Home Blog Page 612

Kenneth Walker III wins Super Bowl MVP

0


Kenneth Walker III becomes 1st running back to win Super Bowl MVP in 28 years

EXACTLY WHAT YOU WHAT YOU SAID. I DON’T KNOW IF YOU GUYS SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT WE SAW BAD BUNNY AND BAD FOOTBALL TONIGHT. OH, YEAH. NO, THAT WAS YOU. THAT WAS ALL YOU HAD. GOOD JOB PATRIOTS. THE PATRIOTS OFFENSE AND I YOU WANT TO GO A TO Z. THEY DID BUPKISS IN THIS GAME. NOW IS IT THE CREDIT TO SEATTLE’S DEFENSE. WHAT DO YOU THINK DUKE DUKE STANDING HERE WITH ME. WHAT DO YOU THINK I THINK IT’S A CREDIT TO SEATTLE’S DEFENSE. I THINK IT WAS EXPOSED. THE LEFT SIDE OF THAT ROOKIE LINE THE PATRIOTS HAVE. AND I THINK DRAKE MAY STILL COULD BE HURT. AND I THINK DRAKE MAY SHOWED HIS AGE IN THIS GAME. WELL AND THAT’S THAT’S A GOOD POINT BECAUSE I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT DRAKE MAY’S PERFORMANCE IN THE POSTSEASON DURING THE REGULAR SEASON, HE WAS COMPLETING 72% OF HIS PASSES. HE WAS THE MOST ACCURATE PASSER IN THE LEAGUE. HE WAS THE BEST DEEP BALL THROWER IN THE LEAGUE. AND ALL OF THAT HAS DISAPPEARED. AND IS IT BECAUSE HE’S PLAYING BETTER DEFENSES IS BECAUSE HE REACHED THE SUPER BOWL, AND YOU’RE GOING TO FACE NOTHING BUT THE BEST? ALL OF THAT IS QUITE POSSIBLE. BUT HE WAS UNDER THROWING BALLS. BALLS WERE IN THE DIRT. HE WAS DECISIVE. HE LOOKED INDECISIVE. HE HELD ONTO THE BALL TOO QUICKLY. AND HE AND HE GOT OUT OF THE POCKET TOO LATE. AND THAT DIDN’T ALLOW HIM TO ESCAPE. SO ON MANY FRONTS, I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE THE QUARTERBACK GETS TOO MUCH OF THE CREDIT WHEN THEY WIN, AND I’M GIVING THE QUARTERBACK TOO MUCH OF THE BLAME WHEN THEY LOSE. BUT I REALLY FELT THAT THERE WASN’T ANYBODY IN THE OFFENSE THAT PLAYED WELL TONIGHT. WELL, THE OTHER THING IS SEATTLE PUNTED SEVEN TIMES. THAT’S AMAZING. RIGHT. AND THE PATRIOTS, THEY ONLY PUT UP 13 POINTS. SO I MEAN THAT JUST TELLS YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW. SEATTLE PUNTED SEVEN TIMES AND PATRIOTS ONLY PUT UP 13 POINTS. AND THAT PUNTER PUT THE BALL INSIDE THE FIVE. HOW MANY TIMES THREE TIMES HE PUNTED SEVEN TIMES. SO IT’S AMAZING. YOU KNOW MARIA AND BEN. YOU CAN YOU CAN HIT YOU CAN COME CLOSE TO 30 POINTS. YOU CAN PUNT IT THAT MANY TIMES. AND YOU CAN STILL KEEP THE OPPONENT AWAY. THEY, THEY, THEY WERE THE BETTER. THERE WAS NO QUESTION. THEY WERE THE BETTER TEAM TONIGHT. THEY WERE THE BETTER TEAM TONIGHT. AND CAN I ASK YOU, DESPITE THIS GAME BEING PLAYED MUCH CLOSER TO SEATTLE THAN BOSTON, I GOT A SENSE BASED ON THE CHEERS AND BOOS, THERE WERE MORE PATS FANS THERE. WHAT WAS THE SENSE THERE? YEAH, NO, NO, I, I AGREE WITH YOU. I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT THAT WAS I THOUGHT THAT WAS TRUE. I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY OBVIOUS AND I’M NOT SURE THAT I’M NOT GOING TO SAY THE PATRIOTS FANS WERE COCKY OR ANYTHING. OH, WE’RE WALKING TOWARD THE FIELD. I’LL KEEP TALKING AS WE WALK. I’M NOT SAYING THAT THE PATRIOTS FANS WERE WERE COCKY IN THIS, BUT IT SEEMED TO BE LIKE SEATTLE WAS GOING OKAY. WE GOT A GREAT TEAM, BUT JEEZ, THEY’RE THE PATRIOTS. OH MY GOD, WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? SO I, I THINK THAT WAS VERY TRUE. BEN I THINK THAT WE WE DID GET A TASTE OF A LOT OF PATRIOT NOISE AND A LOT OF PATRIOTS UNHAPPINESS, AS WE HAVE NOW REACHED THE FACT THAT THEY ARE THE LOSINGEST TEAM IN THE HISTORY OF THE SUPER BOWL. THEY’RE THE FIRST FRANCHISE TO LOSE SIX SUPER BOWLS, WHICH WHICH IS RATHER INGLORIOUS. BUT HEY, AT LEAST THEY DIDN’T GET SHUT OUT THERE, RIGHT? RIGHT, RIGHT. JOSH HAS A QUESTION FOR YOU. HEY GUYS. ED DUKE HOPE YOU’RE DOING OKAY. THIS IS JOSH. YEAH, YEAH, WE’RE HEADING TO THE FIELD RIGHT NOW. OKAY, GUYS, IF YOU HAVE A SECOND TO ANSWER THIS, WHAT WE’RE WONDERING HERE FROM OUR EYES. DID THE PATRIOTS DEFENSE DEFENSE DO ENOUGH TO WIN THIS GAME TONIGHT FOR THE TEAM? IN OTHER WORDS WE KNOW WHAT THE SEATTLE DEFENSE DO. BUT DID THE PATRIOTS DEFENSE DO ENOUGH. WHAT A WHAT A WHAT A GREAT QUESTION. AND THE FACT THAT THAT WHAT SEATTLE HAD A 12 NOTHING LEAD AT HALFTIME. AND THE FACT THAT SEATTLE SCORED NOTHING JUST JOSH YOU VERY GOOD WITH STATS. THEY ONLY SCORED ONE OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWN, RIGHT. THEY ENDED UP THEY HAD THE THEY THEY HAD THE DEFENSIVE. YEAH. WELL THE FIELD GOAL. SO I THOUGHT IT PLAYED DECENTLY ENOUGH. OBVIOUSLY THEY GOT TO NEARLY 30 POINTS AND THAT YOU CAN’T SAY YOU KNOW ALL IN ALL IT WAS. BUT I THOUGHT THEY PLAYED DECENTLY ENOUGH. BUT WHEN YOU’RE ON THE FIELD AND IT’S IN THE THIRD QUARTER AND IT’S A TOUGH PHYSICAL GAME AND YOU’RE GETTING PUSHED BACK AND YOU’RE NOW UNDER AND YOUR OFFENSE IS DOING NOTHING. THREE AND OUT, FOUR AND OUT, THREE AND OUT, FOUR AND OUT.

