a game-winning drive that began with only 1:08 remaining.Nick Foles, Eagles vs. Patriots, SB 5228-of-43, 373 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 1 receiving TDCarson Wentz's backup outshined Brady to finish his magical playoff run and give Philadelphia its first-ever Super Bowl.Best performance in a losing effort Winners are immortalized forever, and losers are often forgotten. But we'd be remiss to not highlight this performance.Boston Globe / Boston Globe / GettyTom Brady, Patriots vs. Eagles, SB 5228-for-48, 505 yards, 3 TDBrady playing as well as possible and still losing is rare, but that's what happened against the Eagles. He carved up the Eagles at every turn, but they always had an answer, and the Patriots' defense should take the blame for the 41-33 defeat.Not elite, but still very goodAlthough these performances aren't quite elite, there's no shame being included in this group.Joe Montana, 49ers vs. Bengals, SB 2323-for-36, 357 yards, 2 TDMontana was at his best when it mattered most. He led a 92-yard drive culminating with a game-winning touchdown pass with 34 seconds remaining.Aaron Rodgers, Packers vs. Steelers, SB 4524-for-39, 304 yards, 3 TDTom Brady, Patriots vs. Seahawks, SB 4937-for-50, 328 yards, 4 TD, 2 INTJoe Flacco, Ravens vs. 49ers, SB 4722-for-33, 287 yards, 3 TDJim Plunkett, Raiders vs. Eagles, SB 1513-of-21, 261 yards, 3 TDBart Starr, Packers vs. Chiefs, SB 116-for-23, 250 yards, 2 TD, 1 INTTerry Bradshaw, Steelers vs. Cowboys, SB 1317-for-30, 318 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT, 2 fumbles lostEli Manning, Giants vs. Patriots, SB 4630-for-40, 296 yards, 1 TDFormidable foesThere's no shame in losing when you play this well.Kurt Warner, Cardinals vs. Steelers, SB 4331-for-43, 377 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT (returned for TD)Santonio Holmes denied Warner a second Super Bowl ring when he toed the sideline in the end zone to haul in a final-minute championship-winning touchdown for Pittsburgh.Matt Ryan, Falcons vs. Patriots, SB 5117-for-23, 284 yards, 2 TD, 1 fumble lostBrett Favre, Packers vs. Broncos, SB 3225-for-42, 256 yards, 3 TD, 1 INTRoger Staubach, Cowboys vs. Steelers, SB 1317-for-30, 228 yards, 3 TD, 1 INTJake Delhomme, Panthers vs. Patriots, SB 3816-for-33, 323 yards, 3 TDPeyton Manning, Colts vs. Saints, SB 4431-for-45, 333 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT (returned for TD)Colin Kaepernick, 49ers vs. Ravens, SB 4716-for-28, 302 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 rush TD, 67 rushing yardsRussell Wilson, Seahawks vs. Patriots, SB 4912-for-21, 247 yards, 2 TD, 1 INTJohn Elway, Broncos vs. Giants, SB 2122-for-37, 304 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 rush TDRock solidThese signal-callers led their teams to victory with help from great supporting casts.Focus On Sport / Getty Images Sport / GettyTerry Bradshaw, Steelers vs. Cowboys, SB 109-for-19, 209 yards, 2 TDBradshaw wasn't as effective in his first Super Bowl meeting against the Cowboys while completing just nine passes. However, he did record several spectacular connections with Super Bowl X MVP Lynn Swann.Tom Brady, Patriots vs. Eagles, SB 3923-of-33, 236 yards, 2 TDBrett Favre, Packers vs. Patriots, SB 3114-of-27, 246 yards, 2 TD, 1 rush TDRussell Wilson, Seahawks vs. Broncos, SB 4818-of-25, 206 yards, 2 TDTroy Aikman, Cowboys vs. Steelers, SB 3015-of-23, 209 yards, 1 TDMark Rypien, Redskins vs. Bills, SB 2618-for-33, 292 yards, 2 TD, 1 INTLegacy-defining victoriesThe circumstances of these victories made the performances more memorable than the stat lines may suggest.Allen Kee / Getty Images Sport / GettyJohn Elway, Broncos vs. Falcons, SB 3318-for-29, 336 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 rush TDElway earned his second ring, and then he rode off into the sunset firmly in place as one of the greatest quarterbacks ever.Eli Manning, Giants vs. Patriots, SB 4219-for-34, 255 yards, 2 TD, 1 INTManning was on one end of an iconic Super Bowl moment - David Tyree's helmet catch with 51 seconds left - while leading a brilliant fourth-quarter comeback in the final minutes.Jeff Hostetler, Giants vs. Bills, SB 2520-for-32, 222 yards, 1 TDHostetler secured his legacy as one of the best backups in league history. He took over for an injured Phil Simms late in the season, then kept a defense-oriented Giants team moving steadily toward a championship.Peyton Manning, Colts vs. Bears, SB 4125-for-38, 347 yards, 1 TD, 1 INTAfter years of regular-season dominance, 13 playoff games, and four one-and-done postseason appearances for his Colts, Manning finally broke through to win his first Super Bowl.Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers vs. Cardinals, SB 4321-for-30, 256 yards, 1 TD, 1 INTA less experienced Roethlisberger struggled during his first Super Bowl appearance, finishing with just nine completions on 21 pass attempts. This time, however, he redeemed himself while completing 70 percent of his throws, powering the Steelers to a championship.A win is a winThese pivots did what they had to do - but not a whole lot more - to get the win.Focus On Sport / Getty Images Sport / GettyRoger Staubach, Cowboys vs. Dolphins, SB 612-for-19, 119 yards, 2 TDStaubach is a Hall of Famer, but he was reduced to a lesser role in both of his Super Bowl-winning appearances. The Cowboys relied heavily on their rushing attack in Super Bowl VI (48 carries).Bart Starr, Packers vs. Raiders, SB 213-for-24, 202 yards, 1 TDTerry Bradshaw, Steelers vs. Rams, SB 1414-for-21, 309 yards, 2 TD, 3 INTJoe Montana, 49ers vs. Bengals, SB 1614-for-22, 157 yards, 1 TD, 1 rush TDJim Plunkett, Raiders vs. Redskins, SB 1816-for-25, 172 yards, 1 TDRoger Staubach, Cowboys vs. Broncos, SB 1217-for-25, 183 yards, 1 TD, 1 fumble lostTroy Aikman, Cowboys vs. Bills, SB 2819-for-27, 207 yards, 1 INTJim McMahon, Bears vs. Patriots, SB 2012-for-20, 256 yards, 2 rush TDJohn Elway, Broncos vs. Packers, SB 3212-for-22, 123 yards, 1 INT, 1 rush TDJoe Namath, Jets vs. Colts, SB 317-for-28, 206 yardsTom Brady, Patriots vs. Rams, SB 3616-for-27, 145 yards, 1 TDBrad Johnson, Buccaneers vs. Raiders, SB 3718-for-34, 215 yards, 2 TD, 1 INTJoe Theismann, Redskins vs. Dolphins, SB 1715-for-23, 143 yards, 2 TD, 2 INTKen Stabler, Raiders vs. Vikings, SB 1112-for-19, 180 yards, 1 TDDecent in defeatNot good enough to win the big trophy, but far from disastrous.Brian Bahr / Getty Images Sport / GettyDonovan McNabb, Eagles vs. Patriots, SB 3930-for-51, 357 yards, 3 TD, 3 INTA puking McNabb left everything he had on the field in Jacksonville, but it wasn't enough to overcome the dynastic Patriots.Tom Brady, Patriots vs. Giants, SB 4627-for-41, 276 yards, 2 TD, 1 INTKurt Warner, Rams vs. Patriots, SB 3628-for-44, 365 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 1 rush TDLen Dawson, Chiefs vs. Packers, SB 116-for-27, 211 yards, 1 TD, 1 INTKen Anderson, Bengals vs. 49ers, SB 1625-for-34, 300 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 1 rush TDDaryle Lamonica, Raiders vs. Packers, SB 215-for-34, 208 yards, 2 TD, 1 INTTom Brady, Patriots vs. Giants, SB 4229-for-48, 266 yards, 1 TD, 1 fumble lostThe forgettablesThe only memorable thing about these performances is how much we want to forget them.Sylvia Allen / Getty Images Sport / GettyDan Marino, Dolphins vs. 49ers, SB 1929-for-50, 318 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTA mediocre showing against the Niners in his lone Super Bowl appearance ensured Marino would become the best signal-caller to never capture the grand prize.Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks vs. Steelers, SB 4026-for-49, 273 yards, 1 TD, 1 INTRoger Staubach, Cowboys vs. Steelers, SB 1015-for-24, 204 yards, 2 TD, 3 INTFran Tarkenton, Vikings vs. Dolphins, SB 818-for-28, 182 yards, 1 INT, 1 rush TDSteve McNair, Titans vs. Rams, SB 3422-for-36, 214 yardsVince Ferragamo, Rams vs. Steelers, SB 1415-for-25, 212 yards, 1 INTJim Kelly, Bills vs. Giants, SB 2518-for-30, 212 yardsJim Kelly, Bills vs. Cowboys, SB 2831-for-50, 260 yards, 1 INTBen Roethlisberger, Steelers vs. Packers, SB 4525-of-40, 263 yards, 2 TD, 2 INTPeyton Manning, Broncos vs. Seahawks, SB 4834-of-49, 280 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTDrew Bledsoe, Patriots vs. Packers, SB 3125-of-48, 253 yards, 2 TD, 4 INTStan Humphries, Chargers vs. 49ers, SB 2924-of-49, 275 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTJohn Elway, Broncos vs. Redskins, SB 2214-of-38, 257 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTTerry Bradshaw, Steelers vs. Vikings, SB 99-for-14, 96 yards, 1 TDChris Chandler, Falcons vs. Broncos, SB 3319-of-35, 219 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTNeil O'Donnell, Steelers vs. Cowboys, SB 3028-of-49, 239 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTFran Tarkenton, Vikings vs. Raiders, SB 1117-of-35, 205 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTRex Grossman, Bears vs. Colts, SB 4120-of-28, 165 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTLen Dawson, Chiefs vs. Vikings, SB 412-of-17, 142 yards, 1 TD, 1 INTRon Jaworski, Eagles vs. Raiders, SB 1518-for-38, 291 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT, 1 fumble lostJim Kelly, Bills vs. Redskins, SB 2628-for-58, 275 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT, 2 fumbles lostPeyton Manning, Broncos vs. Panthers, SB 5013-of-23, 141 yards, 1 INT, 1 fumble lostJoe Theismann, Redskins vs. Raiders, SB 1816-for-35, 243 yards, 2 INT, 1 fumble lostBoomer Esaison, Bengals vs. 49ers, SB 2311-for-25, 144 yards, 1 INTBob Griese, Dolphins vs. Cowboys, SB 612-for-23, 134 yards, 1 INT, 1 fumble lostTrent Dilfer, Ravens vs. Giants, SB 3512-for-25, 153 yards, 1 TDBob Griese, Dolphins vs. Redskins, SB 78-for-11, 88 yards, 1 TD, 1 INTBob Griese, Dolphins vs. Vikings, SB 86-for-7, 73 yardsDreadfulThese quarterbacks reached a staggering level of ineptitude.Doug Pensinger / Getty Images Sport / GettyRich Gannon, Raiders vs. Buccaneers, SB 3724-for-44, 272 yards, 2 TD, 5 INTWhile playing his former head coach, Gannon posted the first and only five-interception performance in the Super Bowl.Cam Newton, Panthers vs. Broncos, SB 5018-for-41, 265 yards, 1 INT, 2 fumbles lostJoe Kapp, Vikings vs. Chiefs, SB 416-for-25, 183 yards, 2 INT, 1 fumble lostCraig Morton, Cowboys vs. Colts, SB 512-for-26, 127 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTDavid Woodley, Dolphins vs. Redskins, SB 174-for-14, 97 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 fumble lostJohnny Unitas, Colts vs. Cowboys, SB 53-for-9, 88 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 1 fumble lostJim Kelly, Bills vs. Cowboys, SB 274-for-7, 82 yards, 2 INT, 1 fumble lost for TDWorst performance in a winning effort Every win counts the same, but history won't look favorably on this showing.Larry Maurer / Getty Images Sport / GettyBen Roethlisberger, Steelers vs. Seahawks, SB 409-for-21, 123 yards, 2 INT, 1 rush TDAntwaan Randle El, who threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward on a gadget play, was the Steelers' most effective passer in this game. Big Ben didn't contribute much to the win.Worst of the worst These are the worst performances in Super Bowl history.John Elway, Broncos vs. 49ers, SB 2410-26, 108 yards, 2 INT, 1 fumble lostFran Tarkenton, Vikings vs. Steelers, SB 911-for-26, 102 yards, 3 INTBilly Kilmer, Redskins vs. Dolphins, SB 714-for-28, 104 yards, 3 INTMiami planned to force Kilmer to pass throughout the game. The Dolphins' strategy worked to perfection, as the quarterback failed to generate any meaningful offense.Kerry Collins, Giants vs. Ravens, SB 3515-for-39, 112 yards, 4 INTTo be fair, Collins played against arguably the greatest defense ever assembled. Still, the veteran personified futility, failing to lead a single scoring drive and registering the second-worst passer rating in Super Bowl history at 7.1.Earl Morrall, Colts vs. Jets, SB 36-for-17, 71 yards, 3 INTMorrall replaced the injured Johnny Unitas at the start of the year and performed better than expected, but he reverted back to his worst form in the Super Bowl. Unitas eventually took the reins again and didn't fare much better.Craig Morton, Broncos vs. Cowboys, SB 124-for-15, 39 yards, 4 INTMorton wanted to get revenge on his former team, but calamity came every time he dropped back. He was benched in the third quarter.Tony Eason, Patriots vs. Bears, SB 200-for-6, 0 yards, 1 fumble lostIt's impossible to record a worse performance than Eason. He failed to complete a pass and was benched in the second quarter, but the damage was already done. The Bears raced out to a 20-3 lead and never looked back, trouncing the Patriots.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed several topics during his State of the League address Wednesday, including the efficacy of the Rooney Rule, the viability of a franchise in London, and the future home of the Raiders.Rooney Rule The Rooney Rule is a policy which requires every team to interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching and senior football operations openings. No team hired a minority head coach this winter, although the Miami Dolphins are widely expected to name New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores as their next head coach following Super Bowl LIII."We don't look at the success or failure of the Rooney Rule in one-year increments," Goodell said, according to Brooke Pryor of the Kansas City Star.He added there will be a quarterback summit in June at Morehouse College in Atlanta to help train new coaches.NFL International Series, London, and Mexico City The commissioner discussed the success of the NFL International Series but said the league isn't prepared to have a franchise in London."We've been extraordinarily pleased with the reaction we've gotten to playing regular-season games in the U.K. The fans there are really fantastic," Goodell said, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "They've shown passion, they've shown the same type of knowledge and interest in our game that we experience right here in the United States."So I don't think it's a question of the fan base or their enthusiasm for it. I also don't think it’s a question of viable stadiums."Goodell said it would be difficult to integrate a London franchise into the NFL due to scheduling concerns."The issue for us still is, can we do this competitively for the team that is based there, but also for the 31 other clubs?" he said. "That involves scheduling, it involves a lot of other matters that you don't want to compromise. And until we can get comfortable on that I don't think we'll be NFL-ready in London."Goodell also spoke about continuing to grow the league's foothold in Mexico. The Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs were scheduled to play at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium