NFL
Super Bowl Virtual Media Conferences Filled with Positivity and Praise
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs held their virtual media conferences today. A common theme involved questions about other players and coaches, in what often sounded more like a “love fest,” rather than trash talking.
Bucs Head Coach Bruce Arians
Bucs Head Coach, Bruce Arians commented on Chiefs S Tyrann Mathieu, whom he coached in Arizona. Arians called Mathieu “My favorite draft choice of all time. I’m so proud of the man he has become. He’s a great football player, but he’s a better man.” Mathieu returned the praise, saying, “Me and Coach Bruce, we’ve got a great relationship.”
Chiefs S Tyrann Mathieu
Bucs QB Tom Brady was asked about QB Peyton Manning, who is expected to be announced as a Hall of Famer this weekend. “Peyton was someone that I always just admired. I always looked up to Peyton because he was just a little older than me. It’s no real surprise that he’d be a first ballot Hall of Famer. He’s a tremendous player, he’s always wishing me well. I’m really happy for him.”
Brady also had words of praise for Offensive Coordinator Byron Leftwich. “He’s got a great understanding of the game, and a great work ethic. I love working with him. He has a real instinctive feel of the game. We talk football all day. He’s a ‘gym rat’ like I am. We’ve known each other for a long time.”
Brady also spoke about LB Jason Pierre-Paul. “He’s a relentless competitor. When you look over and see him out there, making plays, JPP is absolutely a great leader in that group. He brings a lot of juice. He’s an amazing guy and an amazing player.”
Bucs WR Antonio Brown
Regarding how he developed such a strong connection with WR Antonio Brown so quickly, Brady explained, “I don’t have any predisposed notions of how things will go. I just try to be a positive influence in their life. Antonio and I connected right away. He has incredible football IQ. He’s made incredible strides over the last twelve months. I want to help other people maximize their potential. Everybody is dealing with life, I just try to provide support. Just care for people more, and allow people to blossom to be the best they can be. Invest in seeing people grow. I want to see them succeed.”
Bucs WR Mike Evans
Bucs WR Mike Evans spoke about playing for Head Coach Bruce Arians. He’s a phenomenal coach.” Regarding QB Tom Brady, “Tom is an interesting talent. The best quarterback ever. Playing with him is great. Knowing that he’s going to make some plays.” When asked to comment on what it will take to stop the Chiefs’ QB, Evans said that with Pat Mahomes, there are “not many weaknesses. We definitely got to limit his plays, keep him in the pocket. Limit him from those deep throws he likes to do.”
Chiefs S Tyrann Mathieu was asked about Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. “He’s a great man, he has a great heart. He’s so detailed, so informative. He never lets us get complacent, always finding ways for us to get better. One of the best coaches I’ve ever been around. He’s a guy that really has great knowledge.”
Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid
Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid expounded on Tyreek Hill’s development. “He has worked so hard this year. Just his dependability and reliability. You really see it day in and day out. That takes a certain amount of toughness. How hard he worked in the off-season.” QB Pat Mahomes added, “He’s a guy that comes with energy every single day.”
Chiefs QB Pat Mahomes
Pat Mahomes was asked about what social justice efforts he was most proud of. While his voter registration efforts were important, he was even more proud of “the open dialogue we had within the team, coming together and making us even closer, to help us become more unified. To come together and make progress.” Coach Reid also commented on this season’s emphasis on social justice efforts in the NFL. “The more people get along the better off we all are. Have a better life for everybody. If we can do that worldwide, that’d be even better.”
Kumbaya.
Stay tuned to Florida National News for coverage leading up to the big game on Sunday.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12) beat the Tennessee Titans (3-13) 20-13 on a rainy afternoon, as Jacksonville remained under a tornado watch for much of the game. Today’s game was the team’s annual “fan appreciation game,” celebrating the fans’ support of the Jaguars all season long, and for the past 30 years.
The Jaguars’ first drive ended with a 48 yard K Cam Little field goal. But neither team managed to score during the rest of the first quarter, as the score remained 3-0.