Kenneth Walker III becomes 1st running back to win Super Bowl MVP in 28 years

AP logo

Updated: 11:13 PM MST Feb 8, 2026

Editorial Standards

Kenneth Walker III is running into free agency with a Super Bowl MVP.Walker capped a prolific postseason with another big performance on the ground to help the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 Sunday night for a championship.Video above: Ed Harding breaks down Super BowlWhile the defense carried Seattle for much of the postseason, Walker was once again the engine of the offense by rushing for 135 yards and adding 26 receiving for his third straight 100-yard game from scrimmage in the postseason. He became the first running back since Terrell Davis 28 years ago to win Super Bowl MVP.Walker stepped up his game after backfield mate Zach Charbonnet went down with a season-ending knee injury and it couldn’t have come at a more important time for the Seahawks or a more opportune time for Walker.The 25-year-old running back is in the final year of his rookie contract and is slated to become a free agent in 2026. Thanks to his playoff run, Walker figures to be in line for a significant pay bump.Walker gained 413 yards from scrimmage in the three wins for Seattle this postseason. He became the first player to top 100 yards from scrimmage in every playoff game for a Super Bowl champion since Terrell Davis did it in back-to-back seasons in 1997-98 for the Broncos.While fantasy football owners and Walker were sometimes frustrated that he didn’t carry a bigger load of the offense, especially in the red zone, in the regular season, the job share with Charbonnet did mean Walker was fresh for the playoffs when he was at his best.Walker averaged less than 15 touches from scrimmage per game in the regular season when he delivered his first 1,000-yard rushing season since his rookie year. But he averaged nearly 25 touches per game in the playoffs when he showed he’s capable of being a bell-cow back.Walker started fast with a 10-yard run on the opening snap and had 55 yards in the ground on a field-goal drive later in the first half for the most by any player on one drive in the Super Bowl in 20 years.

Kenneth Walker III is running into free agency with a Super Bowl MVP.

Walker capped a prolific postseason with another big performance on the ground to help the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 Sunday night for a championship.

Video above: Ed Harding breaks down Super Bowl

While the defense carried Seattle for much of the postseason, Walker was once again the engine of the offense by rushing for 135 yards and adding 26 receiving for his third straight 100-yard game from scrimmage in the postseason. He became the first running back since Terrell Davis 28 years ago to win Super Bowl MVP.