in November but the game was moved to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum due to inclement field conditions."We were disappointed we weren't able to play there this year, but I believe all of us did the right thing," Goodell said, according to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. "I believe we're going to continue that relationship and grow the game of football in Mexico."Colin Kaepernick Asked about the unwillingness of some recording artists to be affiliated with the NFL due to Colin Kaepernick's ongoing unemployment, Goodell initially dodged the question."We have great artists performing all week here in Atlanta," he said, according to Karisa Maxwell of Sporting News.Goodell said it's up to teams to decide whether they want to employ Kaepernick."If a team decides that Colin Kaepernick or any other player can help their team win, that's what they'll do," he said. "I've said it many times privately and publicly, our clubs are the ones making the decisions on any players they have on their roster."They make those decisions individually in the best interest of their club. It’s something we, the NFL, take pride in."The future home of the Raiders It remains unclear where the Oakland Raiders will play their home games for the 2019 season and Goodell tried to add some clarity to the ongoing situation. The City of Oakland filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against the Raiders and the NFL in December and the team subsequently withdrew from an agreement to play at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum for the 2019 season."It's unfortunate that litigation was filed prior to their final season in Oakland," Goodell said. "But that's the reality that was filed by the city. I'm hopeful that they'll get a resolution soon."As far as timing, the key thing about timing is our schedule. We need to make a schedule, obviously, for the 2019 season. And the sooner the better for us."The Raiders are expected to move to Las Vegas for the 2020 season. Goodell appeared to rule out San Diego as a temporary host for the 2019 campaign."The hope of (Raiders owner) Mark (Davis) is to be in the Bay Area with his Raiders fans," Goodell said, according to NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano.Updates on Kareem Hunt and Reuben FosterGoodell also fielded questions about the ongoing investigation regarding Kareem Hunt. The former Kansas City Chiefs running back was placed on the commissioner's exempt list after being released by the team. This followed the release of a video showing him striking a woman."Kareem Hunt, I think everyone knows, that issue is under investigation. He's a free agent. If he's signed by a club, clubs understand he'll be on exempt list until the investigation is concluded. Hopefully, that will be concluded soon.” Goodell said, according to Pryor.Additionally, the commissioner addressed the status of Washington Redskins linebacker Reuben Foster. Washington claimed Foster off waivers Nov. 27 following his release from the San Francisco 49ers; the 49ers released him after he was arrested again for domestic violence."We continue our investigation into that," Goodell said, according to Jordan Dajani of 247Sports. "Whether the charges were dropped doesn't necessarily mean there isn't a violation of our personal conduct policy. Reuben and I have met before, we will talk again, but we will conclude that investigation, make a determination, and we will go from there."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton underwent shoulder surgery last week after his 2018 season was shortened, and he gave a positive recovery update on Wednesday."It's good. It's good,'' Newton said during an appearance on 680 The Fan in Atlanta. "It's better than I thought it would be. With so much going on throughout this season, I was in fear to see what actually was wrong.''The arthroscopic procedure on Newton's throwing shoulder came after the 2018 season. The 2015 MVP and three-time Pro Bowler completed 67.9 percent of his passes during the campaign for 3,395 yards and 24 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. He also added 488 yards and four scores as a rusher, leading the Panthers to a 6-8 record over his 14 starts.The poor passing production compared to his career numbers was the result of an injury that bothered him for much of the season."I knew something was wrong. For me, being in that position, I didn’t want to let my team down," Newton said. "I didn’t want to let my fans, or even myself down to a degree. There’s a benchmark that you set for yourself, and when it’s not met, you’re frustrated. Obviously, this year was frustrating."Newton was forced to sit out Weeks 16 and 17 while backups Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen made their first career starts.The Panthers' plan is for Newton to be throwing again by the start of organized team activities in May.- With h/t to Panthers.comCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ten days after the NFC Championship Game, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the contest's controversial pass interference no-call that helped the Los Angeles Rams advance to the Super Bowl.The commissioner said he empathized with the New Orleans Saints' anger, but stressed there are no easy answers."We understand the frustrations of the fans. ... But we also know our officials are human," Goodell said Wednesday in his end-of-season address, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. "They have to make snap decisions under difficult circumstances and they're not going to get it right every time."Goodell wouldn't divulge specifics from his conversations about the no-call with Saints head coach Sean Payton and owner Gayle Benson, but admitted it was a play where pass interference "should be called," according to Jonathan Jones of Sports Illustrated.The commissioner also said the league will evaluate how to improve the replay system, though he didn't go into detail.When asked whether he considered restarting the game after the missed pass interference penalty, Goodell said, "Absolutely not," according to Larry Holder of The Athletic.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While Rob Gronkowski remains coy about his future plans, there's speculation he could be heading to Hollywood after his NFL career ends.Henry Penzi, a longtime friend of Mark Wahlberg who helped get Gronkowski a cameo in the 2015 "Entourage" movie, believes the New England Patriots tight end could have a bright future in acting."My vision was to replace Arnold," Penzi told Tim Rohan of Sports Illustrated. "I mean, they're getting old - Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. My vision was, they're older and they’ve passed the baton to The Rock and (Jason) Statham, and then they'd give it to the next generation, which is Rob."According to his IMDB page, Gronkowski has roles in two movies scheduled for release this year: "Deported," a comedy in which he plays a character called "Party Guy Jake," and "Boss Level," a sci-fi thriller starring Mel Gibson.Penzi said Gronkowski was also offered a role in the John Cena action-comedy "Playing with Fire" last fall, but had to turn it down due to scheduling conflicts."It was a big role," Penzi said. "God, we would've loved to be on that movie. Are you kidding me? I wanted to jump (off) a building when he said no."