Latest news with #SuperBowlXLIX
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Mel Kiper Jr. Makes Bold Prediction For Super Bowl LX
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Although the Philadelphia Eagles looked mighty impressive in their run to the Super Bowl championship last season, the road to this season's Vince Lombardi Trophy looks somewhat wide open. The Eagles could win it all again -- but they have lost a few key contributors on defense, and their vaunted offensive line may take a step back. The Kansas City Chiefs, who won three world championships in five seasons coming into 2024, could continue their budding dynasty, and the Detroit Lions could finally get to and win the big game. But ESPN personality Mel Kiper Jr. is going with a different team to win football's grand prize. On a recent episode of SportsCenter, he boldly proclaimed that the Baltimore Ravens will emerge victorious in Super Bowl LX this winter. "This is their year, the Ravens are going to win the Super Bowl this year," Kiper said, via Athlon Sports. "Lamar [Jackson] stay healthy and no freakish plays that end the game... It's the best team talent-wise in the National Football League." Read more: 49ers' Brock Purdy Gets Honest About Christian McCaffrey This may sound like a hot take to plenty of NFL fans, especially given the Ravens' annual flameouts in the playoffs. However, one could argue that the team has been inching closer and was simply a victim of bad fortune last season. It faced the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round, and had it not been for a dropped pass by tight end Mark Andrews during a two-point conversion attempt, it may have ended up playing the Chiefs for the AFC championship. In 2024, Jackson had a career-best effort. The star quarterback threw for 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns while leading everyone in passer rating and QBR, and he also added 915 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. An argument could be made that he, and not Bills quarterback Josh Allen, deserved to win the regular season MVP award. Jackson, of course, has already taken home two such awards. Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Read more: ESPN Offers Shocking Future Prediction for Cardinals QB Kyler Murray At running back, Derrick Henry has given Baltimore a very potent threat who efficiently eats up many snaps each week, and wide receiver Zay Flowers is slowly developing into a stud. This year, future Hall of Fame WR DeAndre Hopkins has joined the team and is hoping to finally get a ring. Ravens coach John Harbaugh has always centered his teams around defense, and that defense will give the squad a chance to win almost every week. The narrative building around Jackson is that he cannot win that one big game to get over the hump. If the Chiefs have some issues, and if the Eagles are either complacent or a bit deficient, that could open the door for the Ravens to win their third Vince Lombardi Trophy. For more on the Ravens and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Business Wire
06-08-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Winpot Names Miroslava Montemayor as Brand Ambassador
MEXICO CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Winpot, Mexico's player-favourite online casino and sports betting brand, has signed popular sports broadcaster Miroslava Montemayor to its growing team of brand ambassadors. Winpot names Miroslava Montemayor as brand ambassador Share Miroslava is a former beauty pageant winner who has become one of the leading sports broadcasters and TV personalities in Mexico. Her TV career began back in 2014, appearing on TV Azteca Noreste's sports show where she covered the 2015 Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl XLIX from Glendale, Arizona. She then left Azteca to join ESPN, where she presented the Spanish-language version of NFL Live, as well as ESPN Mexico's afternoon sports talk show, Los Capitanes. In 2017, she became anchor for the Spanish version of SportsCenter and hosted a show called Otra Ronda, which aired on ESPN2 in Mexico. Today, she hosts the Champions League and Premier League coverage for TNT Sports Mexico. As a Winpot brand ambassador, she will promote the hugely popular online casino and sportsbook to her fans through a range of campaigns and media activations. This includes the brand's latest TV campaign, set to air in August, which is focused on Winpot offering the best odds, guaranteed. Winpot, which is powered by the cutting-edge Wiztech platform, has become the go-to destination for online casino players and sports bettors in Mexico. It offers generous bonuses, localised payment options and a vast game lobby covering slots, table games, instant wins, live dealer and more, as well as the best odds across a huge range of sports. Yoni Sidi, CEO at Winpot, said: 'Miroslava is one of the most loved sports broadcasters in Mexico, combining her deep knowledge of the game with her captivating presenting style. 'This has seen her build a large and loyal fanbase across Mexico, and through this partnership, we can introduce these people to Winpot for the first time. 'We are really excited about our upcoming TV ad campaign, with Miroslava taking centre stage.' Miroslava Montemayor, sports broadcaster and Winpot brand ambassador, added: 'Winpot is one of the most trusted betting brands in Mexico, and I'm delighted to have been announced as a brand ambassador. 'I've had great fun filming the TV ad campaign and look forward to seeing it hit TV screens in August. 'This partnership is the perfect fit – I have a large and loyal fanbase of sports enthusiasts, and Winpot provides the superior sports betting experience they deserve.' About Winpot Winpot Casino is a leading online and retail casino that operates within Mexico, with a core ethos of delivering a vibrant, entertaining experience for players. With 10 years of operations under its belt, Winpot has established itself as a leading force in Latin America, both within the land-based and online spaces. The casino remains committed to offering a wide array of gaming options and amenities across multiple locations.