In the second quarter, Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd intercepted a QB Mason Rudolph pass intended for RB Julius Chestnut, which excited the hometown fans. The Jags capitalized on that opportunity, as QB Mac Jones threw a 2 yard touchdown pass to WR Parker Washington, followed by Cam Little’s extra point, to extend their lead to 10-0. Little later added a 44 yard field goal, but the Titans scored their first points of the game at the end of the second quarter on K Matthew Wright’s 39 yard field goal. The Jaguars were ahead 13-3 at the half.
QB Mac Jones and QB Mason Rudolph (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)
Midway through the third quarter, Mason Rudolph completed a 8 yard touchdown pass to TE Nick Vannett, followed by Matthew Wright’s extra point, narrowing the Jags’ lead to 13-10, which remained the score heading into the fourth.
Midway through the fourth, Mac Jones found WR Brian Thomas Jr. in the end zone for an 11 yard touchdown, followed by Little’s XP, to put them ahead 20-10. Matthew Wright’s 28 yard field goal moved the Titans within a touchdown at 20-13, just before the two-minute warning. The Titans had one final drive to score, but were stopped by the Jaguars defense.
DE Travon Walker’s sack today moved him into the top 10 in franchise history with 23.0, breaking his tie with Marcus Stroud and Bobby McCray. Brian Thomas Jr. also tied WR Randy Moss’ NFL rookie record of eight games with at least 60 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
Mac Jones finished with 174 yards and two TDs. Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ rushing with 49 yards. Brian Thomas Jr. was the leading receiver with 91 yards and 1 TD. Today’s attendance was 61,995.
The Jaguars head to Indianapolis to face the Colts on Sunday, 1/5. Kickoff time has not yet been announced for this final game of the season. Be sure to follow www.FloridaSportsChannel.com and www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11) lost to the New York Jets (4-10) at EverBank Stadium, 32-25. This marked Mac Jones’ first loss to the Jets after winning his first five games in his career against the team.
The Jaguars scored on their first drive of the game, with a 3 yard touchdown pass from QB Mac Jones to WR Brian Thomas Jr., with K Cam Little adding the extra point. On that play, Thomas also broke the team rookie record of 865 receiving yards, previously held by WR Justin Blackmon in 2012, as well as the franchise rookie record for receiving touchdowns of six, previously held by WR Allen Hurns in 2014. The Jets responded with a scoring drive that ended with a 22 yard touchdown pass by QB Aaron Rodgers to WR Garrett Wilson, followed by K Anderson Carlson’s XP. The score remained 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.
QB Mac Jones (Photo credit: Harry Castiblanco, Florida National News)
At the end of an eleven minute scoring drive, Cam Little kicked a 28 yard field goal late in the second quarter for the Jags. Little added another 23 yard field goal as the half ended, to put the team ahead 13-7 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Jaguars DT Jeremiah Ledbetter sacked Aaron Rodgers for a loss of 14 yards, and entertained fans with a celebratory backflip. While the play prevented a Jets touchdown, Anders Carlson did manage a 43 yard field goal on the next play. The Jaguars responded with Cam Little’s 43 yard field goal soon after. But Rodgers’ 1 yard touchdown pass to WR Davante Adams tied the game, and the XP by Carlson put the Jets ahead 17-16, which was the score at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth, Mac Jones found Brian Thomas Jr. in the end zone for a 19 yard touchdown pass. Their two point conversion attempt was incomplete, so the Jaguars pulled ahead 22-17. Anders Carlson missed a 48 yard field goal midway through the quarter. But Aaron Rodgers connected with Davante Adams for a 71 yard touchdown pass, and a two point conversion, to put the Jets ahead 25-22. But Cam Little’s 43 yard field goal tied the game at 25-25 with 1:51 remaining. But the Jets managed to score on a 1 yard touchdown run by RB Breece Hall, and the XP by Carlson. While the Jags had a chance to score, an interception ended their hopes. The final score was 32-25.
