02102023 Super Bowl

Chiefs’ Mahomes says his ankle will be ready for Super Bowl

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.

(AP) — Patrick Mahomes says he’s “definitely in a better spot” when it comes to his ailing right ankle than he was for the AFC championship game, and the All-Pro quarterback doesn’t expect to be limited by it when he leads the Kansas City Chiefs against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.

Mahomes said that he continues to get treatment on the ankle, which he hurt in the divisional round against Jacksonville, and that it will probably continue up until Sunday’s kickoff.

“You won’t know exactly how it is until you get to game day,” he said. “I mean, I definitely move around better than I was moving last week or two weeks ago. So it’s just trying to continue to get the treatment and the rehab and get it as close to 100% and then rely on some adrenaline to let me do a little bit extra when I’m on the field.”

Mahomes hurt the ankle when a Jaguars pass rusher landed on it late in the first quarter. X-rays taken during the game came back negative, and he returned in the second half to lead Kansas City to the 27-20 victory.

Mahomes spent the next week getting treatment on the ankle, and he credited trainers Rick Burkholder and Julie Frymyer with getting him in shape to play for the AFC title. And while he was clearly

“YOU WON’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW IT IS UNTIL YOU GET TO GAME DAY. I MEAN, I DEFINITELY MOVE AROUND BETTER THAN I WAS MOVING LAST WEEK OR TWO WEEKS AGO. SO IT’S JUST TRYING TO CONTINUE TO GET THE TREATMENT AND THE REHAB AND GET IT AS CLOSE TO 100 PERCENT AND THEN RELY ON SOME ADRENALINE TO LET ME DO A LITTLE BIT EXTRA WHEN I’M ON THE FIELD.”

— CHIEFS QUARTERBACK PATRICK MAHOMES

hobbled by the high ankle sprain, and several times limped away from hits, Mahomes was available against Cincinnati when the Chiefs needed him at the end.

It was Mahomes who sprinted on his sore ankle in the closing seconds, then took a big late hit along the sideline, getting Kansas City within

range of Harrison Butker’s 45-yard field goal that punched its ticket back to the Super Bowl.

“He’s been doing really well with his ankle,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.

“We had a fast practice a couple days ago and he moved well. He can really do just about everything — at least everything in

the game plan we asked him to do.”

Still, concern about Mahomes’ ankle persists.

When Missouri Chief Justice Paul Wilson delivered his annual State of the Judiciary speech Wednesday to the Missouri Legislature, he added a twist to the typical closing line. “May God bless each of you, may God continue

to bless the great state of Missouri and, of course, may God bless Patrick Mahomes’ right ankle,” Wilson said to resounding applause from state lawmakers.

Back in Arizona, the Chiefs had everyone available as they ramped up with a more intense practice on Wednesday.

That included JuJu Smith-Schuster, who missed practice last week with swelling in his knee, and fellow wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who likewise skipped all the workouts in Kansas City with a sprained ankle. It also included cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who cleared the concussion protocol this week and returned to practice.

All three of those players, along with linebacker

Willie Gay Jr., were hurt in the AFC championship game. Gay came away with a relatively minor shoulder injury and practiced last week along with this week.

The Chiefs also are keeping a close eye on running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who was activated off injured reserve when wide receiver Mecole Hardman went on IR with a pelvis injury this week.

The 2020 first-round pick has been out since November with a high ankle sprain, but there’s a chance Edwards-Helaire could be active for the Super Bowl.

If active, he would give the Chiefs a change-ofpace back behind Isiah Pacheco and

Jerick McKinnon.

CHIEFS quarterback Patrick Mahomes answers a question during an NFL football Super Bowl media availability in Scottsdale, Arizona. Kansas City will play against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 57 on Sunday.

(AP Photo/ Ross D Franklin)

THE VINCE Lombardi Trophy can be seen at a news conference ahead of the Super Bowl 57 NFL football game.

(Tyler Kaufman/AP Images for the NFL)

Pro Picks: Eagles’ talent over Chiefs’ experience

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer

PHOENIX (AP) —

The Philadelphia Eagles left their dog masks at home.

Back in the Super Bowl five years after winning the first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history, the Eagles took a different path to reach this one. They’re 1 1/2point favourites against the Kansas City Chiefs, per FanDuel Sportsbook, after outscoring the Giants and 49ers 69-14 in the playoffs.

