Page 16 - aruba-today-20230215

A16 SPORTS
Wednesday 15 February 2023
NFL skids into offseason after slippery Super Bowl

By ARNIE STAPLETON Kansas City was able to es-
AP Pro Football Writer sentially run out the clock
Gratitude and brother- after the flag, giving coach
hood were on display at Andy Reid his second Super
the Super Bowl, where Tra- Bowl title, this one against
vis and Jason Kelce tussled the team that once fired
for the Lombardi Trophy in him after he couldn’t win
a classic back-and-forth the big one in Philadelphia.
clash and Damar Hamlin After Harrison Butker kicked
received a rousing ovation a 27-yard field goal with 8
during a pregame ceremo- seconds remaining, the Ea-
ny honoring the men and gles got the ball back with
women who saved his life. only the chance for a des-
The feel-good vibes didn’t peration heave from Hurts
last as long as the NFL that didn’t get anywhere
would have liked, however. near the end zone.
After the NBA encroached Despite all the consterna-
on the NFL’s biggest week tion surrounding what many
by moving its trade dead- considered a ticky-tack
line from late March to flag, Bradberry acknowl-
smack dab in the middle of edged he committed a
Super Bowl week, the Kan- penalty on the pivotal play.
sas City Chiefs rallied past “It was a holding,” Bradber-
the Philadelphia Eagles 38- Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the NFL ry said. “I tugged his jersey.
35 after the game took on Super Bowl 57 football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, in Glendale, I was hoping they would let
the flavors of both MLB and Ariz. Associated Press it slide.”
the NHL. Sliding was the theme of
The NFL’s biggest stage no chance for a fantastic Replays showed that Brad- ESPN commentator and the afternoon, after all.
looked too much like a finish to an otherwise scintil- berry made light contact former NFL QB Tim Hassel- The Eagles’ pass rushers
hockey rink when State lating Super Bowl 57. with Smith-Schuster, though beck said it’s too much to didn’t record a single sack
Farm Stadium lived up to The flag just the ninth pen- it didn’t appear to affect ask officials to suddenly in the Super Bowl after pil-
its reputation of slippery alty of the game was akin the play that much. swallow their whistles in ing up an incredible 78
fields with players from both to an umpire suddenly Referee Carl Cheffers said crucial moments because sacks on the season, includ-
teams having a hard time expanding his strike zone it was a “clear case of a fans want to see a more cli- ing 10 in the playoffs. Hurts
keeping their footing. in the ninth inning, and it jersey grab” and added mactic ending to the Super and Eagles tight end Dallas
The waxy grass neutralized drew condemnation far that nobody on his crew Bowl. Goedert were among the
the vaunted pass rush for and wide. disagreed with the penalty. “That to me, in a regular- players who changed their
both teams, helping Patrick The Chiefs faced third- There was plenty of bick- season game on third- cleats at halftime to get
Mahomes and Jalen Hurts and-8 at the Eagles 15- ering from fans and com- and-7, that’s a flag. I don’t better traction.
rack up points like pinball yard line with 1:54 re- mentators. want the officials calling “It’s not like we were play-
wizards at a vintage ar- maining when Mahomes Former NFL tight end Greg it any differently because ing on the on ice and they
cade. threw incomplete to JuJu Olsen wasn’t happy with it’s a tie game in the Su- were playing on grass,”
Yet, just days after NFL Com- Smith-Schuster. But officials the decision on the Fox per Bowl,” Hasselbeck said. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni
missioner Roger Goodell flagged James Bradber- broadcast and ESPN and “The job is hard enough. said. “We all had to play on
declared the league’s offi- ry for defensive holding, Amazon analyst Kirk Herb- Let’s not have them all of it, we all have to figure out
ciating better than ever, a which negated the incom- streit also was critical on a sudden call it differently our shoes.”
debatable holding call just pletion and, more impor- social media, as were sev- based on, ‘Hey it’s a tie Indeed, the Chiefs were just
after the two-minute warn- tantly, gave the Chiefs a eral current and former NFL game, everyone at home as bothered by the slippery
ing ensured there would be first down. players. would like a close one.”’ field.q

Angels infielder Luis Rengifo goes to arbitration with L.A.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — times in 511 plate appear- All-Star pitcher Max Fried
Luis Rengifo went to salary ances, at 3.3% the lowest ($13.5 million) lost to Atlan-
arbitration with the Los An- percentage among quali- ta, outfielder Kyle Tucker
geles Angels on Monday, fied hitters. was beaten by Houston
requesting a raise from Four other players have and reliever Diego Castillo
$730,000 to $2.3 million pending decisions: Angels ($2.95 million) was defeat-
while the team argued for outfielder Hunter Renfroe ed by Seattle.
$2 million. ($11.9 million vs. $11.25 mil- Left-handed pitcher Jesús
The infielder’s case was lion), Tampa Bay relievers Luzardo ($2.45 million) and
heard by Jeanne Vonhof, Ryan Thompson ($1.2 mil- AL batting champion Luis
Howard Edelman and Fred- lion vs. $1 million) and Co- Arraez ($6.1 million) both
ric Horowitz, and a decision lin Poche ($1.3 million vs. beat Miami, and reliever
is expected this week. $1,175,000), and Rays out- Jason Adam ($1,775,000
Los Angeles Angels’ Luis Rengifo runs past first after hitting a solo Rengifo set career bests fielder Harold Ramirez ($2.2 defeated Tampa Bay.
home run against the Texas Rangers during the third inning of a last season with a .264 bat- million vs. $1.9 million). Nine players remain sched-
baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sept. 30, 2022. ting average, 17 homers Players and teams have uled for hearings, which run
Associated Press and 52 RBIs. He walked 17 split six decisions. through Friday.q