Boston Globe
06-08-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
The Commanders, who visit for a joint practice and a game, have it all: superstars, former Patriots, old rivals, and more
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Even without McLaurin, unlikely to participate this week as he squabbles over his contract, the Commanders are loaded with superstars and recognizable names. Advertisement Second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels is already an MVP candidate after authoring arguably the greatest rookie season in NFL history. This offseason the Commanders signed pass rusher Von Miller, and traded for two big names, former 49ers Swiss Army knife Deebo Samuel, and five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil. The Commanders have several notable veterans, including tight end Zach Ertz, linebacker Bobby Wagner (one of three players, along with Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson, still active from Super Bowl XLIX between the Patriots and Seahawks), cornerback Marshon Lattimore (who often gets in fights), running back Austin Ekeler, quarterback Marcus Mariota, receiver Luke McCaffrey (younger brother of Christian), and 39-year-old quarterback Josh Johnson, who has signed 25 professional contracts since 2012 and played for 14 NFL franchises. Advertisement Everett's Mike Sainristil was drafted by the Commanders in 2024. Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press The Commanders have some Boston flavor, from second-year cornerback As for Quinn, you may remember him from Super Bowl LI, when his Falcons couldn't protect a 28-3 lead late in the third quarter and lost to the Patriots, 34-28, in overtime. The Falcons never fully recovered after that loss, going from 10-6 to consecutive 7-9 seasons, to Quinn getting fired in 2020 after an 0-5 start. But Quinn had three productive years as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator, got a second chance with the Commanders, and oversaw a remarkable eight-game improvement in his first year, from 4-13 to 12-5. Then there are the reunions that will take place on Wednesday, which might get a little emotional. Did you know Wes Welker is with the Commanders? He quietly joined their front office as a personnel analyst in April after not being retained by the Dolphins as wide receivers coach. Welker has seemingly fallen outside the inner circle of the dynasty-era Patriots but has forged a nine-year coaching career thanks to his relationship with Commanders general manager Adam Peters. Advertisement Peters began his career as a Patriots scout (2003-08) and intersected with Welker in 2007. Peters left for Denver in 2009, and connected with Welker again when he signed there in 2013. Peters then helped hire Welker as the 49ers' wide receivers coach in 2019, when Peters was vice president of player personnel. Related : Welker also was a college teammate of Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, himself a Patriots sixth-round draft pick in 2003. Kingsbury lasted just one year with the Patriots, with no game appearances, but won a Super Bowl ring and called his experience with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady 'the mountaintop of preparation and competitiveness … things that stay with you for life.' Welker, of course, was teammates with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel in Foxborough (2007-08). So was Commanders special teams coordinator Larry Izzo (2001-08), who is a member of the Patriots' 'All-Dynasty' team. Izzo and Vrabel also coached together with the Texans (2016-17). Izzo is in his second season with the Commanders. Former Patriot Deatrich Wise is among the players back in Foxborough as a member of the Commanders. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Two of the Commanders' players will look awfully familiar. Advertisement Three other Commanders used to play in Foxborough. Receiver K.J. Osborn was one of several ill-fated free agent signings by the Patriots last year, catching just seven passes for 57 yards and a touchdown, before being traded to Washington midseason. Defensive tackle Carl Davis is on his eighth NFL team since 2015, but was a productive depth piece for the Patriots from 2020-22, playing in 33 of 34 games in his last two seasons. And former Harvard long snapper Tyler Ott, on his seventh NFL team since 2014, began his NFL career as an offseason participant with the Patriots in 2014-15. Finally, just when you thought you'd never hear the word 'Deflategate' again, a ghost from the past reappears. Entering his second season as the Commanders' senior vice president of football initiatives is Dave Gardi, who previously spent 21 years in the NFL office. Gardi was the senior vice president of football operations in January 2015, who communicated with Colts GM Ryan Grigson before the AFC Championship game about the Patriots' potentially deflating footballs, then authored the initial letter sent to the Patriots informing them that 11 of their 12 footballs had been found to be underinflated, which set off the investigation and firestorm. Gardi might want to avoid the Krafts for the next few days. Ben Volin can be reached at
USA Today
22-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Seahawks TE Jimmy Graham set to officially retire from the NFL