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams unexpectedly developed a running back committee during the playoffs, but C.J. Anderson is perfectly fine if Todd Gurley resumes his role as the lead back in the Super Bowl."Our job is the same, as many first downs as we can get," Anderson told reporters, as relayed by Kimberley A. Martin of Yahoo Sports. "Whoever gets the most first downs, I guess that’s how it goes. But at the end of the day, if Todd wants to play 98 percent of the snaps, that’s what he’s going to do. We’re gonna be OK with that."Anderson joined the Rams in December and was dominant in two regular-season appearances, rushing for 299 yards and two touchdowns while Gurley sat out with a knee injury.The veteran's hot streak continued in the postseason, as he rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys and then took the lead in the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints with Gurley largely tethered to the bench.However, Rams head coach Sean McVay was adamant that Gurley will feature heavily in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. The two-time All-Pro also insisted his knee injury's no longer a factor.Gurley dominated during the regular season, finishing second in rushing yards per game while leading NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns. He was named a first-team All-Pro for his efforts.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Super Bowl squares has been a go-to method to spice up parties for years. Because you won't already find enough excitement in the game itself, here's what you need to know before running or entering one of your own for Sunday's spectacle between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams.How it worksSuper Bowl square pools are comprised of a single blank sheet of paper, consisting of 100 boxes laid out in 10 rows and 10 columns. (Those who choose to draw it themselves may, but it's only a matter of time until your Y-axis line drifts off course and the squares instead appear as isosceles triangles. You can also print them here.) All squares must be filled and individuals can purchase as many as they choose.Next up is deciding which team gets which axis. From there, numbers ranging from 0-9 will be randomly assigned to each column (10 numbers, 10 squares equals math).To win the quarter, half, or game pools - whatever the setup may be - your square numbers must align with the final number in each team's score. For example, if the Rams and Patriots are tied 10-10 at the end of the first quarter, the player who had 0/0 in the pool would take home the prize for that quarter.Payouts are either allocated evenly throughout all four periods at a 25 percent pot rake or distributed more for the ends of the second and fourth quarters.Numbers matterThree things are certain in life: death, taxes, and telling random strangers on the street that you worked up a 7/0 combo in your Super Bowl pool. The NFL has its own key numbers from a betting perspective; it's an efficient market with low variance, meaning the 3, 7, and 10 are huge difference-makers. In this case, the 3, 7, and 0 are common digits the Super Bowl squares player extraordinaire will hope to snag. It makes sense, right? Field goals, touchdowns (without missed extra points), and teams being scoreless or hitting the 10- or 20-point mark are common. The 1, 4, and 6 squares inspire some hope; pull a 2, 5, 8, or 9 and all of a sudden you're researching how common it is for two safeties to occur in one quarter.Now you're officially ready to win your Super Bowl squares pool, so draw some squares, pull some good numbers, and ensure Dan from marketing doesn't win and brag in your face Monday morning.Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sean Payton has made his feelings explicitly clear regarding the NFC Championship Game no-call that potentially robbed his New Orleans Saints of a Super Bowl berth.In a press conference Wednesday, he appeared to take a more subtle shot at commissioner Roger Goodell with a certain controversial fashion choice.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson requested a trade during the 2018 season, and it appears he has a destination in mind."Worst-case scenario, if anything, I would like to end up in L.A. being a Ram,” Jackson said on Bleacher Report's "Simms & Lefkoe.""(Rams head coach) Sean McVay, you know we’ve got some connections from when I was in D.C. But we’ll see how it plays out. I've got another year in Tampa. We’ll see how it plays out."Jackson played for the Washington Redskins while McVay was the team's offensive coordinator from 2014-16, racking up 142 catches for 2,702 yards and 14 touchdowns during that time.He also starred at Long Beach Polytechnic High School before choosing Cal over USC and maintains strong ties to Southern California, so the McVay-led Rams make sense as an attractive destination for the three-time Pro Bowler.The 32-year-old Jackson caught 41 passes for 774 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games for Tampa Bay during the 2018 season. He's owed $10 million in base salary for the upcoming campaign, after which he's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.In the interim, Jackson and new Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians will likely have to get on the same page, as Arians already expressed interest in retaining the downfield threat.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageSteelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster hopes his team keeps wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le'Veon Bell this offseason, suggesting Pittsburgh has a Super Bowl-winning core if it can hang onto the two stars."I would have Le'Veon Bell as the running back - with James Conner," Smith-Schuster said on Wednesday's edition of NFL Network's "RapSheet and Friends" podcast. "I'd have AB stay on the other side, and man, we're winning the Super Bowl with the guys that we have, the guys that we keep. ..."For me, it's more so like, man, let's keep the guys on the team and let's win the Super Bowl. Let's stop all the bull----."Brown's been the subject of rampant trade speculation since his benching in the must-win season finale. He skipped practices ahead of the Week 17 game following a reported dispute with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.Bell is set to enter free agency after sitting out the entire 2018 campaign without signing the Steelers' franchise tag.Brown and Bell have combined for six All-Pro and 10 Pro Bowl selections over their careers.Smith-Schuster earned his first Pro Bowl selection this year as a replacement for the injured Brown. He caught 111 passes for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns in his sophomore season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When Deshaun Watson was 11 years old, his family moved from government housing into a Habitat for Humanity house in Gainesville, Ga.His mother, Deann Watson, earned that house by completing hundreds of hours of community service and fulfilling a number of other eligibility requirements, and still lives there today.To repay her hard work, the Houston Texans quarterback recently surprised his mom by giving her home a makeover documented on an episode of "My Houzz.""She's always been a fighter, and that really inspired me," Deshaun said of his mom, a cancer survivor. "If she can get through that, no type of adversity can hold me back for what I want to achieve."Deann certainly seemed to appreciate the final product."I could just see it in her eyes. She was very moved," said Deshaun. "Everything she saw, she loved it, so it was good ... Being a son and being able to take care of your mom and help her out felt good."