Walker stepped up his game after backfield mate Zach Charbonnet went down with a season-ending knee injury and it couldn’t have come at a more important time for the Seahawks or a more opportune time for Walker.

The 25-year-old running back is in the final year of his rookie contract and is slated to become a free agent in 2026. Thanks to his playoff run, Walker figures to be in line for a significant pay bump.

Walker gained 413 yards from scrimmage in the three wins for Seattle this postseason. He became the first player to top 100 yards from scrimmage in every playoff game for a Super Bowl champion since Terrell Davis did it in back-to-back seasons in 1997-98 for the Broncos.

Kenneth Walker III of the Seattle Seahawks runs for a touchdown that was called back during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60.

Ishika Samant

Kenneth Walker III of the Seattle Seahawks runs for a touchdown that was called back during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60.

While fantasy football owners and Walker were sometimes frustrated that he didn’t carry a bigger load of the offense, especially in the red zone, in the regular season, the job share with Charbonnet did mean Walker was fresh for the playoffs when he was at his best.

Walker averaged less than 15 touches from scrimmage per game in the regular season when he delivered his first 1,000-yard rushing season since his rookie year.

But he averaged nearly 25 touches per game in the playoffs when he showed he’s capable of being a bell-cow back.

Walker started fast with a 10-yard run on the opening snap and had 55 yards in the ground on a field-goal drive later in the first half for the most by any player on one drive in the Super Bowl in 20 years.



Source link

NatWest Agrees to Buy Wealth Manager Evelyn Partners for $3.7 Billion

0




The acquisition more than doubles NatWest’s assets under management and administration to £127 billion.



Source link

Super Bowl 2026 MVP: Seahawks’ Kenneth Walker III wins award vs. Patriots

0


walkersb.png
Getty Images

For the first time this century, a running back has been named Super Bowl MVP. The award went to Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III following his performance in a 29-13 win against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX.

Walker is the first running back to win the award since former Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns in Super Bowl XXXII. Davis’ performance led the Broncos to a 31-24 upset win over the defending champion Green Bay Packers that snapped the NFC’s 13-year winning streak in the big game. He earned MVP honors despite missing nearly the entire second quarter with a migraine.

The 25-year-old Walker has joined an exclusive fraternity of running backs that includes six Pro Football Hall of Famers.

Running backs who have won Super Bowl MVP 

** — Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame 

Super Bowl Player Stats
LX (2026) Kenneth Walker, Seahawks 27 carries, 135 yards 
XXXII (1998) **Terrell Davis, Broncos 30 carries, 157 yards, 3 TDs
XXVIII (1994) **Emmitt Smith, Cowboys 30 carries, 132 yards, 2 TDs
XXV (1991) Ottis Anderson, Giants 21 carries, 102 yards, TD
XVIII (1984) **Marcus Allen, Raiders 21 carries, 191 yards, 2 TDs
XVII (1983) **John Riggins, Washington 38 carries, 166 yards, TD
IX (1975) **Franco Harris, Steelers 34 carries, 158 yards, TD
VIII (1974) **Larry Csonka, Dolphins 33 carries, 145 yards, 2 TDs

That list does not include former Washington running back Timmy Smith, whose 204 rushing yards in Super Bowl XXII remain the single-game record. It also does not include former Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas, who likely would have won MVP of Super Bowl XXV if Scott Norwood had converted his 47-yard field goal attempt in the game’s final seconds. Thomas rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown and totaled 190 all-purpose yards in Buffalo’s 20-19 loss to the Giants.

The award instead went to the 34-year-old Anderson, a former All-Pro who became the oldest player to win Super Bowl MVP. He remains the oldest non-quarterback to earn the honor.

Like the other seven running backs to win Super Bowl MVP, Walker’s performance helped lead his team to victory. Walker’s 94 rushing yards in the first half was the second-most in Super Bowl history behind only Smith’s 131. His runs of 29 and 30 yards on Seattle’s fourth drive helped set up Jason Myers‘ second field goal of the night while extending the Seahawks’ lead to 6-0. 

Walker became the first player in the Super Bowl to record two runs of at least 20 yards on one drive.  

While he was less productive in the second half, his 20-yard catch-and-run on the Seahawks’ first drive of the second half set up Myers’ fourth field goal. Walker and Myers were complemented by a Seattle defense that dominated the Patriots’ offense all night. The Seahawks kept the Patriots off the scoreboard through three quarters and essentially put the game away when Uchenna Nwosu recorded a 45-yard pick-six with 4:27 left. 

The Seahawks have now won two Super Bowls and evened their overall record in the big game at 2-2. Seattle’s win on Sunday night also avenged its last-minute loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.





