8 headlines to expect during Super Bowl LII week
January 27, 2018 - 4:47 pm
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Philadelphia Eagles' LeGarrette Blount celebrates his touchdown run during the first half of the NFL football NFC championship game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
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Philadelphia Eagles' Chris Long (56) an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Philadelphia Eagles' LeGarrette Blount celebrates after a touchdown during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
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Jacksonville Jaguars safety Tashaun Gipson (39) breaks up a pass intended for New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) during the first half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) watches as tight end Rob Gronkowski, left, is assisted from the field after a hit by Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church during the first half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) is hit by Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church (42) as he breaks up a pass during the first half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
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New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) is hit by Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church (42) as he breaks up a pass during the first half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
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Philadelphia Eagles' LeGarrette Blount runs for a touchdown during the first half of the NFL football NFC championship game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
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Philadelphia Eagles' LeGarrette Blount celebrates his touchdown run during the first half of the NFL football NFC championship game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
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New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, left, speaks with quarterback Brian Hoyer (2) during NFL football practice, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots are to play the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 52 on Sunday, Feb. 4, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
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Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson watches at the team warms up during practice at the team's NFL football training facility in Philadelphia, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. The Eagles face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 52 on Sunday, Feb. 4, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles throws a pass during practice at the team's NFL football training facility in Philadelphia, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. The Eagles face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 52 on Sunday, Feb. 4, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long (56) walks on the sidleline during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
If Tom Brady defeats the Eagles for his sixth Super Bowl title with the Patriots, all eyes will be on the quarterback’s jersey.
Brady’s Super Bowl LI jersey was stolen (and later recovered) after New England’s epic 25-point comeback against the Falcons. Doubt Brady loses his jersey again, but that’s a possible postgame headline.
But before we get to the big game, here are eight headlines to expect during Super Bowl LII week in Minneapolis:
Blount, Long face old friends:
LeGarrette Blount won two Super Bowls with the Patriots, and Chris Long played a vital role during New England’s Super Bowl run last season. Blount and Long now will try to deliver the first Super Bowl to Philadelphia.
Gronkowski’s status:
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski returned to practice Saturday, six days after sustaining a concussion during the AFC title game against the Jaguars. With an extra week to recover, Gronkowski probably will see the Super Bowl field, but until he’s officially cleared from the concussion protocol, this will be a major topic.
Foles starting next year:
No, Nick Foles shouldn’t be starting over Carson Wentz in Philadelphia. That’s a no-brainer. But Foles should be considered for starting gigs elsewhere. But he isn’t a free agent, so a team would need to trade for him. But buyers beware: Foles drastically struggled when he left Philadelphia the first time for the Rams. If you’re the Eagles, do you even listen to trade offers? Will Wentz be ready for the 2018 season? What if he gets hurt again?
Hall of Fame voting:
Stop messing around, Hall of Fame voters. Terrell Owens deserves to be in, and it’s a travesty he’s not a Hall of Famer already. Don’t whiff on this for a third time, voters. Get Owens in with Randy Moss and Ray Lewis for a star-studded 2018 class.
Vikings fans looking for revenge:
There are rumors that Vikings fans are planning ways to give Eagles fans a miserable time in Minneapolis for Super Bowl week. I don’t blame them. Eagles fans hurled beer at Vikings fans in Philadelphia last week. But take the high road, Vikings fans. Focus on being a great host because there are good Eagles fans out there. Eagles fans recently donated more than $7,000 to Vikings coach Mike Zimmer’s foundation to make up for the poor behavior.
Pederson vs. Belichick:
In his first postseason as a coach, Doug Pederson outwitted defensive experts Dan Quinn and Zimmer. The Eagles’ offensive play-caller will now go up against arguably the greatest coach of all time, Bill Belichick. Can Pederson do what his mentor, Andy Reid, couldn’t do 14 years ago? That’s beat Belichick for the Lombardi trophy.
Eagles’ big men:
The Eagles’ are 5-point underdogs to the Patriots, making the No. 1 seed from the NFC the underdog for the third straight playoff game. I’m taking the points because the Eagles have the best offensive line and defensive line in football. The Eagles’ stout defensive line will get most of the attention this week, especially with Fletcher Cox playing lights out lately, but don’t sleep on the offensive line. Lane Johnson, Brandon Brooks and company just shut down the No. 1-ranked defense, the Vikings. The Pats’ lone weakness might be their lack of a pass rush. Unleash the flea-flickers, Foles.
Brady G.O.A.T debate:
Now that the masses have declared Brady the Greatest of All Time quarterback, the debate has shifted toward other sports. That’s right, Brady haters, roll your eyes. Get ready for Brady versus Michael Jordan arguments. The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, against Pretty Boy Tom. Heck, even bring in Babe Ruth and Willie Mays to the debate. It’s an argument with no right answers, especially when comparing different sports and generations. But today’s talking heads love pointless banter.
Contact Gilbert Manzano at gmanzano@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GManzano24 on Twitter.