Playing at home would be super for Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings would be the visiting team if they advance to Super Bowl LII, at least officially.
Unofficially, the Vikings will be anything but the road team if they secure a victory over the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday. They would become the first team to play a Super Bowl on their home turf. The game is at U. S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Feb. 4.
“It’s a little amazing, as was the fact [ the Vikings] were the first team to play a divisional round game at the same stadium that hosts the Super Bowl,” Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s senior director of events, told USA Today. “It is surprising that it hasn’t happened yet, but last year’s Super Bowl was the first overtime game. We are certainly prepared for this.”
Two franchises have played virtual home games in the Super Bowl: The Los Angeles Rams played a few miles from their home stadium at the Rose Bowl in January 1980, and the San Francisco 49ers played at Stanford Stadium in January 1985.
Months ago, the NFL took into account the possibility of the Vikings potentially playing in the Super Bowl, and the only significant change would be where the NFC team will practice.
If the Vikings advance, they will be able to use their Winter Park, Minnesota, facility. That would put the AFC representative — either the Patriots or Jaguars — at the University of Minnesota. If the Vikings don’t make it, the AFC team would use the Winter Park location, and the Eagles would practice at the Golden Gophers’ home.
The NFL will control the gameday presentation, meaning the Viking horn — one that sounds during games — might not be heard quite so often.
“We will work with them to find [ the] right balance in the presentation,” O’Reilly said.
Vikings Pro Bowl receiver Adam Thielen ( lower back) and safety Andrew Sendejo ( concussion) are questionable.
Bears add Olivo to staff
Brock Olivo, who spent three years alongside Matt Nagy on the Chiefs’ coaching staff, was named the Bears’ assistant special- teams coach. Olivo was the Broncos’ specialteams coordinator last year after serving as Dave Toub’s assistant in Kansas City.
Olivo, who graduated as Missouri’s all- time leading rusher, played for the Lions from 1998 to 2001.
Jets’ Anderson arrested again
Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson is facing nine charges, including two felonies, after allegedly fleeing police at 105 mph and threatening to sexually assault the arresting officer’s wife early Friday morning in South Florida.
It’s Anderson’s second arrest in the last eight months. He’s subject to discipline under the NFL’s personal- conduct policy.
Anderson set career highs with 63 catches, 941 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his second season with the Jets.
Raiders honored ‘ Rooney Rule’
The NFL said the Raiders complied with the “Rooney Rule” when they hired Jon Gruden as coach. The league said a review found the Raiders conducted “bona fide” interviews with minority candidates during their search for a replacement for the fired Jack Del Rio. The team officially hired Gruden on Jan. 6.
This and that
Former Cardinals coach Bruce Arians is interested in replacing Jon Gruden as the color analyst for “Monday Night Football.” Arians, 65, already has met with Fox and the NFL Network.
Nevada’s Board of Regents approved a joint- use agreement that will allow the UNLV football team to use the $ 1.9 billion stadium planned for the Raiders when the NFL team moves to Las Vegas in 2020.