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and president Jonathan Kraft lamented the absence of wide receiver Josh Gordon on Tuesday night, ahead of Super Bowl LIII."He was a real good guy, and there was a connection," Robert Kraft said on "Boston Sports Tonight," via Justin Leger of NBC Sports. "Unfortunately, people like that need mentoring at a young age, but when it becomes addiction, addiction is something that is way beyond our ... We gave him tremendous support on a daily basis, and he was worthy. But I think we as a society have to try to help these young people not to get addicted in the first place. And that's the sad part of this. He's a good guy - a really good guy. It makes us sad."Gordon reportedly remains in an inpatient drug treatment facility following a December suspension for repeated violations of his reinstatement under the league's substance abuse policy.The 27-year-old started 11 games for the Patriots this season following a trade with the Cleveland Browns. Due to multiple suspensions, he played only 10 games between 2014 and 2017, and Gordon appeared on the field 12 times in 2018.Jonathan Kraft said that Gordon was embraced within the Patriots' locker room."This wasn't a troublemaker in the locker room," he said. "That football locker room, especially in our place, you have to be somebody that's smart, that's committed to week-in and week-out understanding what's going to be asked of you mentally as well as being willing to work physically and then being selfless. And that doesn't describe everybody on every football team, and our team took to Josh very quickly because he had those attributes, and unfortunately he had some personal demons."As a person and as a teammate, he was beloved in the locker room. And I'm sure if you ask guys this week, they would tell you they wish he was here with us. He was not a guy that was disruptive or a problem."Patriots receiver Phillip Dorsett called Gordon's absence "heartbreaking" at his press conference on Tuesday.Gordon will receive a championship ring if the Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, and his eventual return to the team hasn't been ruled out at the conclusion of his indefinite ban.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is expected to consider a proposal that would grant coaches limited challenges for incorrect judgment calls as the league attempts to navigate the missed penalty controversy from the NFC Championship Game, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The proposal would reportedly also recommend that teams losing such a challenge be subject to a penalty or a time run-off in order to disincentivize coaches abusing the new rule.The league's competition committee - of which New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is a member - will find a way to get the rule passed in some form, a source predicted to Schefter; other proposals will be considered but the push for judgment challenges "seems to have some traction."Late in the NFC title game, Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman made blatant contact with Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis prior to the arrival of a pass from Drew Brees. Despite the apparent pass interference, no penalty was called and the Rams eventually won a trip to the Super Bowl in overtime.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Everyone and their mother will be placing some sort of wager on the Super Bowl, whether it's the spread/total, a prop bet, a square, or even the coin toss.With all those options available for both sharp and recreational bettors, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Luckily, we've set the table with the biggest do's and don'ts in the quest to profit on the NFL's biggest game.Do - Capitalize on the prop marketThere are 400-some prop bets to sift through if you're looking to find an edge outside of, you know, the game that is being played to decide the NFL's best team for the 2018 season. Laugh at the commercial-based, cross-sport, or quirky props available, but just know this: Those props can yield a solid return if bettors invest as much time into cultural trends as they do Bill Belichick's record against coaches he's faced for the first time (30-7 straight up since 2010; you're welcome). Despite chalky numbers and lower limits, there's money to be made. So whether Todd Gurley hints at which Gatorade color is lurking in the Los Angeles Rams' sideline coolers or you dig up a leaked version to Budweiser's commercial, only to find that there are Under 8.5 Clydesdales, be aggressive in spotting edges.Do - Designate unit sizesSharper bettors will stick to unit scaling or designating a percentage of their bankroll on a play based on the perceived edge. The wide range of betting options for the Super Bowl requires top-notch discipline in setting the same approach to ensure you're not racking up excess juice or carelessly throwing darts.Do - Line shop Treat the Super Bowl like every other game and be sure to shop around for the best numbers and prices available, both on standard and prop bets. We continuously refresh screens, waiting for books to move numbers; why not shop around and find huge discrepancies in categories such as receiving yard props, the National Anthem time, and MVP odds?Don't - Factor in irrelevant trendsOh, your friend found a pattern in previous Super Bowl coin tosses and has an edge? Rid that person from your life, immediately.You can never have enough resources in capping, until you do; that's when things start becoming noisy and irrelevant. The Super Bowl is the pinnacle of useless information. Did you know that 12 of the previous 14 winners have worn white jerseys? Surely the New England Patriots will use these powers to make it 13 of 15!Don't - Play just to playWhen it comes to the Super Bowl, you can bet on literally anything. Books are serving up bets buffet style; it's up to you to decide when enough is enough.You don't have to play everything. Betting on the coin toss might be a tradition like no other, but paying a steep price on a bet that has a 50 percent chance of hitting and playing into the book's hand is a minus-EV move before the ball is even kicked off the tee.Don't - Chase lossesDidn't win the National Anthem Over/Under? Surely you can get that back by betting the outcome of the first play of the game. Lost on the first-half Over? Double up on the second.Those deceiving devils that sit atop shoulders in cartoons will come to life, and you'll have to be your own version of the angel opposite. Be cognizant of when enough is enough and stick to your guns, or you may find yourself curled up in the fetal position by halftime.Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Tom Brady set to make his ninth Super Bowl appearance, Boston-based brewery Samuel Adams is releasing a special "GOAT" beer in honor of the New England Patriots and their quarterback."Too Old, Too Slow, Still Here," a 7.8 percent double New England IPA, will be available at the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery on Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. or until it runs out, according to NBC Boston's Marc Fortier.

