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NFL

Pats, fans celebrate in snowy, windy Boston

BOSTON — Tens of thousands of fans weathered cold, snowy and windy conditions to line the streets of Boston on Tuesday as part of the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl LI championship parade.

On the traditional duck boats that have been used to celebrate championships of all professional sports teams in town, players enjoyed the moment as loud music blared, and red, white and blue confetti shot into the air. Owner Robert Kraft held the Lombardi trophy high above his head to lead the way, quarterback Tom Brady played catch with those along the route who threw footballs in his direction, and tight end Rob Gronkowski chugged beers and then spiked the can to the delight of the raucous onlookers, many of whom held up anti-Roger Goodell signs.

After the high-energy ride, Kraft, coach Bill Belichick, Brady, safety Devin McCourty and Gronkowski were among those to address the crowd, as all five of the franchise’s Lombardi trophies were on hand.

“I told you we were going to bring this sucker home, and we brought it home!” Brady told the crowd, with his 7-year-old son Benny by his side.

Gronkowski, who didn’t play in the Super Bowl after landing on season-ending injured reserve in early December because of his back, told the crowd he looked forward to winning a sixth.

“When we get six, your boy right here is going to be part of six, baby!” Gronkowski said as Brady smiled standing next to him. “This team worked so hard to be right here where they’re at. I love these guys so much. I know I wasn’t part of playing in the game, but I love being part of this team.”

Tom Brady played catch with those along the parade route who threw footballs in his direction. Charles Krupa/AP Photo

At one point, the crowd chanted, “We want six! We want six!”

“Hands down, this is my favorite event I’ve been to. Twice now in my life,” Gronkowski told reporters. “That’s just motivating me more.”

Meanwhile, Belichick, who at one point was taking selfies with running back Dion Lewis, shared with the crowd his admiration for the team that won the fifth.

“Let me tell you, these players, they worked harder than any team I’ve ever coached. They came to work every day and there were no days off,” he said, slowing down to deliver his message before chanting “no days off” eight times as he thrust the Lombardi trophy into the air with his left hand in hopes of having the fans — many of whom were taking the day off to attend the parade — join him.

Right around the time Belichick was making his remarks, tight end Martellus Bennett said to reporters the overflowing crowd reminded him of “Ferris Bueller on his day off,” a reference to the 1986 movie starring Matthew Broderick.

“A lot of kids, apparently they didn’t go to school today,” Bennett cracked. “I don’t blame them. I wouldn’t have either.”

Meanwhile, running back James White, who set a Super Bowl record with 14 receptions and returned from a Monday trip to Disney World, was called forward by McCourty as players wanted White to be recognized by the crowd.

NFL

White forgot to keep ball from SB game winner

New England Patriots running back James White can’t tell you what happened to the football from the final play of Super Bowl LI.

White scored the winning touchdown in overtime as the Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons, 34-28. What happened to the ball after that is anyone’s guess, White told “The Dan Patrick Show” on Tuesday.

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“I actually don’t know what I did with it,” White said. “I left it on the ground and started running.”

White is hopeful that an equipment manager grabbed the ball and that it is in the possession of the Patriots.

“I wasn’t thinking in that moment. I was too busy sprinting down the field,” he said.

White said he did keep the football from the first touchdown he scored in the historic comeback. White had 14 receptions for 110 yards and one touchdown and added two rushing touchdowns in the victory.

After the game, his teammates, including MVP Tom Brady, were quick to say he deserved a share of the MVP honor. In years past, the Super Bowl MVP award came with a car. After the Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX, Brady was awarded MVP and gave the truck to Malcolm Butler, who made the game-saving interception in the final seconds.

Brady said he would do the same this year with White — but there is no truck to give. According to an NFL spokesman, a vehicle hasn’t been part of the MVP award for the past two Super Bowls.

White was asked about Brady’s promise of the truck and said, “I haven’t actually received it yet. I don’t know how that works.”

White said, “it’s pretty cool that he’s humble enough to give me the car,” adding that Brady is a “great teammate.”

It is unknown if Brady still plans to give White a vehicle of some kind.

ESPN Patriots reporter Mike Reiss contributed to this report.

NFL

Falcons GM: Extension imminent for Trufant

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant, who suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in November, will receive a lucrative contract extension at some point in the spring, general manager Thomas Dimitroff told ESPN on Tuesday.

Trufant, the 22nd overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft, is signed through 2017 after the Falcons exercised their fifth-year option for $8,026,000. Taking such a measure, however, doesn’t prevent the sides from negotiating a long-term deal.

“He’s a top-tier corner, no question about it,” Dimitroff said of Trufant. “We believe that he’s going to do some excellent things for us into the future.”

Dimitroff previously voiced intentions to reward MVP candidate Matt Ryan with an extension that could make him the league’s highest-paid player. The GM also reiterated plans to speak with running back Devonta Freeman’s camp about an extension as he approaches the final season of his rookie deal.

“Our focus in free agency is to, again, focus on the guys on our team to get them done first,” Dimitroff said. “It’s probably this year more than any, it’s where our focus is.”