Source link

CBS News senior investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge on “The Takeout” — 5/22/2020

0


CBS News senior investigative correspondent Catherine Herridge joins Major to talk about the events surrounding Michael Flynn and the FBI’s work investigating Trump campaign officials’ ties to Russia on this week’s episode of “The Takeout with Major Garrett.”



Source link

Chester's Pick 6: The top 6 plays or players from the week

0




ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – In this week’s edition of the “Pick 6,” we highlight the great local athletes and coaches from the week in sports. High school and collegiate sports are showcased. Here is the list:



Source link

Super Bowl 2026 commercials: Athletes include Serena, more

0


Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks boasts star power on the field, in the stands — and in the commercials.

While some fans come for the gridiron action, others tune in to the NFL’s marquee game of the season for the ads. There’s often a hefty price attached to Super Bowl commercials, and this year is no different. According to CNBC, 30-second slots averaged $8 million and some sold for more than $10 million. However, the right ad can be priceless.

Athletes will be scattered throughout the commercials during Super Bowl LX. Peyton Manning returns for Bud Light, a plethora of the NFL’s greatest tight ends team up and Derrick Henry shows off his arm talent.

Here’s a look at the top commercials during Super Bowl LX that feature athletes.

Star-studded cast models glasses of the future

Athletes are no strangers to Oakley sunglasses — Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes even has his own collection. Therefore, it’s only right that Oakley tapped multiple athletes to highlight its new “Oakley Meta Performance AI glasses.”

Former Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch gets it started by skydiving before skater Sky Brown, cyclist Kate Courtney and golfer Akshay Bhatia join in, participating in their respective sports. Internet personality iShowSpeed and filmmaker Spike Lee are also part of the ad, which showcases the various functions of Oakley’s glasses.


A lesson on the links

In the spirit of the Winter Olympics, Michelob Ultra decided to bring out the skis with instructions from actor Kurt Russell. The commercial begins with actor Lewis Pullman losing in a race, meaning he’ll have to buy a round of Michelob Ultra.

Russell notices Pullman’s defeat and decides to train him. Pullman wins the next race, pulling off a backflip on skis, receiving approval from Olympic snowboarding gold medalist Chloe Kim and Stanley Cup winner T.J. Oshie.


Peyton returns for Bud Light

The two-time Super Bowl champion had a prime spot with Bud Light for a 2025 commercial with comedian Shane Gillis and musician Post Malone. Manning, Gillis and Malone are back this year in an ad simply titled: “Keg.”

While at a wedding, Manning holds a glass of Bud Light he describes as “first beer of the wedding.” Malone asks: “Is there enough for everyone?” before Manning points to a keg being rolled into the ceremony. However, the keg falls down a hill, sparking members of the wedding — bride and groom included — rolling down to grab it.


Tight ends unite for an important cause

Medicine company Novartis tapped a group of current and former NFL tight ends to spread awareness about prostate cancer screening. From Jake Olson and Tony Gonzalez to George Kittle and Rob Gronkowski, the men are shown in relaxing states while calming music plays in the background.

Halfway through the commercial, Super Bowl-winning head coach Bruce Arians shares why the tight ends are so relaxed — they’ve learned that a simple blood test can detect prostate cancer, easing challenges of detecting it. Arians asks Gronkowski to show what the coach taught him. And Gronk, as you probably guessed, relaxes his tight end to get the point across.


Henry shows off arm during trolley tour

Trolley tours are a key part of the San Francisco experience. Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry and actress Kathryn Hahn hopped on a trolley themselves, but when it struggled to get up a hill, Hahn hopped out to push it back up.

She handed her Oikos to Henry, then proceeded to get the trolley rolling back up and away from her. However, her Oikos remained with Henry, who delivered it to her with a throw reminiscent of those of his quarterback, Lamar Jackson.


Serena shares fitness journey

Tennis icon Serena Williams is back with a Super Bowl ad that highlights her health changes — including losing 34 pounds — while on Ro’s GLP-1.



Source link

What to know about Jimmy Lai’s Hong Kong journey from media mogul and activist to convict

0


HONG KONG — To his supporters, former Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai is a fighter for democracy. To the government, he is a traitor to his motherland.

The 78-year-old outspoken critic of China’s ruling Communist Party was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison for conspiring to commit sedition and collude with foreign forces.

Observers say his trial came to symbolize a crackdown that began in 2020 on press and other freedoms that has changed Hong Kong, the former British colony that returned to China’s control in 1997.

The Hong Kong government insists Lai’s case has nothing to do with press freedom, but instead is an example of righteousness upheld by the law.

A migrant from mainland China, he made a fortune in the garment industry in Hong Kong and later founded the Apple Daily newspaper, where he wrote articles criticizing the Chinese and Hong Kong governments for limiting freedoms. The publication eventually was shuttered and his words became trial evidence.