The Jaguars wore their “Prowler Throwback” jerseys in celebration of the team’s 30th season. The team debuted the ‘90s-inspired alternate uniform in week 5, when they beat the Colts 37-34.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence is out for the remainder of the season, as he continues to recover from the concussion he suffered in week 13 by Texans’ LB Azeez Al-Shaair. Lawrence is also expected to undergo surgery on his non-throwing shoulder in the coming weeks.
Mac Jones finished with 294 yards and two TDs. Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ rushing with 65 yards. Brian Thomas Jr. was the leading receiver with 105 yards and 2 TDs. Today’s attendance was 63,251.
The Jaguars head to Las Vegas to face the Raiders on Sunday, 12/22. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. The Jaguars’ final home game of the season will be against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, 12/29 at 1:00 p.m. Be sure to follow www.FloridaSportsChannel.com and www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) lost to the Houston Texans (8-5) 23-20, eliminating the Jags from the playoffs. Today’s game marked the Jaguars’ return to the field after a week 12 bye. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence started the game after missing the last two with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, but left the game late in the second quarter after suffering a concussion in a heated moment between the two AFC South rivals.
QB Trevor Lawrence (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)
The first quarter set the tone for today’s defensive battle, with no scoring by either team. Texans’ K Ka’imi Fairbairn was the first to put points on the scoreboard with a 53 yard field goal early in the second quarter. Fairbairn later added a 30 yard field goal to put the Texans ahead 6-0. A few plays later, QB Trevor Lawrence had to be taken off the field in a cart, after a rough helmet-to-helmet hit by Texans’ LB Azeez Al-Shaair. Al-Shaair and Jaguars’ CB Jarrian Jones were both ejected after the ensuing brawl between the teams. Lawrence was ruled out for the remainder of the game with a concussion, so QB Mac Jones entered the game to take his place. On that same drive, K Cam Little kicked a 33 yard field goal, to leave the Jaguars trailing 6-3 at halftime.
QB Mac Jones (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)
Little added a 30 yard field goal early in the third quarter, to tie the game at 6-6, extending his streak to 15 consecutive field goals made, the longest by a rookie in Jaguars’ franchise history. The Texans’ next drive ended with a 7 yard touchdown run by RB Joe Mixon and extra point by Fairbairn, putting Houston up 13-6. Fairbairn kicked a 28 yard field goal late in the third quarter, extending their lead to 16-6.
Early in the fourth quarter, Little missed a 55 yard field goal attempt, ending his franchise rookie streak at 15 consecutive field goals made. The Texans scored on a 22 yard pass by QB C.J. Stroud to TE Dalton Schultz, followed by Fairbairn’s XP, extending their lead to 23-6. Jaguars TE Evan Engram joined Jeremy Shockey and George Kittle as the only three tight ends in NFL history to record at least 40 receptions in each of their first eight seasons. Soon after, the Jaguars added a 22 yard touchdown pass by Jones to WR Parker Washington. A failed two point conversion attempt left the Jags down 23-12. Jones later connected with WR Brian Thomas Jr. for a 6 yard touchdown pass, tying Thomas for first place in receiving touchdowns by a rookie in franchise history (six). A two point conversion narrowed the deficit to 23-20. But the Texans were able to run out the clock to seal their victory, and knock the Jags out of the postseason.
During today’s game, players, coaches, and staff wore customized cleats and sneakers in support of various charitable organizations that they support, as part of the NFL’s “My Clause My Cleats” campaign. In all, more than fifty charitable causes were represented, including youth health and wellness, cancer research, and social justice.
Mac Jones finished with 235 yards and two TDs. Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ rushing with 46 yards. Parker Washington was the leading receiver with 103 yards and 1 TD. Today’s attendance was 62,588.
The Jaguars head to Tennessee to face their AFC South rival Titans on Sunday, 12/8. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The Jaguars’ next home game will be against the New York Jets on Sunday, 12/15 at 1:00 p.m. Be sure to follow www.FloridaSportsChannel.com and www.FloridaNationalNews.comfor more.
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