Wrestling masks have replaced the dog masks.The underdog Philadelphia Eagles are having fun with the media frenzy leading up to the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. They’re staying
relaxed
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incredible success.
Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox and All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson on Wednesday donned masks that resembled the ones WWE star Rey
Mysterio and other luchadores wear in the ring.
”This was a gift from Mexico so I can have super powers all week,” Cox said about the green mask featuring an Eagles logo.
”I’m just having fun right now. We know why we’re here. We can’t come into this all uptight. You have fun when it’s time to have fun and get serious when
it’s time to get serious.”
Johnson and defensive end Chris Long pulled out German shepherd masks and wore them off the field and in their interviews after the Eagles beat Atlanta in
the divisional round. The Eagles (15-3) were the first No. 1 seed to enter their
first playoff game as an underdog.
The city, which has always had an underdog personality, embraced the masks. Johnson and Long then turned it into a charitable venture . They created
underdog T-shirts that were sold with all proceeds going to the Philadelphia
school district’s not-for-profit arm.
The Eagles were underdogs again in the NFC championship game and routed the Vikings 38-7. They’re in the same spot against the Patriots, who are 4+-point
favorites on Sunday.
But these Eagles don’t fear Bill Belichick, Tom Brady or New England’s dynasty. Johnson called Brady a ”pretty boy” and made it clear he’s not bothered
by the hype.
”I definitely respect him and all that he’s done in this league,” Johnson told The Associated Press. ”I’m not going to go into the Super Bowl worshipping
this man and make him more than what he is. No disrespect.
”As far as bulletin-board material, they can put it on their nightstands for all I care, in their bathrooms, I don’t care. I don’t think you need any
motivation to play in the Super Bowl. They know that.”
Brady and Belichick have led the Patriots to five Super Bowl titles
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the Eagles 24-21 in the big game 13 years ago.
Philadelphia players respect the duo’s accomplishments, but aren’t going into the game already defeated. Several players were part of a 35-28 upset win at New
England in 2015. The Eagles were a losing team under Chip Kelly that season, but
still went on the road and knocked off the 10-1 Patriots.
That won’t matter when the teams meet for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Still, it’s a confidence-booster for some guys.
”I think when you’ve been playing for a long time, you’ve had games where you’ve played unbelievable players and unbelievable coaches,” All-Pro center
Jason Kelce said.
”To me, this isn’t any different. These guys have been more consistent throughout the years, but this is the NFL. You play good players every week.
There’s good coaches you go against every week. I don’t think you look at this
any different than the fact that this is just another game. You see what they do
really well and how you can defend it.”
—
AP NFL website: The new owner of the Carolina Panthers is committed to keeping the team in the Carolinas.
And Charlotte is clearly his preferred choice.
But David Tepper left a bit of wiggle room on his first day as owner of the team.
The NFL unanimously approved Tepper’s $2.2 billion purchase of the team from Jerry Richardson on Tuesday, leading to immediate questions about the new
owner’s thoughts on replacing 22-year-old Bank of America Stadium in
Charlotte.
”What’s the name of the team? Carolina Panthers. It’s going to be the Carolina Panthers,” Tepper said. ”And that means this team has to have some kind
of presence in the Carolinas and last time I
saw
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them.”
Tepper seemed to be implying that he might consider other cities in North and South Carolina if efforts to build a new stadium in Charlotte fall through. The
lease with Bank of America Stadium runs for only one more season.
But Tepper reiterated several times that the largest city in the Carolinas is the best place for the team.
”There is a logical place for this team, and it’s Charlotte,” he said. ”And far as a new stadium, again, you’re asking me too much and the only thing I have
a market on now is lack of knowledge. I’ll call it stupidity, so I’ve got that
down. I’ll learn a lot more in the future.”
Tepper’s purchase was the first order of business at the league’s spring meeting in Atlanta. He was quickly approved after passing muster with the
owners’ finance committee during a morning session.
”We congratulate David and welcome him to the NFL,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said.
Tepper is paying an NFL-record price to buy the team from Jerry Richardson, the team’s founder and only owner since the Panthers entered the league in
1995.
Richardson abruptly announced he was selling the team last December after coming under investigation from the league for sexual and racial misconduct in
the workplace. The probe is ongoing.
Tepper is the founder and president of global hedge fund Appaloosa Management, with a reported net worth of $11 billion. Already familiar to the
league as a minority owner of the Pittsburgh
Steelers
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Tepper said he plans to formally take over the team in July.
In the meantime, he reserved judgment on both a new stadium and those who are running the football side of things, most notably general manager Marty Hurney
and coach Ron Rivera.
”I do think they have a great team down there right now,” Tepper said. ”The biggest thing I can do is have a great appreciation of how stupid I am.
Sometimes, it’s better to do nothing than to do something.”
Bank of America will be the NFL’s seventh-oldest stadium after Los Angeles opens its new facility for the Rams and Chargers , and the Raiders complete
their move from Oakland to Las Vegas .
That has raised the prospect of the Panthers seeking another home if they can’t get a new stadium of their own.
Tepper touched on the idea of bringing a Major League Soccer team to Charlotte, which could improve the financial viability of a new stadium. The
city was passed over in MLS’ latest round of expansion.
”The first thing I care about is winning. The second thing I care about is winning. And the third thing I care about is?” he said, waiting for the media to
give the obvious answer. ”That’s on and off the field. That includes charity
aspect, community aspect and how you make a community better. So you win a lot
of ways, and I don’t like losing in any way.”
Rivera said he looks forward to working with the new owner.
”He has a sense and a feel for football and he has been around it
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down and talk some football and talk about this team.”
While the owners were approving Tepper, the new-look Panthers were holding their first organized workouts some 250 miles away in Charlotte.
”For a lot of people, I am sure they are ready for some closure and for that transition to start,” tight end Greg Olsen said. ”I think this transition has
been inevitable for a little while since it was announced that the team would be
sold. I think for a lot of people in the building, the players, the team, just
to put all of this to rest and move forward in the new direction that the team
is going with.”
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