In their previous appearance, the Eagles became the first No. 1 seed to enter the playoffs as a home underdog. After sneaking past Atlanta in the divisional round, they were underdogs against Minnesota in the NFC championship game. They routed the Vikings and went on to beat Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the favoured New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

During that run, players embraced their underdog

status, brought dog masks to the games and wore them around Minnesota for Super Bowl week. No need for any extra motivation this time around.

The Eagles (16-3) are getting much of the hype, even against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs (16-3).

With Jalen Hurts leading a high-powered offence and Haason Reddick headlining a stingy defence, the Eagles have

been dominant throughout much of the season. Meanwhile, the Chiefs had a tougher path to this point. They beat the Jaguars 27-20 in the divisional round and edged the Bengals 23-20 on a field goal in the final seconds. Mahomes played with a badly sprained ankle against Cincinnati. An extra week off has helped but he’ll face a ferocious, relentless pass rush.

“They’re one of the top defences in the league for a reason,” Mahomes said. “They get after the quarterback, so it’ll be a great challenge for us to go out there and try to have some success.”

The Eagles realise playing against Mahomes is a tougher challenge than Daniel Jones and the Giants, and Brock Purdy/ Josh Johnson and the 49ers. “Mahomes is a tremendous talent,” Reddick

said. “I don’t know if you can contain him. He’s that good.”

Both teams have scored 546 points this season. It’s the first time two No. 1 seeds are playing in the Super Bowl since the Eagles-Patriots met after the 2017 season.

The Chiefs have a significant edge in experience as they make their third appearance in this game in four years.

Coach Andy Reid is 1-2

in Super Bowls, including a loss with the Eagles 18 years ago. Philadelphia’s Nick Sirianni has never coached in a Super Bowl. Pro Picks likes talent over experience. The Eagles are stacked, they’re healthy and they’ve been the more impressive team since Week 1. EAGLES, 31-23

2022 RECORD

Last Week: Straight up: 2-0. Against spread: 1-1. Playoffs: Straight up: 10-2. Against spread: 5-7 Overall season: Straight up: 181-101. Against spread: 141-136-5.

THE VINCE Lombardi Trophy is displayed on February 4 at the Super Bowl Experience, open to fans for the first day, leading up to the NFL Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix. Ross D Franklin/AP

Donna Kelce is going to have to pull out that now-familiar custom jersey — the one with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s front stitched to Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce’s back — one more time this season.

At least this time, she’ll get to see her boys in person.

For the first time in Super Bowl history, a pair of siblings will play each other on the NFL’s grandest stage. Kelce helped the Chiefs return to their third championship game in four seasons when they beat the Bengals for the AFC title, while Jason has the Eagles back for the second time in six years after their NFC title win over the 49ers.

“Cool scenario to be in, you know?” Travis Kelce said. “My mom can’t lose.”

Or maybe can’t win.

Indeed, there have been plenty of famous NFL siblings over the years, and many had some memorable matchups: Peyton v Eli Manning, Tiki v Ronde Barber. But they never reached the same Super Bowl, or had to put their dear old mom in such a predicament, where one will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the other one’s expense.

“It’s going to be an amazing feeling playing against him,”

Sibling rivalry on the biggest stage

Kansas City in time to watch the Chiefs play the Steelers at night.

She already has seen both of her sons win Super Bowls, too: The Eagles beat the Patriots in 2018 in Minneapolis, and the Chiefs rallied to beat the 49ers in Miami two years later.

She hasn’t seen much of them lately, though. The way the playoff schedule worked out for the divisional round and the conference championship games, it was impossible for Donna to make it to see both of her boys in person.

In any case, they’ve come a long way from their solidly middle-class upbringing in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Jason blazed the trail as the star offensive lineman who earned a scholarship to Cincinnati, and Travis soon followed suit. Both caught the eyes of NFL scout during their college careers, and of one coach in particular: Andy Reid.

They also happen to be very good at it.

Jason has been to six Pro Bowls and was just voted an All-Pro for the fifth time, and he’s emerged as one of the best offensive linemen in Eagles history. Travis has been to eight Pro Bowls, just made a fourth AllPro team and is second in NFL history to Jerry Rice in playoff catches, yards and touchdowns.

Football’s not the only thing they’re good at, either.

added Travis, whose team has gotten the better of big brother’s Eagles the last three matchups.

“I respect everyone over there in the Eagles organisation. You won’t see me talk too much trash because of how much I love my brother. But it’s going to be an emotional game, for sure.”

Jason Kelce was even ever-sobriefly a Chiefs fan, pulling on a Kansas City sweatshirt for about the three hours between the end of the Eagles’ 31-7 rout of San Francisco and the finish of his

little brother’s 23-20 win over Cincinnati.