Here is what to know about his unusual journey to political activism that has ended, at least for the moment, in prison.

Lai was born in 1947 in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, once known as Canton, two years before the communists came to power.

He was just 12 when he stowed away on a fishing boat to Hong Kong, about 135 kilometers (84 miles) from Guangzhou. Like many other Chinese of that era, Lai hoped for a better life in the British colony. Working as a child laborer in a glove factory served as his introduction to the garment industry.

In 1981, he founded Giordano, an affordable casual clothing chain that has grown into an international brand with 1,600 retail outlets in 30 countries, according to its website.

Lai sold his interest in Giordano in the mid-1990s when the company came under pressure from Beijing. That came after he called hard-line Premier Li Peng “the son of a turtle egg,” a slur in Chinese, after the communist leader justified the government’s deadly 1989 crackdown on protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

The violent suppression was a pivotal moment for Lai, he later said. Giordano printed T-shirts in support of the pro-democracy protests and he made his first foray into publishing in 1990, founding Next Magazine.

Five years later, he started the Apple Daily, a tabloid-style publication that drew readership with sometimes sensational reports and investigative scoops. The publication openly criticized the government, which some observers now say landed Lai in trouble about 25 years down the road.

Lai took to the streets in 2014, taking part in the pro-democracy protests known as the Umbrella Movement that for months filled parts of Hong Kong. Demonstrators used umbrellas to shield themselves from police pepper spray. The Apple Daily ran articles sympathetic to the movement.

Lai came out again in 2019 for a new wave of protests that shook the government and led to the crackdown on the city’s freedoms. He also urged U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to speak out on Hong Kong’s situation in meetings that became an issue during his trial.

The following year, China’s central government in Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong. Lai was arrested more than a month later.

Lai has been in custody since December 2020. The food lover who was called “Fatty Lai” by some friends and even a rival newspaper appears to have become thinner behind bars.

A Roman Catholic, Lai made drawings in prison of the crucifixion of Jesus, according to his friend Robert Sirico, a priest who received one of the pictures.

“For truth prevails in God’s kingdom, and that’s good enough for me,” Lai testified in November 2024 during his trial, arguing that his Apple Daily writings were done without hostility or seditious intent.

In July 2020, shortly after the commencement of the national security law under which he was eventually convicted, Lai told The Associated Press that “Hong Kong is dead.”

“If I have to go to prison, I don’t mind. I don’t care,” he said. “It won’t be something I can worry about, I’ll just relax and do what I have to do.”

___

Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report.



Source link

Vrabel shares wisdom for Patriots after Super Bowl loss

0


It’s only valuable if we understand what it takes and what we’re going to need to do to improve, and if we don’t do that, then it won’t have been very valuable, um. You know, we had ***, had *** really, really good year and, uh, one that I’m proud of, but in this game, I don’t think it is *** reflection of our year. We lost and we were, um, we were beat. We were beat outcoached and outplayed and give them credit. Same thing we did this year, just do it *** little bit different, do it *** little better. Um. You know, every year is *** new year and continue to try to. Improve the, the roster, continue to improve what we do, continue to improve how we do it, um, continue to believe in people, continue to get the right people in the building. And, and start over and know how hard it is each and every year.

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel shares wisdom for team after Super Bowl loss

WCVB logo

Updated: 10:06 PM MST Feb 8, 2026

Editorial Standards

The New England Patriots walked off the field after a Super Bowl loss, disappointed but not discouraged, head coach Mike Vrabel said.His team struggled, particularly on offense, against the Seattle Seahawks team with a bruising defense. Devon Witherspoon, Derick Hall, Byron Murphy and the rest of Mike Macdonald’s ferocious unit pummeled Drake Maye in Seattle’s 29-13 win on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.”Nobody played good enough for us to win,” he said. “But I can’t tell these players enough how proud I am of them.”In his postgame remarks, Vrabel said this experience can fuel future success if the lessons are taken seriously.“It’s only valuable if we understand what it takes and what we’re going to need to do to improve on,” Vrabel said. “If we don’t do that, then it won’t have been very valuable.”Vrabel, who made history as the first person to ever start for and head coach the same franchise in a Super Bowl, said the loss should not erase what the team accomplished over the season. The team, which went 3-14 last year, went 14-3 and reached the Super Bowl in Vrabel’s first season as head coach. “We had a really, really good year and one that I’m proud of,” Vrabel said. “But in this game, I don’t think it’s a reflection of our year. We lost and we were beat — well coached and outplayed — and give them credit.”Video below: Analysis of the Super Bowl lossVrabel also reflected on how difficult it is to reach the Super Bowl, and how much hard work will be necessary to return again in the future. In that context, this tough loss is a lesson. “Every year is a new year,” he said. “Continue to try to improve the roster, continue to improve what we do, continue to believe in people, continue to get the right people in the building and start over and know how hard it is each and every year.” He urged the players to lean on the people who supported them all season, through wins and losses.”Every year, unfortunately, somebody loses this game,” Vrabel said. “And we can’t take it out on the people that love you the most. And I try to tell them, you’ve got to find a place to get with those people tonight, thank them and hug them, because they’ll be the ones that, they are there when you lose to the Steelers and you lose to the Bills and you lose to the Raiders and you lose the Super Bowl. They’re going to be the ones that love you no matter what.”

