Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Monday 27 January 2020
Pro Bowlers remember Kobe Bryant as AFC tops NFC again

By MARK LONG and-goal play from the 9.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Campbell stripped the ball,
Green Bay linebacker which Watt scooped up
Za'Darius Smith hastily orga- and went untouched the
nized an homage to Kobe other way to put the AFC
Bryant minutes before the ahead 38-27.
Pro Bowl. The NFC had a chance to
Smith and his NFC team- rally late and tried to take
mates learned about Bry- advantage of a new rule
ant's death while they were that allows the scoring
in the locker room getting team to retain possession
ready for the NFL's all-star by facing a fourth-and-15
game Sunday. Smith sug- play from its own 25-yard
gested the best way to pay line. Cousins threw a deep
tribute the late NBA great ball that Baltimore safety
was to mimic his fadeaway Earl Thomas intercepted.
jumper after big plays. Campbell was named the
So they did — repeatedly. AFC's defensive player of
It was one of several ways the game. Baltimore's La-
NFL players remembered mar Jackson was the offen-
Bryant during the celebra- sive MVP.
tory event, which the AFC The winners earned $70,000
won 38-33 for its fourth con- each. The losers got $35,000
secutive victory in Orlando. apiece.
"I don't even want to talk Jackson threw for 185 yards
about it anymore," Smith and two touchdowns. He
said in the locker room also threw an interception.
hours later. "I don't want to Houston's Deshaun Watson
get emotional." threw for 148 yards, with a
Detroit cornerback Darius touchdown and a pick.
Slay didn't duck his feelings. Tennessee's Ryan Tannehill
Slay grew up idolizing Bry- hooked up with Jackson-
ant so much that he had ville's DJ Chark for a 60-
a custom Lakers hoodie yard score in which offi-
made to warm up in before cials opted not to rule him
NFL games. Slay also got to down after two defenders
meet Bryant a few years touched him.
back. Wilson gave his NFC starting
"It's heart-wrecking," Slay spot to New Orleans quar-
said with tears in his eyes. terback Drew Brees, who is
"There's not any words you AFC defensive end Calais Campbell, of the Jacksonville Jaguars, (93) and quarterback Lamar contemplating retirement.
Jackson, of the Baltimore Ravens, (8) hold the Pro Bowl trophy after the NFL Pro Bowl football
can say. I'm in shock. I just game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. The AFC defeated the NFC 38-33. Campbell won Brees said this week he will
imagine him growing old, the MVP defensive player of the game, while Jackson won the MVP offensive player of the game. take some time before de-
being part-owner of the Associated Press ciding on his future.
Lakers and having a future Cousins, Brees and Wilson
son I could cheer for next. "It shocked the whole on his fingers as an ode helmets during the break. threw TD passes for the
It's just shocking. Me saying locker room," Philadelphia to Bryant's jersey after a Others took a knee and NFC, which also allowed
the words 'Kobe's gone,' defensive tackle Fletcher touchdown catch in the prayed. Fans broke the si- Ezekiel Elliott and Adams to
that's just crazy." Cox said. "Nobody thought third. lence by chanting "Ko-be! attempt throws. Elliott's was
Bryant died in a helicopter it was true, but it was. It's a Seattle quarterback Russell Ko-be!" picked off. Adams added
crash early Sunday near sad day for sports." Wilson led a prayer for Bry- "I felt hurt," Chicago safety two TD receptions.
Calabasas, California, and Smith, Slay and Tampa ant and his family before Eddie Jackson said. "It's sad. The NFC's top highlight was
the news spread shortly Bay's Shaq Barrett got to- the game. I don't know how it feels to Cox rumbling 61 yards for a
before the game. It put a gether following a second- The NFL also held a mo- lose a husband and a child, score. Minnesota's Harrison
damper on the NFL game quarter sack and delivered ment of silence for Bryant so I don't understand what Smith intercepted a pass
held on the other side of their first "Kobe J." Even at the 2-minute warning in the family's going through. from Watson at the 3-yard
the country. more NFC teammates per- the first half, showing the It's got to be tough." line and returned it to the
Players checked cell- formed the routine follow- retired NBA star's picture on Aside from the Bryant trib- 39 before lateraling to Cox,
phones on the sidelines for ing a fumble in the third. the scoreboards while an- utes, the NFL's annual all- who took it the rest of the
updates, all of them look- Green Bay receiver Davon- nouncing his death at age star game went as expect- while.
ing for information and an- te Adams pointed to the 41. ed. There were big plays No one tried to tackle the
swers. sky and flashed the No. 24 Several guys removed their everywhere and few tack- 310-pound Cox. Denver
les anywhere. The teams receiver Courtland Sutton
combined for 834 yards slapped at the ball for the
and 10 touchdowns. final 20 yards.
The play of the day was Pitts- "I'm glad nobody did try to
burgh linebacker T.J. Watt's stop me," Cox said. "It was
82-yard fumble return in the fun. I was looking for some-
fourth. Jacksonville's Calais body to pitch the ball to,
Campbell beat Dallas' Tra- though. Guarantee I was.
vis Frederick and sacked Get this thing out of my
Kirk Cousins on a fourth- hands."q