“That’s it for the rest of the year,” Jason said with a smile. “I am done being a Chiefs fan.”

He’ll leave that to mom and dad.

While her husband, Ed, has mostly kept private over the years, Donna has been a fixture as she crisscrosses the country to watch her boys. During wild-card weekend last year, she started in Tampa Bay watching the Eagles against the Buccaneers, then hopped a plane to

It was Big Red who, while coaching the Eagles, used a sixth-round pick on Jason during the 2011 draft. And two years later, after Reid had gotten a fresh start in Kansas City, the Chiefs used a thirdrounder to bring Travis into the fold.

“Big brother probably protected Travis from doing some crazy things. He probably talked him from dropping off a ladder into raked-up leaves once or twice,” Reid said Monday.

“Listen, they’re both at heart very competitive and compassionate, is the biggest thing. They care and they care about people and they care about they’re game.”

The brothers have new a podcast called “New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce”, which takes listeners on a riotous, real-time ride through the NFL season. The weekly shows are recorded on Tuesdays and last between 60 and 90 minutes, the two NFL stars playing off each other as if they were hanging out in mom’s basement.

Special guests have included Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Chiefs counterpart Patrick Mahomes.

“They have a good mesh there, and a good relationship,” Reid said. “I think Travis has grown up a lot. Jason probably came in a bit more mature — Travis was a little immature. But he’s really grown into a good person.

“I have invested time in both of those two,” Reid added, “so I feel like a part of the family.”

KANSAS City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, left, talks to his brother, Philadelphia Eagles centre Jason Kelce, after they exchanged jerseys following a game in 2017. For the first time in Super Bowl history, a pair of siblings will play each other on the NFL’s grandest stage.

Photo: Ed Zurga/AP

TRAVIS Kelce JASON Kelce

Host the perfect game day party

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

THERE’S no party like a Super Bowl party. And if you’re hosting family and friends to watch the Kansas City Chiefs beat (I mean play) the Philadelphia Eagles this week, you’ll want to follow this guide to make you score a touchdown with all your guests.

Everyone comes to the party for the food – the diehard pigskin fans as well as the hangers-onso make sure you have enough tasty treats to last all night.

Finger foods such as wings, pizza and chips and dips are usually the way to go. Please put the food close to the screen so people don’t have to trek to the kitchen just as a touchdown is scored.

You want a mix of hot and cold bites, and while dips and sauces are great, you want to provide several finger foods that won’t be messy.

Make sure you have adequate seating and people are spaced so that everyone has a great view of the game. If space allows, you may want to set up several viewing areas in different rooms.

PLACE YOUR BETS

While everyone will be placing bets on the winners

Super Bowl hotspots

(my money is on Mahomes and the Chiefs all day every day), you may want to sweeten the pot with some unique bets – first fumble, first interception, who will score first or on what commercials will air when. You may want to bet on who will be the first guest to row the referee or another guest. Additionally, you may want to have a trivia quiz on Super Bowl facts. (We have included some below.)

ENCOURAGE FAN SUPPORT

Have a prize for the person who has on the most team gear or colours and decorate your house to match the teams (Chiefs: white jerseys and red pants. Eagles: green jerseys with and white pants.)

SUPER BOWL FACTS

• Super Bowl LVII (that’s the 57th) between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will take place this Sunday, at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Kickoff is 6pm. The game and the pre-game show will be aired on Fox .

• Super Bowl LVII will be the first one between two black starting quarterbacks in NFL history.

Patrick Mahomes, of the Chiefs, will start his third and Jalen Hurts, of the

Eagles, will be the eighth black Quarterback to start a Super Bowl. The quarterbacks are also the youngest pair to start.

• The national anthem will be sung by Grammy Award winner and southern rocker Chris Stapleton. R&B superstar Babyface will sing “America the Beautiful”, while actress Sheryl Lee Ralph will sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing”.

• Rihanna will perform the halftime show. Her performance ends a seven-year absence from the music scene during which time she gave birth to her son and launched a make-up and lingerie line.

• Don’t blink during those Super Bowl commercials. Advertisers will spend as much as $7m for a 30-second slot hoping to reach the 100 million viewers expected to watch the big game.

• It pays to be a Super Bowl champ. In addition to the realisation of your professional dreams and the ultimate bragging rights, being named a Super Bowl champion comes with a big payday: each team member gets a cash prize of $150,000 as well as some hefty bling – the diamond-encrusted Super Bowl ring valued between $30,000 and $50,000.

