Patriots’ ‘mystique’ put on pedestal
SUPER BOWL: But Eagles head coach Pederson doing all he can to keep the focus off New England’s past
Doug Pederson isn’t afraid of no ghosts. He can’t afford to be. The coach of the Philadelphia Eagles realizes that he not only has to deal with the New England in Super Bowl LII, but his team will also have to tackle the Patriots’ intimidating past. Their five Vince Lombardi trophies. Their eight trips to the Super Bowl in the last 17 years. Their nine consecutive playoff berths.
The Bill Belichick-Tom Brady combination.
Or, as it was put to Pederson on Thursday before the Eagles’ first practice in preparation for the Feb. 4 Super Bowl clash, the Patriots’ “mystique.” Pederson admitted it exists. “I think that’s obviously a real question,” he said. “These guys have been there. They’ve done it. They’ve proven it time and time again. My biggest issue focus with the team is let’s just focus on today. Let’s just win today. Let’s get better today and we’ll worry about that when we get to the game.
“It’s a credit to what the Patriots have done in their careers and their history and everybody is trying to win championships like that. But we’ve just got to focus on today.”
Before this season, the Eagles were 0-3 in the playoffs dating back to 2009. During that time, the Patriots had won 11 post-season games.
Even when the Patriots appear to be down, they’re not out. Remember last year’s Super Bowl comeback against Atlanta? Remember last week’s comeback against Jacksonville?
“You know what, if I make this all about them, we’re in trouble,” said Pederson. “Honestly, we’re in trouble. Everything is going to be written about it, everything has been written about it, talked about it, debated and it’s about us. I’ll keep saying that. It’s about what we do and how well we execute.”
It’s the Eagles best chance against the Patriots and their ghosts.
Facts and figures
Brady will unseat Jerry Rice as the oldest non-kicker to play in a Super Bowl next week. He’ll be 40 years, 185 days old, while Rice was 40 years, 105 days when he played for the Oakland Raiders in a 48-21 loss to Jon Gruden’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003. Which reminds us, less than one year earlier, the Raiders traded Gruden to the Bucs for two first-round picks, two second-rounds picks and $8 million. Who would have thought it’d be such a bad deal? ... According to SportsBusiness Daily, the most popular merchandise this season bears the name of Eagles QB Carson Wentz. Next on the list was Brady’s stuff (like any Patriots fan didn’t have enough already), followed by Dallas QB Dak Prescott, Pittsburgh WR Antonio Brown and Dallas RB Ezekiel Elliott. The most popular non-drafted player, coming in at No. 9 was Vikings WR Adam Thielen ...
In other words
Eagles S Malcolm Jenkins has given two free Super Bowl tickets to a man who was recently released from serving 30 years for murder. After meeting Kempis Songster in maximum-security prison a year ago, Jenkins believes he is dedicated to a life of service and repaying what he’s taken from society. “I know normally people give those to kids or people who may be sick or who are well deserving,” Jenkins, a nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, told the Daily News, “but I wanted to set an example that sometimes we can think outside the box.” ... Fill in the blank: Eagles DT Fletcher Cox has never (blank) a Super Bowl game. Trick question because it has at least two answers: “played in” and “watched.” To NJ.com, the native of Yazoo City, Miss., said: “I don’t watch football. I don’t watch sports.” But the Super Bowl? Not once? Sorry, don’t buy it ... Eagles RB LeGarrette Blount told reporters he’s in “straight enemy mode” heading into next week’s game against his old team. “Ain’t no friends,” said Blount. “There aren’t any hard feelings. It just is what it is.”
Around the NFL
Saints QB Drew Brees is adamant he won’t test the free-agent waters. “I’m not going anywhere else,” he told ESPN . ... The Falcons are dedicated to signing QB Matt Ryan to a long-term extension. Ryan is entering the last year of a five-year deal that will count $21.65 million against the cap ... Patriots OC Josh McDaniels has a second interview for the Colts head coaching vacancy Friday ... Former Chargers head coach Mike McCoy is expected to be named the new OC in Arizona ... Ravens rookie CB Marlon Humphrey was arrested earlier this month by the University of Alabama police on misdemeanour harassment and theft charges. His plea sounds like one of ignorance. “Marlon told us it was a misunderstanding, regarding a $15 telephone charger, which he thought was his,” the Ravens said in a statement.