The Green Bay Packers are entering the offseason with the belief that tight end Jimmy Graham will return for the 2019 season, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Graham, 32, will reportedly receive a $5-million roster bonus on March 15 if he's back with the team.It's been speculated that Graham could be released after underperforming in the first season of his three-year, $30-million contract. The five-time Pro Bowler caught 55 passes for 636 yards and two touchdowns, admitting in mid-December that he was disappointed in his output in Green Bay.If the Packers release Graham, it would save them $5.3 million in cap space and leave $7.3 million in dead cap, according to Spotrac.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots will be without wide receiver Josh Gordon for Super Bowl LIII, as he reportedly remains in an inpatient drug treatment facility following a December suspension.Patriots receiver Phillip Dorsett says Gordon's presence is missed heading into the game against the Los Angeles Rams."Obviously we want him to be here as a teammate, a player and a person," Dorsett said, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "We definitely would want him to be here. It is a little heartbreaking. At the end of the day, we have to focus on what we have in this locker room. We gotta go out there and try to win, that’s the only thing we can worry about."Gordon, who was an early-season trade acquisition, started 11 games for the Patriots in 2018 and caught 40 of 68 targets for 720 yards and three touchdowns.The 27-year-old is indefinitely suspended from the NFL for multiple violations of his reinstatement under the substance abuse policy.Julian Edelman and running back James White were the only Patriots to amass more receiving yards than Gordon this season, finishing with 850 and 751 yards, respectively. Dorsett, meanwhile, has caught touchdown passes in each of his past three games, including both of the Patriots' playoff contests.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ahead of Super Bowl LIII, Migos member Quavo and Adidas have teamed up on an animated football series called "Only in Atlanta."Adidas shared the first two episodes from the series Tuesday, which features Quavo telling the story of the "craziest seven-on-seven game in history." It stars Aaron Rodgers, Alvin Kamara, Von Miller, Jen Welter (the coach), Stefon Diggs, Joey Bosa, Marcus Peters, Patrick Mahomes, Adam Thielen, and JuJu Smith-Schuster and his dog Boujee.

Life, death, taxes, and the New England Patriots advancing to the Super Bowl. OK, maybe the last one doesn't count as a certain fact of life, but the Patriots breezing through the AFC is becoming an expected January routine.Tom Brady is looking to win his sixth Super Bowl as he squares off against the Los Angeles Rams, the same franchise that he defeated to win his first title. There are some familiar faces and some new contributors, but the Patriots' excellence remains unchanged.Here are three reasons why the Patriots will win Super Bowl LIII.White will exploit Rams' linebackersJames White was the hero of Super Bowl LI, setting a record for receptions while scoring three touchdowns, including the game-winner. It's likely that White will be used heavily again, primarily as a receiver coming out of the backfield to exploit the Rams' linebackers.

The Los Angeles Rams accelerated their window of contention by going on a major spending spree last summer, and it has clearly paid off. Buoyed by the additions of Brandin Cooks, Ndamukong Suh, and Marcus Peters, among several others, the Rams cruised to the NFC West title and look to knock off the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII.Here are three reasons why the Rams will lift the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 3.Rams' 11 personnel will exploit mismatchesDepending on how closely you've paid attention this season, you're either sick of hearing about 11 personnel or have little idea about what it means. It simply refers to a grouping that includes three wide receivers and, perhaps more importantly, one running back and one tight end, who form the two-digit number. The Rams use this personnel grouping 96 percent of the time, often with receivers bunched on one side of the field, and it's key for them in establishing play-action, jet sweeps, off-tackle runs, and several other staples of their dynamic offense.Although the Rams line up in their base formation more often than any other team in the NFL, their usage of 11 personnel enables them to boast arguably the NFL's most unpredictable offense. This play against the Dallas Cowboys best illustrates how the grouping establishes a dangerous running game, spearheaded by Todd Gurley and, more recently, C.J. Anderson.

One of the Los Angeles Rams' biggest stars will play a significant role against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII, according to head coach Sean McVay.Running back Todd Gurley is "gonna be a big part of this game," McVay said at his Tuesday morning press conference, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB.Gurley recorded just 10 yards on four carries in the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints, though he did score a touchdown. The regular-season leader in rushing touchdowns finished with 115 yards and a score on 16 attempts against the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round.The two-time All-Pro insisted that after sitting out the final two regular-season games due to a knee issue, the injury isn't affecting him.C.J. Anderson, a late-season free-agent addition, led the Rams' rushing attack against the Saints, racking up 16 carries for 44 yards after piling up 123 yards and two touchdowns on 23 attempts against the Cowboys.McVay is taking the blame for Gurley's poor outing in the conference championship, saying he needs to do a better job of getting him the ball, according to NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots safety Devin McCourty said Monday that he'll consider retirement if his team is triumphant Sunday in Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams.With nine NFL seasons under his belt and two rings on his hand, McCourty doesn't know what else he'd be left to achieve if he wins a third title alongside his teammate and twin brother Jason."I don't know for sure, man. But I do look at it - if we can win this game, winning with my brother, I don't know what else I could do that could top that," McCourty said at Opening Night, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "So I'm just trying to make sure I enjoy this season and enjoy these last couple days with these guys."Devin has spent his entire career in New England and has one season remaining on a five-year, $47.5-million deal signed in 2015 - one of the few big-money extensions the Patriots have handed out to a defensive back in the Bill Belichick era.Jason - who joined his brother on an NFL roster for the first time after a March trade - is set to become a free agent this offseason.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady's play sheet from the New England Patriots' Super Bowl XXXIX victory over the Philadelphia Eagles is on the auction block.Steiner Sports is auctioning off the handwritten and autographed page, which includes the Patriots' 12 drives, excluding the final kneel down. There's also an apparent blood stain from a cut Brady suffered on his right wrist.Bidding starts at $2,500, but is expected to exceed $25,000 when the auction ends next month, according to TMZ Sports.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

