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Rams’ star running back Gurley doesn’t mind splitting touches with C.J. Anderson
Todd Gurley is a serious sports fan who loves going to the Super Bowl each winter, attending all of the decadent parties and soaking up the game-day atmosphere.
The Los Angeles Rams’ superstar running back will miss out on most of those wild parties this year in Atlanta, but he doesn’t mind too much.
“I’m used to going to the Super Bowl, being with my boys, hanging out,” Gurley said. “But we actually get a chance to play in it this year, so it’s cool, man.”
The Rams (15-3) want Gurley to be more than a spectator against the New England Patriots, and they’ll probably need much more from the 2017 Offensive Player of the Year than he was able to provide in his unusually quiet NFC championship game.
Gurley is not a boastful person in most public settings, but he is confident in his ability to finish the season with a bang. He also insists he doesn’t mind if C.J. Anderson or somebody else does his job, as long as the Rams are all getting rings.
“We’re all going to have our downs, but you enjoy it even more when you do something great, or you have that success,” Gurley said. “I know who I am. I’m comfortable with myself. I’m the best. I’m the best at my position. I’ve been that way all my whole life, so it’s like I’m going to keep striving. I know what I can do.” Nobody saw it in New Orleans, where Gurley made almost no impact on the Rams’ 26-23 overtime victory. The highest-paid running back in
NFL history touched the ball only five times, albeit scoring a TD on one of those touches, rushing just four times and failing to catch ley missed the final two games of the regular season with a knee injury.
Unlike some elite running backs, Gurley has repeatedly said he doesn’t care how many touches he gets as long as the Rams are winning. He appears to have a harmonious vibe with Anderson, who predicts a bounce-back performance by Gurley in the Super Bowl.
CALL HIM ROMO-STRADAMUS
New England’s Tom Brady and Los Angeles’ Jared Goff are going into the Super Bowl with plenty of momentum, but the quarterback that might be on the biggest roll is CBS analyst Tony Romo.
The former Cowboys signal-caller will call his first Super Bowl on Feb. 3 coming off acclaim for his analysis of the Jan. 20 AFC championship game between New England and Kansas City.
Romo made 15 predictions, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Kaduk, of what the Patriots or Chiefs would do before the snap.
He was correct on 12 plays, including going 10 of 12 during the fourth quarter and overtime.
Romo said during a conference call earlier this week that he intends to call the game the same way he has others for the past two seasons.
“I try not to predetermine too much stuff I can say because the game is the story and you’re going to call it,” Romo said.
LIONS’ BATES ARRESTED
Trevor Bates, a linebacker for the Detroit Lions, was arrested Saturday in New York on charges that he failed to pay a taxi fare and then punched a police officer, who suffered a concussion.
Bates faces charges including assault, resisting arrest, theft of services and obstructing governmental administration after police were called around 1:30 a.m. to a hotel near LaGuardia Airport, said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
Bates, 25, was taken to a police precinct house for refusing to pay the $32 yellow taxi fare.
TITANS HIRE DOWNING
The Tennessee Titans have hired Todd Downing as their tight ends coach after he spent this season in the same role with the Minnesota Vikings. Arthur Smith had worked as the Titans’ tight ends coach in 2018 but was promoted to offensive co-ordinator on Monday.