NFL
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hold Super Bowl LV Opening Night Virtual Media Conference
TE Rob Gronkowski comments on the differences of this year’s Super Bowl media conference.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers held their virtual media conference for Super Bowl LV Opening Night on Monday. It was a very different experience for the coaches, players, and reporters, as this was the first time ever that a Super Bowl media conference was held virtually, rather than in person. As TE Rob Gronkowski commented on this, his sixth trip to the Super Bowl, “We’re in a pandemic right now, just talking to you guys over zoom. Just sitting in a room by myself, it’s not the same. The juices still are flowing, but it’s not the same. The other process of going to a media day is a lot more exciting!” QB Tom Brady noticed another difference early in the conference, “How come I don’t get to see them (the reporters) at all… I only get to see me!”
Lori Locust (Bucs Assistant Defensive Line Coach)
One of the themes of today’s media conference focused on the Bucs’ diverse coaching staff, which includes females Lori Locust (Assistant Defensive Line Coach) and Maral Javadifar (Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach/Physical Therapist). As Head Coach Bruce Arians noted, “If you can teach, you can coach. The ones we have are overly qualified. To hear voices that aren’t the same, you get better output.” The Bucs also have Carly Helfand working as a Scouting Assistant, while Julie Frymyer and Tiffany Morton are both Assistant Athletic Trainers for the Kansas City Chiefs. Also of note this year, Sarah Thomas will become the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl.
Maral Javadifar (Bucs Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach/Physical Therapist)
WR Chris Godwin was asked to summarize in one word what a championship would mean to him. “History. You win the Super Bowl, you’re cemented in history. This moment, this team, the first time a Super Bowl team’s playing in its home stadium. A lot of us would be very proud.” As Tom Brady added, “Hopefully we can finish this season strong and win a Super Bowl.”
WR Chris Godwin
While the players and coaches had plenty of glowing things to say about Tom Brady, we did learn one new piece of news about the 43 year old legendary quarterback, who is aiming for his seventh championship in his first year with this team. According to Coach Todd Bowles (Defensive Coordinator), “Tom Brady is the biggest prankster/jokester on the staff.” Of course, Coach Bowles was also sure to point out that Tom Brady is also “very polite off the field. Great personality and great work ethic.”
Coach Todd Bowles (Defensive Coordinator)
Stay tuned to Florida National News for coverage leading up to the big game on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, who are expected to fly in to Tampa this weekend.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2) lost to the Houston Texans (1-2) 37-17 at EverBank Stadium, after falling behind early and failing to catch up. WR Zay Jones and RB JaMycal Hasty were inactive today due to injuries.
K Brandon McManus missed a 48 yard field goal at the end of the Jaguars’ first possession of the game. The Texans scored the first points of the game with a one yard touchdown run from RB Dameon Pierce, followed by the extra point from K Ka’imi Fairbairn, to put Houston up 7-0, which remained the score at the end of the first quarter.
McManus had another 51 yard field goal attempt early in the second quarter which was blocked by Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. On the next drive, QB CJ Stroud completed a 4 yard touchdown pass to TE Brevin Jordan, followed by the extra point from Fairbairn, extending the Texans lead to 14-0. The Texans added a 28 yard Fairbairn field goal just before halftime, to put the Texans ahead 17-0.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the halftime show was performed by the Venezuela Marka Foundation Dancers, and the ¡Somos Duuuval! signage could be found in various spots throughout the stadium, today.
Venezuela Marka Foundation Dancers performed at halftime. Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)
On the first drive of the third quarter, RB Tank Bigsby scored with a 1 yard touchdown run, followed by an extra point from Brandon McManus, to narrow the deficit to 17-7. McManus added a 33 yard field goal later in the quarter, making it 17-10. But on McManus’ kickoff, Texans FB Andrew Beck returned the ball 85 yards for a touchdown, followed by Fairbairn’s extra point, putting the Texans up 24-10, which remained the score at the end of the third.
Early in the fourth quarter, Fairbairn added another 26 yard field goal, extending the Texans’ lead to 27-10. The Jaguars answered with a scoring drive culminating in a 26 yard QB Trevor Lawrence to WR Christian Kirk touchdown pass, followed by McManus’ extra point, to make it 27-17. But the Texans scored another touchdown on a 68 yard Stroud to WR Tank Dell pass, with Fairbairn’s extra point, putting them up 34-17. Another 33 yard Fairbairn field goal extended their lead to 37-17. Jaguars backup QB C.J. Beathard played the final drive for Jacksonville.
Trevor Lawrence finished with 279 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ rushing with 88 yards. Evan Engram was the leading receiver with 67 yards.
QB Trevor Lawrence. Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)
Today’s attendance was 61,466. The Jaguars will fly to London for the next two weeks. They’ll face the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium Sunday, 10/1, at 9:30 a.m. EST, and the Buffalo Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Sunday, 10/8, at 9:30 a.m. After their European tour, the team will return to Jacksonville to face the Indianapolis Colts in a rematch of their week one game, which the Jags won 31-21. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Sunday, 10/15. Be sure to follow www.FloridaSportsChannel.com and www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) lost to the Kansas City Chiefs (1-1) in their first home game of the season at the newly renamed EverBank Stadium. The Jags also lost to the Chiefs in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs to end last season. Chiefs TE Travis Kelce returned to the field after missing week one with a knee injury. Jaguars RB JaMycal Hasty did not play today, as he was on the inactive list with an unspecified injury.
Trevor Lawrence. Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)
On the first drive of the game, QB Trevor Lawrence surpassed 8,000 passing yards for his career. He’s currently in fifth place all-time in team history, behind Byron Leftwich’s 9,042 yards. The first scoring drive of the game ended with a 32 yard K Brandon McManus field goal a couple of minutes into the second quarter, putting the Jags up 3-0. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes had the first touchdown pass of the game, with a 9 yard completion to WR Skyy Moore, followed by a K Harrison Butker extra point, to put the Chiefs up 7-3 with just 27 seconds before halftime. The Jaguars made the most of the time remaining, setting up Brandon McManus to add a 49 yard field goal, narrowing their deficit to 7-6 at the half.
Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes. Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)
In the third quarter, Patrick Mahomes found Travis Kelce in the end zone for a 9 yard touchdown pass. Harrison Butker added the extra point, to put the Chiefs ahead 14-6.
The Jaguars early 4th quarter scoring drive ended with a 22 yard Brandon McManus field goal, to make the score 14-9. Harrison Butker later added a 38 yard field goal putting the Chiefs up 17-9.
Trevor Lawrence finished with 216 yards but no touchdowns. Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ rushing with 40 yards. Christian Kirk was the leading receiver with 110 yards.
Today’s attendance was 69,615. The Houston Texans will be in Jacksonville Sunday, 9/24, to face the Jags. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Be sure to follow www.FloridaSportsChannel.com and www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.