The New England Patriots walked off the field after a Super Bowl loss, disappointed but not discouraged, head coach Mike Vrabel said.

His team struggled, particularly on offense, against the Seattle Seahawks team with a bruising defense. Devon Witherspoon, Derick Hall, Byron Murphy and the rest of Mike Macdonald’s ferocious unit pummeled Drake Maye in Seattle’s 29-13 win on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

“Nobody played good enough for us to win,” he said. “But I can’t tell these players enough how proud I am of them.”

In his postgame remarks, Vrabel said this experience can fuel future success if the lessons are taken seriously.

“It’s only valuable if we understand what it takes and what we’re going to need to do to improve on,” Vrabel said. “If we don’t do that, then it won’t have been very valuable.”

Vrabel, who made history as the first person to ever start for and head coach the same franchise in a Super Bowl, said the loss should not erase what the team accomplished over the season. The team, which went 3-14 last year, went 14-3 and reached the Super Bowl in Vrabel’s first season as head coach.

“We had a really, really good year and one that I’m proud of,” Vrabel said. “But in this game, I don’t think it’s a reflection of our year. We lost and we were beat — well coached and outplayed — and give them credit.”

Video below: Analysis of the Super Bowl loss

Vrabel also reflected on how difficult it is to reach the Super Bowl, and how much hard work will be necessary to return again in the future. In that context, this tough loss is a lesson.

“Every year is a new year,” he said. “Continue to try to improve the roster, continue to improve what we do, continue to believe in people, continue to get the right people in the building and start over and know how hard it is each and every year.”

He urged the players to lean on the people who supported them all season, through wins and losses.

“Every year, unfortunately, somebody loses this game,” Vrabel said. “And we can’t take it out on the people that love you the most. And I try to tell them, you’ve got to find a place to get with those people tonight, thank them and hug them, because they’ll be the ones that, they are there when you lose to the Steelers and you lose to the Bills and you lose to the Raiders and you lose the Super Bowl. They’re going to be the ones that love you no matter what.”



Source link

Best Super Bowl commercials of all-time: Ranking the top 25 ads

0



Super Bowl LX has come and gone, and the commercials gave us something to watch while the Seattle Seahawks mauled the New England Patriots. There have been some iconic Super Bowl commercials throughout the years, and some even started viral trends, and one new spot joined those ranks today.

The Super Bowl LX commercials got off to a very slow start. The ads in the first quarter ranged anywhere from forgettable to downright bad, but they improved starting in the second quarter. We wound up getting a handful of commercials that rose above the rest, and that started with Lay’s, which did manage to crack our all-time top 25.

Companies really began stepping up their game for the Super Bowl in 1984, and there have been some truly iconic ads from the most recognizable brands in the world. Apple really got things started with its “1984” ad, which ran during Super Bowl XVIII.

Since then, there have been countless commercials that stuck with people well after the game was over. Budweiser’s Clydesdale horses are one example, and the E*Trade babies are another. Those are the types of commercials that keep people seated even when the action on the field stops.

In the wake of Super Bowl 60, here are the top 25 Super Bowl commercials of all-time.

25. FedEx | Caveman | 2006

FedEx may not have been the first company to feature cavemen in a major advertising campaign, but they still nailed this one. From the T-Rex devouring the Pterodactylus to the caveman getting trampled — spoiler alert — this Super Bowl XL ad delivers a few good chuckles in the 45-second runtime.

24. Mountain Dew | Puppy Monkey Baby | 2016

This is one of the greatest ever in the category of “What did I just watch?” The Frankenstein creature is off-putting, but at the same time it’s hard to look away. Besides, the repetitive “Puppy Monkey Baby” is a bit of an ear worm. Sometimes, leaning into the weirdness is the way to go.

23. Lay’s | Last Harvest | 2026

No one was expecting the potato chip company to make such an impact, but it brought some emotion to Super Bowl 60. The father-daughter relationship worked in this one, and it tugged on the heart strings without overdoing the cheesy factor. I think this spot will age well, and it might be on this list for a while.

22. Nike | So Win | 2025

Nike really channeled its “Just Do It” roots with this one, and it works. If you put Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” over any montage of elite athletes silencing their doubters, it’s probably going to be a winner. On top of that, the shots were great, and it was narrated by now Grammy-winning artist Doechii.