Former New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and yes... Seattle Seahawks... tight end Jimmy Graham is officially calling it a career. After 13 playing years in the NFL, it was reported on Twitter by Saints reporter John DeShazier - and confirmed by Graham himself - that Graham will be retiring this year. When Jimmy Graham came into the league as a rookie in 2010, he quickly made a name for himself as one of the premiere receiving threats in football. It did not take him long to make an impact, as he recorded 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns in his second season. Two years later, he set a career best with 16 scores. In fact, he had double-digit touchdown seasons in three of his first five years in the league. Of course, his career took an unexpected turn when the Seattle Seahawks traded for him after their loss in Super Bowl XLIX. After five years in the Big Easy, Graham would be headed to the Pacific Northwest. During his time in Seattle, Graham became somewhat of a divisive figure among the 12th Man. Many were frustrated he was never quite the player he was in New Orleans, while others argued he was improperly utilized by Seattle's offensive system. A patellar tendon injury suffered in 2015 cut his inaugural Seahawks season short with only 605 receiving yards and two touchdowns - a career-low at that point. Frustratingly, it came right at the time when it felt he was finally developing legitimate chemistry with Russell Wilson and Seattle was figuring out how best to use him. Graham did return with two solid Pro Bowl caliber years in 2016 and 2017. He had 923 receiving yards and six scores in 2016, and while he was limited to 520 yards in 2017, he still found the end zone ten times. However, there was still the sense he - or the team - never could put it all together. One year had the yards, one year had the touchdowns. Still, when Graham's time in the Emerald City was concluded, he left as Seattle's leader for most receptions (170), receiving yards (2,048) and touchdowns (18) as a tight end. After leaving the Seahawks, Graham spent four years in the NFC North. Two years with the Green Bay Packers, then two with the Chicago Bears. After sitting the 2022 season out, Graham returned "home" to New Orleans for one final run in 2023. Graham caught six receptions for 39 yards and four touchdowns in the last season of his career. Now, he will fittingly retire with the team who drafted him. We at Seahawks Wire wish Jimmy Graham all the best as he begins this new chapter in his life. We also want to thank Graham for his years as a Seahawk, as there were plenty of great memories during his run and he undeniably left an impact on the team.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Where is Shane Vereen, Patriots Super Bowl hero who sold home to Drake Maye rival?
Remember Shane Vereen? The former New England Patriots running back was a Super Bowl hero (and tied for a record). He made a couple more NFL stops after leaving New England. Now, after some TV gigs, he's back in the NFL on the coaching side. Let's check in and see where Vereen is now. Where are former Patriots now? | Shane Vereen (2011-2014) These days, 36-year-old Vereen is living in Bellaire, Texas, just outside of Houston, with his wife and two daughters. Since last year, he's been working as a player personnel assistant for the Houston Texans. Advertisement Before that, Vereen was living in Castle Pines, Colorado. That was until 2024, when he sold the five-bedroom, seven-bath mansion for $4 million. The buyer? That would be Bo Nix, who was drafted No. 12 overall by the Denver Broncos – nine picks after the Patriots took Drake Maye. After a strong season, Nix remains a budding rival quarterback for Maye in the AFC. Vereen had multiple gigs as a TV analyst. After a year working with Fox Sports, Vereen spent roughly three years working as a college football analyst for the Pac-12 Network. It's not all football for Vereen. After retiring in Vereen got involved with Esports. In 2019, he joined ESTV (Esports Television) along with his brother, Brock, who also played in the NFL. Vereen is currently listed the director of business development for ESTV's Celebrity League. Advertisement Vereen had a quiet start to the NFL after leading in New England as a second-round pick in 2011. However, his role in the Patriots offense slowly began to grow as he developed as a pass-catching back. By 2013, he'd made a major leap, ranking third on the team with 47 receptions. The following year, he caught 52 passes for 447 yards. He's best remembered for his performance in Super Bowl XLIX. Against the Seattle Seahawks, Vereen had a monster game catching passes out of the backfield with 11 receptions, which tied the Super Bowl record at the time. That mark has since been broken by Demaryius Thomas (13) and James White (14) Vereen's contributions came mostly as a pass-catcher. His best season as a runner came in 2014, when he got 96 carries for 391 yards. Advertisement After winning a championship in New England, Vereen signed a deal with the New York Giants in free agency. Vereen had a solid start in New York catching a career-high 59 passes in 2015. He was limited by injuries in 2016 before bouncing back in 2017, making 44 receptions. That year marked the last time Vereen appeared in an NFL game. In 2018, Vereen signed a deal with the New Orleans Saints, but was released with an injury settlement before the season began. Where are former Patriots now? | More Stories Read the original article on MassLive.
