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SPORTS Friday 24 January 2020

Suggs aiming for Super Bowl

after joining Chiefs last month

By DAVE SKRETTA roster. shut down Titans running
AP Sports Writer There were reports that back Derrick Henry in the
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Suggs was initially skepti- AFC title game.
There was a moment during cal of joining the Chiefs, His value doesn't just lie
practice last week, while preferring instead to return between the sidelines,
the Kansas City Chiefs were to the Ravens and help though.
prepping for their AFC title them down the stretch. It lies on the sideline.
game against Tennessee, But all it took was a look at The 37-year-old Suggs has
that caused linebackers the roster — quarterback seen just about everything
coach Matt House to seek Patrick Mahomes, wide re- during the course of his
out defensive coordinator ceiver Tyreek Hill and tight career, and he's eager to
Steve Spagnuolo. end Travis Kelce on of- pass along that knowledge
It had to do with pass rusher fense, and Clark and safety to the next generation. The
Terrell Suggs, and it was just Tyrann Mathieu on defense scene that played out at
too good to let go. — and an honest, heart-to- practice last week was but
"He said, 'Wow, T-Suggs heart talk with coach Andy one example of Suggs tak-
was just over there talking Reid to convince T-Sizzle to ing a defensive player — or
about this technique we do bring his, well, sizzle to the a bunch of them, in that
and he just put on a clinic,'" AFC West champions. case — to the side and giv-
Spagnuolo recalled Thurs- "It didn't take much con- ing them some pointers that
day afternoon. "All the line- vincing," Suggs said. "This often resonate with players
backers, nobody said any- team is pretty vet-savvy. far more than if they were
thing. They just watched." Having been in this position coming from a coach.
Surprising given that Suggs a few times, you learn more "He's a true veteran," Ma-
has only been with the from failure than you ever thieu said. "I think he has
Chiefs for about a month. would from success. I think a lot of that champion-
Not at all surprising given that the things that have ship swagger. He comes
that the 17-year veteran happened in years past to work every day. Always
has earned his stripes dur- kind of prepared this team taking notes. I can remem- Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (94) cele-
ing a long career spent for the task that it took. It ber a few plays in the (Tex- brates as he enters the field prior to an NFL divisional playoff
game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020 in Kan-
primarily with the Baltimore also doesn't hurt to have ans) game where he was sas City.
Ravens, where he not only the reigning MVP, and defi- scrapping down the ball Associated Press
reached the Super Bowl nitely the best tight end in and looks 28."
but won it after the 2012 the game, on your team. After the Chiefs took care have pictured himself play- Giants and later served as
season. In a strange coinci- Once they got rolling and of the Titans last weekend, ing in another Super Bowl interim coach, said he had
dence, the opponent hap- clicking on all cylinders, we Suggs became the go-to when he was struggling "just good thoughts" when
pened to be the San Fran- got to have fun out there." player in the locker room through the season in Ari- asked about QB Eli Man-
cisco 49ers, whom Kansas Indeed, it didn't take long for tips on dealing with the zona a few months ago, or ning's retirement. "I think
City will face in Miami in less for Suggs to get rolling. He Super Bowl, whether it was even when he joined the the world of Eli. I'm happy
than two weeks. joined the team early in the daunting crush of me- Chiefs midway through last for him," Spagnuolo said.
This is exactly what Suggs Week 16 and played about dia obligations, the count- month. "Had a tremendous career.
hoped for when the Ari- a quarter of the defensive less friends and families "It's definitely one of the I was lucky to be with him
zona Cardinals waived him snaps in a win at Chicago. trying to get tickets or se- most humbling feelings to and share in the ultimate
late in the season. He upped that number to cure flights, or the actual be a part of," he said. "I'm moment, so I wish him the
The Chiefs had just lost their about half the following challenge of preparing for very fortunate to be a part best."q
second defensive end to a week against the Chargers, the biggest game in profes- of it."
season-ending injury, and when a win by the Chiefs sional football. NOTES: Kelce and SS Jor-
they were desperate for coupled with a loss by the "Just talking to those guys dan Lucas did not prac-
some help to pair with pass Patriots gave the No. 2 and seeing what the week tice Thursday because of
rusher Frank Clark. They seed and a first-round play- is like, first of all," Chiefs quar- an illness. ... The Chiefs will
never could have guessed off bye. terback Patrick Mahomes practice on Friday before
it would come in the form Suggs has continued to play said. "It helps to have those getting Saturday off to take
of a former All-Pro and sev- about the same amount guys and their experiences care of travel preparations.
en-time Pro Bowl selection the past two weeks, help- to understand what we're They head to Miami on
who had 138 sacks and ing to corral Texans quar- getting into and what to Sunday. ... Spagnuolo, who
more postseason experi- terback Deshaun Watson expect." twice was the defensive co-
ence than anyone on their in the divisional round and As for Suggs, he never could ordinator for the New York