21. The Farmer’s Dog | Forever | 2023

It feels a little bit like cheating to use dogs as a way to score points, but we’ll allow it this time. The Farmer’s Dog gave us a tear-jerker during Super Bowl LVII, and it was one of the more memorable ads from that year. A heartwarming tone can be hard to nail, but it works perfectly here.

20. Tide | Talking Stain | 2008

Few things are more bothersome than being out in public with a glaring stain on the front of your shirt, and this Tide commercial captures that perfectly. The “Talking Stain” ad aired during Super Bowl XLII, and it was one of the most popular from that game. It made a pretty good case for keeping a detergent pen on hand at all times.

19. Honda | Yearbooks | 2017

Super Bowl Sunday is a day in which every player on the field gets to live out a lifelong dream, and that is the theme of this Honda ad from Super Bowl LI is about exactly that. A handful of celebrities, in the form of their yearbook photos, talk about chasing their dreams in life. This one provides some nostalgia and humor, making for quite the Super Bowl combo.

18. Hyundai | Smart Park | 2020

Hyundai looked to New England for inspiration in this Super Bowl LIV ad. They pulled together quite a bit of Boston star power in John Krasinski, Chris Evans, Rachel Dratch and Big Papi himself. The “Smaht Pahk” commercial provided some laughs during the commercial break, and it definitely got the message across. There were no questions about the newest feature on the Sonata after this one.

17. PopCorners | “Breaking Bad” | 2023

Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston reprised their roles as Jesse Pinkman and Walter White for this “Breaking Bad” commercial. The show’s creator and director, Vince Gilligan, also returned to write this Super Bowl LVII ad for PopCorners, which featured a cameo appearance from Raymond Salamanca’s Tuco. At least this time, Walt and Jesse were dealing with a perfectly legal product.

16. Walmart | Famous Cars | 2019

This commercial for Walmart’s pick-up service, which aired during Super Bowl LIII, has a little something for everybody. Lightning McQueen. The Batmobile. The Ecto-1. A “Jurassic Park” Jeep. Those and several more recognizable cars from pop culture provided a fun touch for viewers who scrambled to see how many they could identify before the commercial was over.

15. NFL | NFL 100 | 2017

The NFL has aired some fun Super Bowl commercials recently, but the one celebrating the league’s 100th season is probably the best. Some of the biggest NFL stars, past and present, got together for this Super Bowl LIV ad. It was fun to see players like Joe Montana, Prime Time and Barry Sanders interacting with the best current players while smashing up a ballroom.

14. Budweiser | Instant Replay | 2003

The Clydesdales are something of a Super Bowl tradition, and this is one of the more popular ads in which they’ve starred. The addition of the zebra, as well as the one-liner at the end of the ad, made for a memorable moment during the Super Bowl XXXVII commercial breaks. Another notable feature of this ad is that it was directed by now famous filmmaker Zack Snyder.

13. Parmount+ | Mountain of Entertainment | 2024

Paramount went out on a limb for its Super Bowl LVIII commercial, and it really paid off with the most memorable ad of the game. I’m sure there was some internal discussion about whether letting Sir Patrick Stewart fire Arnold from “Hey Arnold” into the side of a cliff was the best premise, but it worked. Add in an appearance from Creed and Jeff Probst jamming out on a “Survivor” torch and an understandably anxious Peppa Pig, and you’ve got a real winner here.

12. FedEx | “Cast Away” | 2003

When “Cast Away” was released in December 2000, it became a huge hit, and it also served as the inspiration for a FedEx Super Bowl commercial just a couple years later. The Super Bowl XXXVII commercial is a spoof on Tom Hanks’ character in the movie, a FedEX employee who is stranded on an island after a plane crash. This commercial’s ending did take a slightly different tone than that of the Oscar-nominated film.

11. Volkswagen | The Force | 2011

When in doubt, play the “Star Wars” card. That is the approach Volkswagen took in this Super Bowl XLV ad in 2011. “The Imperial March’ provides a familiar tone, and little Darth Vader was the perfect way to show the remote start feature on the new Passat. Volkswagen gets credit for sticking out among the bevy of car commercials fans see during Super Bowl Sunday.

10. Reebok | Terry Tate: Office Linebacker | 2003

Terry Tate made his debut during Super Bowl XXXVII and immediately became a viral sensation. Tate even got a series of ads in which he strictly enforces rules around the office. The actor who plays Tate, Lester Speight, did play linebacker at Morgan State and tried out for several USFL teams before taking on the popular role of Office Linebacker.