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

SUPER Bowl Sunday is just two days away and the excitement for the highly anticipated game is certainly building here in the Bahamas.

Football fans cannot wait to see the Philadelphia Eagles face off against the Kansas City Chiefs.

While the game is of course the main event, people also want to enjoy all the trimmings – the drinks, the food, the parties.

Whatever your reason for wanting to be involved in the action this Sunday, whether you are a hardcore football fan or just tagging along for wings and beers, we have got you covered with a guide to all the spots hosting Super Bowl events this weekend.

Though this is not a complete list, it is a starting point if you and your crew have not yet decided where to go.

PALM TREE DELIGHTS

The ultimate sports lovers’ spot, this Cable Beach restaurant is touting itself as the best place to enjoy the game. Their Super Bowl event will feature large screen viewing, a multi-TV bar and additional patio seating.

As for the booze and bites, there will be beer specials and patrons will have the option of enjoying the specially crafted Kansas City Chiefs barbecue stuffed burger or the Philadelphia Eagle Cheese Burger. Doors open at 4pm.

CLUB WATERLOO

The club is hosting its Super Bowl Watch Party from noon. The party will feature various drink specials and poolside viewing of the game on a large LED screen. There will also be a special game day menu. You must RSVP for this event.

GREEN PARROT BAR & GRILL

The restaurant is inviting football lovers to come on down and cheer for their favourite team. The restaurant will stream the game live on its 20ft projector screen as well as on its large HD TVs. They are also offering bucket and appetiser specials.

FUSION SUPERPLEX

Fusion is offering football loves a stadium experience with its special event. Patrons can watch the big show in its XS3 theatre and experience the game on a giant screen. Fusion is also offering beer bucket specials and game day

bites inclusive of wings, nachos, conch fritters, fish fingers and more.

TWISTED LIME SPORTS BAR & GRILL

The restaurant is calling for family and friends to come out and have a great time while enjoying one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the year. There will be wings, pizza and conch fritter specials food as well as beer buckets. Takeout is also available.

CAPTAIN’S DECK

The cigar lounge is joining the action to host its Super Bowl Showdown. It will feature live entertainment and on the menu are wings and beer specials. There will also be lots of “prizes and surprises”. It all kicks off at 4pm.

ATLANTIS PARADISE ISLAND

The resort is hosting a big game day party that will feature a screening of the game in its Imperial Ballroom. Large screens, open premium bar, ten buffet stations, party favours and on-site wagers with William Hill Sportsbooks are just some of the goodies on offer.

The event kicks off at 6.30pm. Must be 18 or older.

Super Bowl 57 AKA the Rihanna Show

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net

AS a long-time Rihanna fan, I am looking forward to the highly anticipated return of the Bajan queen to the stage this Sunday during the Super Bowl halftime show.

The perfect way to welcome her back would be sitting in the bleachers at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, but since that isn’t my reality, I will be joining the millions of viewers in search of a nice spot to watch and enjoy the Rihanna event, while some men throw a ball around before and after.

The last time I saw her in concert was during her “Anti” tour in 2016, so I am extremely excited for her comeback.

And I’m not alone. One social media commenter wrote: “The closer it gets, the more anxious I become. I’m so excited to see Rihanna return to the stage. She is back and seems to be ready.”

Another person wrote: “At 34 years old, Rihanna took a break from music

to build her legacy, start her very own family and is making her comeback on a stage as big and historic as the Super Bowl’s halftime show. I mean you cannot get no bigger and successful than this. I commend her non-stop work and achievements over the years as a young black woman. I will never be a hater towards someone like Rihanna. She’s a true boss lady.”

In an interview with E! News’ Justin Sylvester, Rihanna suggested she may bring a few friends along to join her on stage this Sunday.

When Justin pointed out that the halftime show is only 12 minutes long, she noted that when she puts on a concert it’s usually two hours long.

“Twelve minutes? You could actually do that by yourself, but it’s one of those things where you can decorate it however you want. So, whether I choose to do it for myself or whether I

choose to bring some of my peers on, it’s...” she said and paused to not reveal too much,” she said.

Rihanna then added: “I don’t know what I’m gonna do yet. It’s gonna be great either way.”

Yesterday, she confirmed her show will be 13 minutes long.

Rihanna’s performance follows one of the biggest halftime shows in recent years. Last year, Dr Dre, Mary J Blige, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent came together for one epic performance. We can only hope that Rihanna will deliver a similarly amazing show.