Tampa coach likes idea of playing Super Bowl at home
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will become the first team in 55 years to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium on Feb. 7.
“It’s a huge advantage,” Bucs coach Bruce Arians said Monday.
It could prove an even bigger edge than normal in a season that continues to be impacted at every turn by the coronavirus pandemic.
The traditional Super Bowl media day and all other interviews throughout the week, including postgame, will be done virtually. ESPN reported before Sunday’s conference championship games that the winning teams would not arrive in Tampa until at least Feb. 5.
Of course, Tampa Bay is not encumbered by those travel restrictions.
“We stay in our own beds, sleep here and just do our normal routine,” Arians said Monday after the Bucs returned from their 31-26 win at Green Bay in Sunday’s NFC Championship game. “Nothing is out of the ordinary until we hit the media sessions next week.
“Just to be able to stay in your routine, sleep in your bed and all that stuff.”
However, Arians also sees an advantage for the Chiefs compared to typical Super Bowls.
Kansas City will arrive to the host city without the normal distractions of media requirements and friends and family trying to come to town for the festivities.
“I think it really helps them,” Arians said. “Normally, when you get to town for Super Bowl, everybody’s pulling and tugging you — trying to get everything done the week before. Then, when you hit town, you’ve got all the media obligations and your practice and game plans are all put in.
“I think it’s a great advantage for them (because) it’s just an away game. They get to do their normal prep just like we do. Nobody’s going to get tied up in all that stuff.”
BRADY’S FATHER WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH CORONAVIRUS >> The father of Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady said both he and his wife contracted the coronavirus earlier this year, forcing Tom Brady Sr. to be hospitalized for three weeks.
Tom Brady Sr. told ESPN Radio on Monday that he and his wife, Galynn, were “sick as a dog.” The couple, both 76, missed the first two games of the younger Brady’s debut in Tampa, the first time they’ve ever missed a game.
The elder Brady said their bout with the virus “stressed out” their son.
“Tommy fought through it, and so now it’s in the rearview mirror,” he said. “We’re healthy, we’re happy and everything is good.”
CHIEFS’ FISHER TO MISS SUPER BOWL WITH TORN ACHILLES >>
Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Eric Fisher left the AFC championship game with a torn Achilles and is facing an extended rehab, according to NFL Network.
“It doesn’t look too good with the Achilles,” head coach Andy Reid said.
Mike Remmers moved from right tackle to left tackle in the Chiefs’ 38-24 win over the Buffalo Bills. Andrew Wylie moved from right guard to right tackle.
Fisher, 30, appeared in 117 games (113 starts) since the Chiefs selected him No. 1 overall out of Central Michigan in 2013. He is a two-time Pro Bowl selection who started 15 games this season while protecting the blind side of Kansas
City quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
CHIEFS THE EARLY FAVORITES >> The Chiefs were installed as 3.5-point favorites to win Super Bowl LV shortly after beating the Bills in Sunday’s AFC Championship game.
DraftKings and PointsBet were among the sportsbooks to set the early line at Kansas City -3.5 points despite the fact that the Buccaneers will be the first team to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium.
DraftKings is offering Chiefs with a -165 moneyline and the Bucs at +135. Kansas City’s early moneyline at PointsBet was -180 with Tampa Bay at +150.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has the shortest odds to win game MVP honors at +110 by DraftKings, followed by counterpart Tom Brady at +250.
Kansas City wide receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce have the third-shortest MVP odds at +900 apiece. STAFFORD’S NEXT TEAM? COLTS LEAD DEEP PACK >> With Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions heading for a parting of the ways after 12 years, he becomes the first of what could be the deepest pool of available veteran quarterbacks in recent memory.
Detroit hasn’t officially put the soon-to-be 33-yearold on the trade block, but the sides have reportedly agreed the time has come for Stafford to move on. He could soon be joined by Deshaun Watson, who reportedly wants out of Houston.
There are at least two playoff teams who will be in the market for a veteran quarterback this offseason, and potentially more.
The market for Stafford begins with Indianapolis, which lost to Buffalo in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Philip Rivers announced his retirement last week and backup Jacoby Brissett is a pending free agent.
The Colts are being offered as the +300 favorite to land Stafford by SportsBetting.ag. Next is the San Francisco 49ers (+350), who may move on from Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason.
The Denver Broncos (+400) have not committed to Drew Lock.
The Washington Football Team won the woeful NFC East and has a talented young roster at many positions other than quarterback. With 2019 first-round pick Dwayne Haskins released and the future of 36-year-old Alex Smith uncertain, the addition of Stafford could make the WFT (+450) a legitimate NFC contender next season.
The list of potential destinations for Stafford doesn’t stop there — New England, the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints are just three more of several playoff-worthy rosters which could be a change at QB away from taking the “next step.”
RAMSSIGNAQB>> The Rams are adding former Pittsburgh Steelers backup Devlin Hodges to their quarterback mix.
Hodges, 24, who played college football at Samford, started six games (three wins) for the Steelers in 2019, splitting time with Mason Rudolph while Ben Roethlisberger was injured.