"SpongeBob SquarePants" fans have been persistent in their quest to have the NFL honor the show's late creator, Stephen Hillenburg, at Super Bowl LIII - and it appears they just might get their wish.Rodger Bumpass, who voices the character Squidward Tentacles, reportedly confirmed on his Facebook page that he'll be introducing the halftime entertainment.Maroon 5 and Mercedes-Benz Stadium have both teased a SpongeBob appearance in the wake of an online petition to have "Sweet Victory" - the song featured in the episode "Band Geeks" - performed at the Super Bowl.Several SpongeBob-related prop bets have also been released, including whether or not Maroon 5 will perform "Sweet Victory" (Yes -220, No +155), if a SpongeBob costume or inflatable will be used (Yes +465, No -638), and if SpongeBob will kneel in protest (Yes +3000, No -20000).Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears many NFL fans are suffering from Patriots fatigue heading into Super Bowl LIII.A new Twitter map from Betonline.ag shows that the majority of the United States will be rooting for the Los Angeles Rams over New England on Sunday. The map was created using geotagged Twitter data - including fan hashtags - in each state over the past week.The Patriots, however, have more support this year than they did for Super Bowl LII. Here's last year's map for comparison:Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders have begun informing season-ticket holders that they don't know where they will play their home games in the 2019 season, according to Action Network's Darren Rovell.The Raiders are expected to begin play in Las Vegas in 2020, but in the interim, they have no stadium deal for next season. The city of Oakland has filed a lawsuit against the team over its upcoming relocation, rendering a return to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum for 2019 unlikely.Team owner Mark Davis said in December that the Raiders still had "a number of options" for a host site. It was reported at that time that the team was considering playing its 2019 home games in London.Raiders representatives have promised to keep in touch with their season-ticket holders, Rovell reports.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon currently remains at an inpatient drug treatment facility in Florida after he was suspended in December for multiple violations of his reinstatement under the NFL's substance abuse policy, a source told NESN's Doug Kyed.Kyed adds that Gordon's suspension was triggered by diluted drug test samples. It's his fifth since 2012 and his third indefinite ban.The Patriots are reportedly paying for the receiver's treatment, though the organization declined to comment on the situation.The team, the league, and the NFL Players Association are all working with the 27-year-old to properly treat his addiction.If New England defeats the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII, Gordon would receive a championship ring. He caught 40 of 68 targets with the Patriots for 720 yards and three touchdowns over 11 games after being acquired from the Cleveland Browns.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots have adopted an underdog mentality throughout the playoffs - to the derision of some - and continue to use their perceived lack of respect to fire themselves up ahead of their third straight Super Bowl appearance.Nickell Robey-Coleman, who's spent the last week at the center of the NFC Championship Game no-call controversy, apparently isn't scared to add fuel to the flame, as the Los Angeles Rams cornerback said he believes Father Time has finally caught up to the 41-year-old Tom Brady."Yes. Yes. Age has definitely taken a toll. For him to still be doing it, that's a great compliment for him. But I think that he's definitely not the same quarterback he was," Robey-Coleman told Tyler Dunne of Bleacher Report. "Movement. Speed. Velocity. Arm strength. He still can sling it, but he's not slinging it as much."Whatever he was doing - because of his age and all that - he's not doing as much of that anymore. He's still doing the same things; he's just not doing as much of it. And sometimes, it's not the sharpest. But it still gets done."Later, the six-year vet clarified his remarks.

They'll be on opposing sidelines during Super Bowl LIII, but New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is apparently a fan of Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay."This season, he has basically texted me after every one of our games," McVay told NBC Sports' Peter King. "After we beat Minnesota in September, he texted, 'Man, you guys are really explosive and impressive and fun to watch. Congratulations - keep it rolling.'"For him to even take the time to say congrats, it's pretty cool. That's one of the things I like about our business, our fraternity of coaches. As competitive as it is, guys find time to share when they can. I'm still young, still figuring it out. That stuff's been really helpful to me."After inheriting a 4-12 Rams team in early 2017, McVay's gone 24-8 and captured the NFC West this season with a 13-3 record. At 33, he's the youngest head coach to lead a team to the Super Bowl.Belichick, 66, will pursue his sixth Super Bowl win as a head coach on Feb. 3.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Drew Brees wants the New Orleans Saints and their fans to move on from their controversial loss in the NFC Championship Game.The future Hall of Fame quarterback attempted to uplift his team's fan base following a week of a public outcry over a late missed call in the Saints' loss to the Los Angeles Rams, writing he won't "let this hold us down" in a lengthy Instagram post on Monday.

Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will try to win his second career Super Bowl next week when he leads a defense charged with slowing down the New England Patriots and 41-year-old quarterback Tom Brady.Phillips, 71, schemed the Denver Broncos' defense to a Super Bowl 50 victory, and he'll now make his third appearance in the big game. He was asked about defending Brady, who will be making his ninth Super Bowl appearance and third straight since losing the AFC Championship Game to the Broncos to end the Patriots' 2015 season."Well, unfortunately for me, I get older, but Tom Brady doesn’t," Phillips said, according to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk.Despite Brady's ongoing success, he faced some criticism late this season due to a perception that his play is deteriorating as the 14-time Pro Bowler ages."Besides the guy being a great player, I just have so much respect for him," Phillips added. "He seems like such - now, I don’t know him well - but, he has so much class. He says all the right things all the time - the right kind of guy. He’s leading the league in passing in the playoffs, and he’s already won four (Super Bowl) MVPs (and three league MVPs), so I don’t know if there’s any critics of him. If there are, I’d like to critique them."Brady has said he plans to keep playing until he's 45, and promised Super Bowl LIII won't be his final NFL game regardless of the outcome.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The AFC hasn't seen the last of Tom Brady, as the New England Patriots quarterback told ESPN's Jeff Darlington there is a "zero" percent chance Super Bowl LIII will be his final NFL game.The Future Hall of Famer has previously said he wants to play until he's 45.Brady, 41, will play in his ninth Super Bowl next week when the Patriots take on the Los Angeles Rams after squeaking past the Kansas City Chiefs in last week's AFC Championship Game.The five-time Super Bowl champion and three-time regular-season MVP led the Patriots to an 11-5 record in 2018 - his 19th season - while completing 65.8 percent of his passes for 4,355 yards and 29 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. He also added two rushing scores.Brady has again upped his play in the postseason, completing 71.1 percent of his attempts for 691 yards and two scores over two games.The four-time Super Bowl MVP opened as the clear favorite to win this year's award at even odds.