9. E*Trade | Talking Babies | 2008

Long before AI could turn celebrities into crooning babies, the E*Trade talking baby made quite the splash in Super Bowl XLII. It was so popular that it inspired a host of spin-off ads featuring even more talking babies. The spit-up at the end of the original was the perfect way to end it. E*Trade has even brought the babies back for other Super Bowl spots in recent years, but nothing will ever beat the first.

8. Pepsi | Cindy Crawford | 1992

They say the best comedy is subversive, and that is the case with this Super Bowl XXVI ad featuring supermodel Cindy Crawford. Throughout the entire commercial, the focus is on Crawford — until the rug gets pulled out from under viewers at the end when the young boys reveal they are actually focusing on the newest Pepsi can. Crawford came back for another role in a Pepsi’s 2018 Super Bowl commercial.

7. Coca-Cola | Mean Joe Greene | 1980

This commercial did debut prior to Super Bowl XIV, but we will choose to ignore that because many modern Super Bowl ads drop before the actual game now. Besides, this commercial really shot to iconic status when it aired during that Super Bowl, which Joe Greene played in and won with the Pittsburgh Steelers, defeating the Los Angeles Rams.

6. Budweiser | Frogs | 1995

Budweiser has made a habit out of creating hit Super Bowl ads over the years, and its Super Bowl XXIX commercial featuring the frogs was another example. Like the “Whassup?” commercial, this one takes a very simple approach, and it worked like a charm. These frogs were so successful and popular that the little amphibians hung around for several years.

5. Wendy’s | Where’s the Beef? | 1984

Super Bowl XVIII was a big game for commercials, and one of the icons that came out of it was “Where’s the Beef?” Prior to the existence of social media, Wendy’s subtweeted its fast food rivals by calling them out for having an absurdly high bun-to-beef ratio on their burgers. This commercial also got a shoutout from Michael Scott in an episode of “The Office” entitled “Dunder Mifflin Infinity.”

4. McDonald’s | Jordan vs. Bird | 1993

Who wouldn’t want to watch Michael Jordan and Larry Bird go up against each other in a game of one-on-one? That makes this Super Bowl XXVII a winner right off the bat. The two NBA legends were battling on the court for a Big Mac, and neither one wanted to relent. This ad really capitalized off the buzz that Jordan and Bird helped create from the 1992 Dream Team.

3. Apple | 1984 | 1984

Normally, to see a Ridley Scott project you have to go to the movie theater. However, he was hired to direct this now famous Apple commercial that aired during Super Bowl XVIII, along with “Where’s the Beef?” The ad really does feel like the type of sci-fi movie Scott would direct, and it even gives some “Alien” and “Blade Runner” vibes. No wonder this one was so well-received.

2. Snickers | Betty White | 2010

The Snickers “You’re Not You When You’re Hungry” campaign has taken several different forms in recent years, with multiple celebrities appearing in the ads. However, this Super Bowl XLIV commercial starring Betty White is probably the funniest and most famous. Seeing the late actress and comedian lay punishing hits and talk trash at a pickup football game was pretty memorable.

1. Budweiser | “Whassup?” | 2000

It’s not very often commercials start trends in real life, but that’s what Budweiser did with its “Whassup?” ad during Super Bowl XXXIV. It was just a case of guys being dudes and calling one another up during the big game. The simple yet effective commercial wriggled its way into pop culture as well, and it was even referenced by Steve Carrell’s Michael Scott in the pilot episode of “The Office.”





Source link

That wedding during Bad Bunny’s halftime show? It was real

0


Bad Bunny helped one couple tie the knot in a very special way: during his Super Bowl halftime show.

The man and the woman, who appeared on the field during the show in a white tuxedo and wedding gown, actually got married during Bad Bunny’s performance Sunday, his representative said in a news release.

The duo, who were not named in the release, had sent the Puerto Rican musical sensation an invitation to their wedding but ended up getting a halftime show invitation, instead.

They were married live, with Bad Bunny signing the marriage certificate and a wedding cake being provided, “turning the moment into a joyful celebrating unfolding in real time,” the news release said.

It’s unclear whether some of the people in the background of their on-the-field wedding were friends and family members or just backup dancers from the performance itself.

Regardless, the moment appeared to bring joy to many viewers online — and added to Bad Bunny’s well-received show.

On Sunday, the six-time Grammy winner became the first Spanish-language Latin solo artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, first sang at the Super Bowl in 2020 alongside headliners Shakira and Jennifer Lopez in Miami, delivering an unforgettable performance that showcased Latin music’s might and rising mainstream success.

When Bad Bunny was announced as this year’s headliner in September, he drew criticism from a handful of conservative pundits and Fox News commentators. But on Sunday, he emphasized a message of unity while he paid tribute to his Puerto Rican roots.

Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin joined him during the performance.

Celebrities Alix Earle, Cardi B, David Grutman, Karol G, Jessica Alba, Pedro Pascal, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Young Miko also made cameos.



Source link