Page 15 - aruba-today-20201222

A15
SPORTS Tuesday 22 december 2020

On Football: With Brady on verge of playoffs, Patriots done

By BARRY WILNER No one is saying the Patri-
AP Pro Football Writer ots have lacked heart this
Three AFC East teams won season; their close victories
in Week 15 — yes, even the against Baltimore, Arizona
Jets. The one defeat, by and even the Jets prove
the Patriots, was historic. their grit. Such veterans as
For the first time since the Devin McCourty, Stephon
2008 season, New England Gilmore and Matthew Slat-
will not make the playoffs, er would never allow ennui
nor win the division. For the to invade their locker room.
first time since 2000, the But they also lost to Den-
opening year of Bill Belich- ver, San Francisco and
ick's reign in Foxborough, Houston, all of which will
the Patriots will not have a be spending the postsea-
winning record. son as home, too. Without
New England has the NFL's Brady, the onus was too
longest string of making the heavy on a defense that
postseason, 11 seasons, often was undermanned.
all with a guy named Tom Without Brady — not to
Brady at quarterback. Dal- mention Julian Edelman
las holds the NFL mark with and Rob Gronkowski —
20 straight seasons with there was no one to lift the
a winning record. Minus offense. And without Brady,
Brady, the Patriots fall one only very rarely was there
year short of that. New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick stands on the sidelines during the second half of any significant boost from
Dour as always, Belichick an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. the coaching staff.
The Dolphins defeated the Patriots 22-12.
offered little insight into how Associated Press "It's felt like we've chased
a perennial champion- it the whole year, whether
ship contender has slipped "To win these games, we've headsets and those with and their mojo. Like Mi- it's offense, defense, one
to a 6-8 record. He wasn't got to do a better job," he helmets on. chael Jordan and Wayne play, a missed opportunity
about to mention that a said after a 22-12 loss in Mi- "I got to do a better job Gretzky, Brady made ev- on defense, a turnover on
major reason — and prob- ami that spotlighted the and, collectively as a staff eryone around him — in- offense, it just seems like no
ably the main reason for all problems the 2020 Patriots and a team, we've got to cluding the coaches — far matter what, it's just right
that success through two have had: little talent on perform better than this." better performers. He did it out of our reach," McCour-
decades — is now wearing offense; sketchy defense, In essence, the Patriots lost not only during games, but ty said. "That's how you end
a Buccaneers uniform. And particularly in clutch situ- more than their winning during the week in prepa- up in the position we're in."
almost certainly headed to ations; a lack of precision; ways when they lost their ration. He did it through So what is that position as
the playoffs Belichick and and, yes, little cohesion quarterback. They lost lead- motivation. He did it with his the Patriots move forward?
company will miss. between the guys wearing ership, direction, big plays, arm, his head and his heart. Unenviable.q

Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Tiafoe win ATP awards for 2020

LONDON (AP) — Novak a record-extending 18th tioned signed memorabilia
Djokovic, Roger Federer, straight year, and Nadal re- to Athletes for COVID-19
Rafael Nadal and Frances ceived the Stefan Edberg Relief and posted a video
Tiafoe were among the win- Sportsmanship Award for that united the Black tennis
ners of the ATP's top awards the third year straight and community in the wake of
for 2020 on Monday. fourth time overall after George Floyd's killing.
Djokovic was the year-end winning a 13th Roland Gar- The 17-year-old Carlos Al-
No. 1 for a record-equaling ros crown. Andrey Rublev caraz of Spain was the
sixth time after winning four of Russia was the most im- newcomer of the year after
titles including a record proved in rising from No. 23 winning three Challengers.
eighth Australian Open. to a career-high 8 after win- Vasek Pospisil is the come-
U.S. Open champions Mate ning five titles, more than back player of the year
Pavic and Bruno Soares are anyone else on the tour. after undergoing back sur-
the doubles No. 1s. Tiafoe was given the Ar- gery in 2019. The Canadian In this Monday, Feb. 3, 2020 file photo, Serbia's Novak Djokovic
holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after defeating Aus-
Federer, who played only thur Ashe Humanitarian reached two finals and rose tria's Dominic Thiem in the men's singles final of the Australian
six singles all year, was the Award for his social ac- to No. 61 after dropping to Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia.
singles fans' favorite for tivity. The American auc- No. 150 in 2019.q Associated Press