Falcons CB Desmond Trufant, who suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in November, said he’ll be ready by the time OTAs begin in May. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Dimitroff said the emergence of former second-round pick Jalen Collins in Trufant’s absence hasn’t altered any plans.

“Trufant’s value has not dropped at all,” Dimitroff said. “We are really excited about having Trufant back and [Robert] Alford back and Jalen Collins back and Brian Poole back. And then the other guys who have contributed to us this year in [C.J.] Goodwin and Deji Olatoye. Those guys are a real cool and encouraging group of secondary [players], and the guy who is at the front of that is Trufant.”

Trufant could be line for a contract in the neighborhood of $13 million to $15 million per season, which would put him on par with some of the league’s other top cornerbacks. The Redskins’ Josh Norman makes $15 million per season as part of his five-year, $75 million deal, which included $50 million guaranteed. Trufant also saw fellow cornerback Alford rewarded with a four-year, $38 million extension that included $21 million guaranteed.

Alford was a second-round pick in the same draft class as Trufant.

“I mean, that’s what we work for, right?” Trufant said. “But I’m just focused on being healthy, being a better player and being a better man. Everything else will take care of itself. I’m just letting my agent and all them handle that. When it’s time, it’s time.”

Trufant said he’s midway through the rehab process and hopes to be back on the field in time for organized team activities in May. The Falcons have to forfeit the first three days of those activities for violating NFL/NFLPA rules prohibiting excessive contact during offseason workouts.

“They’ve got a plan for me, the trainers,” Trufant said. “By that time, I’ll definitely be healthy. I’m just focused on that.”

NFL

Jerry Rice on Larry Fitzgerald's decision: 'I hope he's at peace with it'

TEMPE, Ariz. — If there’s one player who knows what Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald went through as he pondered his playing future, it’s Jerry Rice.

The Hall of Fame receiver, who sits atop the three major all-time receiving record lists Fitzgerald has scaled throughout his career, played until he was 42 and faced similar decisions — whether to retire or continue playing — during the latter part of his career. But with the aid of hindsight and experience, Rice has one wish for Fitzgerald, who announced Wednesday he’ll return for a 14th season.

“I hope he’s at peace with it,” Rice said.

Jerry Rice said if there is a secret to longevity and productivity in the NFL, Larry Fitzgerald knows it. Grant Halverson/Getty Images

The key for Fitzgerald continuing at the same pace he’s played at recently — he led the NFL in receptions in 2016 — will boil down to one thing, according to Rice: how well Fitzgerald’s body responds.

“This is totally different from, say, a quarterback,” Rice said. “Tom Brady wants to play until he’s 45. He could do that. But as a receiver, it takes more. You’ve still got to be able to run. You’ve still got to be able to have that burst. You’ve got to have that separation. You have to have that endurance. So it’s something I feel Tom Brady can really accomplish, but as a receiver, eventually Father Time is going to catch up with you and say, ‘Hey, no, you’re not like you were (at) 20. You can’t do some of the things you did when you were 20.’”

Rice admitted he was “fighting” his age and his body toward the end of his career.

One of the toughest parts of deciding whether to keep playing, Rice said, is weighing the love of the game and desire to continue against the reality of knowing it’s time to hang it up.

Having worked out with Fitzgerald in the past, Rice said if there is a secret to longevity and productivity in the NFL, Fitzgerald knows it. Comparing the twilight of his career to Fitzgerald’s, Rice said an aging receiver needs to answer two difficult questions if they want to continue playing: Do they still want to play at a very high level? And do they still want to be the guy? Toward the end of Rice’s legendary career, which ended with three teams in two seasons, he was more of a mentor to younger receivers than anything else.

But Fitzgerald’s career isn’t taking the same trajectory as Rice’s, mainly because Fitzgerald could be entering the final year of his career eight years younger than Rice was when retired. Fitzgerald proved last season he still was capable of producing league-leading numbers at age 33. He led the NFL with 107 catches and had more than 1,000 yards for the second straight season.

Fitzgerald also came closer to Rice’s historic records in 2016, finishing the season third on the all-time receptions list with 1,125 (424 behind No. 1 Rice), ninth on the all-time receiving yards list (8,506 behind No. 1 Rice) and eighth on the all-time receiving touchdowns list (93 behind No. 1 Rice).

Fitzgerald has said in the past he doesn’t plan on playing long enough to catch Rice in any of those categories, but it’s possible Fitzgerald could end next season third on the all-time receiving yards list if he turns in another 1,000-yard season and sixth on the all-time receiving touchdowns list if he has 10 touchdown catches.

“Well, my records are not meant to be broken so that’s not going to happen,” Rice said with a laugh. “No, I’m just joking. Watching all of those guys, man, and the numbers that they’re putting up now, it’s a passers league. The ball is in the air, and I know records are meant to be broken.”

But, if next year should be Fitzgerald’s swan song, he’ll accomplish something Rice couldn’t by playing his entire career with one team.

“It doesn’t happen that often,” Rice said. “I think that shows the loyalty of the organization, also Larry in general.

“He’s a great athlete and I have watched him really grow and develop and put up outstanding numbers.”

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