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Dialuna 1 Februari 2021

After shaky start, Chiefs’ Hill matures into All-Pro star

franchise-record 172 yards in
the AFC championship vic-
tory over Buffalo.
“The biggest thing,” Ma-
homes said, “is just taking
what’s there, getting the ball
to him in space.”
Because Hill, with his oth-
erworldly speed and elusive-
ness, can turn the most un-
remarkable play into some-
thing special.
The best example of that
came against the Bills. Hill
caught a slant over the middle
and angled toward the Chiefs
sideline, where three defen-
sive players boxed him in. He
stuck a foot in the ground, cut
back to his left and turned on
the jets, streaking in an angle
all the way across the field. By
the time Hill was finally tack-
led inside the 5-yard line, he
had gone 71 yards — as the
crow flies — for the second-
longest catch in KC postsea-
son history.
“He took a different direc-
tion. He went sideways,”
(AP) — Kansas City Chiefs Bowl championship in five — he beats you one play or back Patrick Mahomes, fine- Reid said with a shake of
wide receiver Tyreek Hill decades. you beat him. It’s just com- tuning their timing and his his head. “It was probably
will be the first to tell you One of the most dynamic peting for the ball, being that route-running ability. He’s double what the crow would
that he almost threw away players in the NFL has con- dog.” Ahh-rooo! pored over film of himself, fly, but he did what needed
his football career. tinued his upward trajec- It’s heady stuff for a guy his opponents, and the best to do. The best part of it was
tory this season. Hill caught who entered the league as ever to play his position. that early part where he split
Twice, as a matter of fact. 87 passes for 1,276 yards in an undersized gadget player “When I do something,” Hill those two defenders or three
The first time came during the regular season, the third destined for a career return- said, “I want to be the best defenders and headed to the
college, when he was mak- time in four years he’s topped ing kickoffs and punts. Even at it. That’s something that left side. There’s not a lot of
ing a name for himself as a 1,000. He also had a career- in college, nobody seemed my grandparents taught me guys that can do that.”
standout at Oklahoma State, high 15 TD catches, two to know whether Hill was a throughout my whole life. That’s the kind of eye-open-
and a domestic dispute got more scores on the ground, pass catcher or running back, Don’t be average at things. ing play Hill has been making
him kicked off the team. He and led the league with 14 and that continued in his first Just the fire in me, just com- since he entered the league,
rehabilitated his image at tiny yards per touch from scrim- season with the Chiefs, when peting — that’s all it is. I love the ones that cause defensive
West Alabama, joined the mage. coach Andy Reid was trying to compete.” coordinators nightmares and
Chiefs as a fifth-round draft Now, after two big perfor- to figure out how to use him. That competitive streak leave opposing players — and
pick, and was beginning to mances in the postseason, When it became clear his might be why Hill shines fans — out of breath.
touch stardom when another Hill has a chance to help the future was on the outside, when the lights are brightest. It was after the play, though,
off-the-field issue led to a Chiefs defend their title. Hill dedicated himself to be- He had nine catches for 105 that his growth and maturity
long offseason suspension. “When it comes down to ing the best wide receiver he yards in helping the Chiefs the past five years was on dis-
That issue was resolved with- football, I just love compet- could be. He’s spent count- rally past the 49ers in the play.
out any legal consequences, ing,” said Hill, whose big less hours with personal Super Bowl last season. And “He he came over and apolo-
though, and Hill returned to year resulted in his third trainer Luther Glover at his after a first-round bye this gized for not scoring. He said
sign a contract extension with All-Pro selection in his first sports performance facil- season, Hill followed with he’s getting slower in his old
the Chiefs prior to last sea- five seasons. “It’s you against ity in suburban Kansas City. eight catches for 110 yards in age,” Reid said with a good-
son. Then he proceeded to your man, man on man, and He’s logged hundreds of ex- the divisional round against natured laugh. “I said, ‘Yeah,
help them to their first Super playing the wideout position tra workouts with quarter- Cleveland, then nine for a OK.’

Suárez stays hot, helps Atlético increase its lead in Spain

(AP) — Luis Suárez continued his stellar it because it’s hard to stay at this level the whole his second from the penalty spot in the 50th.
form with Atlético Madrid on Sunday, scor- year.” Saúl Ñíguez netted before halftime and Koke
ing twice in a 4-2 win over Cádiz to help Di- It was the eighth league win in a row for Atlético, Resurrección got on the board near the end of
ego Simeone’s team open a 10-point lead in which reaches the halfway mark of the season 10 the match to complete the scoring for Atlético,
the Spanish league. points ahead of second-place Real Madrid with a which is seeking its first league title since 2014.
game in hand. Cádiz, winless in its last three league matches and
Suárez scored a goal in each half to reach 14 “Every match is an important step toward reach- sitting 13th in the standings, got goals from Ál-
league goals this season, marking his best-ever ing our goal,” Simeone said. “To continue like this varo Negredo in the 35th and 71st minutes.
league start in Spain and becoming the league’s we have to keep focused on match after match.” Barcelona can move to second place with a home
leading scorer. The Uruguay striker, who was Simeone’s team has 50 points from 19 matches, win against Athletic Bilbao later Sunday. Strug-
let go by Barcelona at the end of last season, has remaining on pace for a 100-point season for the gling Real Madrid lost 2-1 to Levante at home on
scored nine goals in his last eight matches with first time. Saturday.
Atlético. He has also been decisive by setting up “These are important numbers that put us at the Earlier on Sunday, 12th-place Getafe was held to
his teammates a few times. top,” Suárez said. “We have to stay on this path.” a 0-0 draw against Alavés, which had lost four in
“When a striker is on (a) roll, you have to take Suárez opened the scoring with a well-placed a row in all competitions and is just inside in the
advantage of it,” Suárez said. “You have to enjoy curling free kick in the 28th minute and added relegation zone.