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although Anthony Barr has said he wants to return to Minnesota, the Vikings linebacker is looking forward to his impending free agency and the opportunities it could present."It's been a whole year, two years really, coming ... my contract was up last year, had the option, and this year now it's really up so the possibilities I feel like are endless and I could be anywhere", Barr said, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "I want to be back, like I've said throughout the last year, but like I've been saying also I know my worth and I know what I've got to do, I've got to do it for me."Barr was named to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl in 2018 and is projected to be one of the best players available this spring, assuming the Vikings don't apply the franchise tag on him. If the 26-year-old receives the tag, he'll play on a one-year, $15-million contract for the 2019 campaign.Although Barr seems excited to test free agency, he doesn't seem all too concerned about how the process will play out."I'm not sure there really is a plan," Barr said. "I think it kind of dictates itself. I've done what I've done and what's going to happen is kind of out of my control. Obviously, I'll have a choice, hopefully, as to where I want to go but I can't control much more than what I'm doing now."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly exploring trade options for Antonio Brown, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. However, they haven't granted the receiver permission to seek a trade.Brown has reportedly told members of the Steelers organization that he hasn't closed the door on returning to the team, per Rapoport.In the last week, Brown has posted a thank-you note to the city of Pittsburgh as well as photos of himself in San Francisco 49ers gear.On Thursday, Steelers owner Art Rooney II publicly discussed needing to have a sit-down with Brown before deciding a course of action on the wide receiver's future with the team.Teammates JuJu Smith-Schuster and Maurkice Pouncey said last week they haven't heard from Brown but maintain he would be welcomed back to the club's locker room.Brown was benched during the Steelers' must-win season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals after skipping practices following a dispute with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger earlier in the week.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck doesn't know who's behind the popular Twitter parody account Capt. Andrew Luck, but he does enjoy their Civil War-inspired musings."I do not know who it is," Luck told NFL Network's MJ Acosta at the Pro Bowl. "It's definitely not me. I'm not clever enough to write that, but it's pretty cool. I'm glad people find a little enjoyment about it when maybe some things on the internet can be a little meaner."

The Washington Redskins are making their 2019 plans with the expectation that quarterback Alex Smith will miss the entire season, sources told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.If Smith is ready to play in 2019, the Redskins would be pleasantly surprised, according to Rapoport.Smith suffered a broken leg against the Houston Texans in Week 11 of the 2018 campaign.On Tuesday, Redskins president Bruce Allen said Smith was "on his way to a recovery." Smith made his first public appearance since the injury at a Washington Wizards game Monday.The 34-year-old led Washington to a 6-4 record with 2,180 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions across 10 starts.Smith was replaced under center by Colt McCoy, who suffered a leg injury of his own in Week 13. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Josh Johnson closed out the season for the Redskins, who finished third in the NFC East with a 7-9 record.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Armed with three first-round picks, new general manager Mike Mayock could define his tenure with the Oakland Raiders at the 2019 NFL Draft, and he hinted at his draft strategy Saturday.The rebuilding Raiders hold the No. 4, No. 24, and No. 27 selections in the upcoming draft and Mayock indicated during the Senior Bowl that finding talented edge rushers would be a priority this spring."Are we focused in on defensive ends at (the Senior Bowl)? Of course," Mayock said, according to Scott Bair of NBC Sports. "We'd be dumb if we weren't. But we need pretty much everything on defense. We're looking at every position."The pass rush struggled mightily after Oakland traded Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears prior to the start of the season. The Raiders recorded a league-worst 13 sacks in 2018, a ghastly figure considering the 30th-ranked New England Patriots and New York Giants posted 30 sacks each.Oakland held extensive meetings with players from both the North and South teams at the Senior Bowl, according to Bair."We have some guys who we're watching, guys who we're moving around on the line," Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said.The Raiders hired Mayock as their general manager on Dec. 31. It's his first executive role in any capacity after previously working as a draft analyst for NFL Network.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jon Gruden added extra incentive to the 2019 Senior Bowl.The Oakland Raiders head coach - who led the North team in Mobile, Ala. - and his staff slapped stickers on the helmets of players who made big plays.They weren't exactly small stickers, either.

The Oakland Athletics have no regrets about drafting Kyler Murray, even as he drifts further away from the diamond.Murray's plans to play baseball with the Athletics, who gave him a $4.66-million signing bonus as the ninth overall selection in last year's MLB Draft, were upended by his Heisman Trophy-winning season for Oklahoma. That led him to reverse course and declare for the NFL Draft.The possibility of his playing both sports professionally are remote at best, so if Murray goes to the NFL, he'll leave the Athletics spurned and without any draft-pick compensation - meaning they'll have essentially wasted their top selection from last June. But that doesn't mean vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane wants a mulligan."He's a great kid, a phenomenal athlete, as you guys saw, and I wouldn't take that pick back for a second," Beane said in response to a question about Murray at the Athletics' FanFest on Friday, according to Ryan Gorcey of the San Francisco Examiner."I think we're all still very optimistic (he'll choose baseball)," Beane added. "I think what you saw on the football field is what our scouts saw from an athletic standpoint. As great a football player as he is, he's got a chance to be a great baseball player right here in Oakland."Beane and general manager David Forst met with Murray and agent Scott Boras in Dallas earlier this month to try and sway him back to baseball. The Athletics have reportedly considered trying to offer him more guaranteed money to stay in their organization.Murray - an outfielder who posted a .954 OPS for Oklahoma this spring - has already received an invitation to Oakland's major-league camp, where he'll wear No. 73, according to the team's website. Whether the 21-year-old will participate in the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 26 is unclear since he'll have to leave spring training to do so. Beane told Martin Gallegos of the Mercury News that there have been no discussions about that happening."As we're sitting here right now, we expect him to be in spring training," Athletics manager Bob Melvin said Friday, according to The Associated Press. "... If something changes in the meantime, then we deal with it."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears signed offensive tackle Bobby Massie to a four-year contract extension Saturday, the team announced.The deal is reportedly worth more than $8 million per season, sources told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport."Bobby has been an important part of our offensive line the past three years and has shown steady improvement during that time," Bears general manager Ryan Pace said in a statement. "Bobby has a tremendous work ethic and has displayed the kind of toughness and consistency we want in our players. More importantly, he is a great teammate and we're excited to keep him in the fold."Massie featured at right tackle for the Bears, starting all 16 games during the 2018 season.He was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.The 29-year-old was graded as the 29th-best offensive tackle in the NFL by Pro Football Focus.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.