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Bucs' Arians scoffs at rumors, says he's returning 'for 2'
(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)TAMPA, Fla. – Seconds after linebacker Devin White intercepted a pass in the end zone, Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians started doling out hugs. Arians unplugged his headset, slipped on a Super Bowl championship hat and braced for the traditional Gatorade shower. Together, Arians and the 43-year-old Brady helped Tampa Bay win its first championship in 18 years and cemented their spot in the franchise history books. He took a year off and worked in television before returning to the NFL with Tampa Bay — joining a young team he saw as full of potential. His biggest coup was landing Brady, who engineered yet another masterpiece and won his seventh Super Bowl after six titles with the Patriots.
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Brady, improved defense keys to Bucs winning Super Bowl
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady during NFL football practice, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. (Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers via AP)TAMPA, Fla. – Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won’t be denied. The 43-year-old six-time Super Bowl champion may no longer be the best quarterback in the NFL, however, he’s shown in his first season with the Bucs that he’s still good enough to lead a team to the NFL title game. You want to make some moves that hopefully get your team into the Super Bowl.
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Tom Brady has denied 27 QBs in unparalleled playoff success
Brady is shooting for his seventh ring when he leads the Buccaneers (14-5) against the reigning champion Chiefs (16-2) in Super Bowl 55 on Sunday. Brady's postseason record includes a 33-11 mark, 14 conference championship appearances and 10 trips to the Super Bowl. If the Bucs dethrone the champs, Mahomes would become the sixth quarterback Brady has beaten multiple times in the playoffs. Although he’s not showing his age, 43, Brady will be the oldest to play in a Super Bowl, displacing Colts kicker Matt Stover, who was 42 in Super Bowl 44. Unlike Warner, he wasn't going to get ahead of himself and talk about anything but the Super Bowl title in front of him.
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QB whisperers Christensen, Moore see different side to Brady
Tom Moore worked with Manning, Terry Bradshaw and many others before the 82-year-old assistant got a chance to coach Brady. Christensen and Moore were on the opposite sideline against Brady during the Colts-Patriots rivalry. Both have a different view of the six-time Super Bowl champion after getting to know him during his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Joking aside, Brady appreciates the wisdom from Christensen and Moore. He loves throwing them and he’s an extremely elite, deep-ball thrower.”Christensen has one Super Bowl ring and Moore has three.
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Mahomes leads champion Chiefs to 14-2 mark in stacked AFC
While the Chiefs get another week’s rest, the six other AFC playoff teams get going this weekend. For just the second time since the 1970 league merger, every team in the AFC playoffs has at least 11 wins. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 54, 31-20 over the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 2, 2020, at Miami. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 43, 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Feb. 1, 2009, at Tampa, Florida. Their pass rush is nearly nonexistent with 19 sacks, the fewest by a playoff team since Denver had 19 in 1979.
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Tom Brady excited, ready to lead Buccaneers into playoffs
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during an NFL football practice Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)TAMPA, Fla. – New team, same ole Tom Brady. Brady led New England to the Super Bowl nine times in 20 seasons, appearing in 41 playoff games and winning 30 — both records. “When he first signed I said, ‘OK, we’ll be a 40 (touchdown) and 10 (interception) team,’” Arians said. “It’s a never-ending thing with him, the perfectionist, to get everything right in practice,” Arians added.
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No. 1 pick Joe Burrow happy to be on field for Bengals
After waiting a few extra months to get on the practice field for the Cincinnati Bengals for the first time, No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow had a little extra energy. The Bengals last won a playoff game following the 1990 season. 1 overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer lost twice in the postseason for the Bengals, Andy Dalton had four defeats and A.J. Im going to have to continue to do my job.

3 things to watch for this NFL Sunday
OliverCardall/Pixabay(CNN) - For many NFL teams, their hopes of making the playoffs have already been dashed. Going into the third NFL Sunday of the season, teams will look to capitalize on early momentum, correct miscues that have exposed weaknesses or start planning for the 2020 Draft. Relatively unknown backups are taking the fieldThe season started with a bombshell when Andrew Luck, the top pick from the 2012 NFL Draft, unexpectedly retired from football. The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team in NFL history to finish a season undefeated. WATCH: Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at 1 pm ET on FOXThe-CNN-Wire & 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company.

Andrew Luck takes out a full-page ad to thank fans one last time
Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images(CNN) - Andrew Luck is retiring from football, but he couldn't leave the Indianapolis Colts without bidding the fans a proper farewell. The 29-year-old quarterback took out a full-page ad in the Indianapolis Star's Sunday paper to thank fans for their support after he announced he'd quit the game last week. Luck, a first pick in the 2012 draft and four-time Pro Bowl QB, said the "unceasing" pain forced him out of the game. News of his retirement spread last week while he sat on the sidelines of a preseason game against the Chicago Bears. Brissett filled in for Luck during the 2017 season while he was out recovering from shoulder surgery.

Some fans booed Andrew Luck for retiring
CNN image(CNN) - As word spread Saturday night that Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is retiring, some fans booed the four-time Pro Bowler after a preseason game against the Chicago Bears. During his career, Luck suffered a lacerated kidney, a torn abdomen, torn cartilage, and a concussion. Injuries had kept Luck, 29, from playing in the preseason, but fans at the game in Indianapolis were clearly upset about the news. Cameras caught one man even taking off his Luck jersey as the game ended. It was terrible how the fans booed a man who gave them so much Much respect, 12" tweeted Colts linebacker Darius Leonard.

Colts QB Andrew Luck, former No. 1 pick, is retiring
Jonathan Ferrey/Getty ImagesINDIANAPOLIS (CNN) - Quarterback Andrew Luck, the first pick in the 2012 NFL draft and a four-time Pro Bowl selection, is retiring, the Indianapolis Colts player said Saturday night. Injuries have kept Luck, 29, from playing in the preseason. He was on the Colts' sideline Saturday in street clothes. His competitor for the starting sport at quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, also did not play in the Colts' game Saturday night. CNN's Homero De La Fuente contributed to this reportThe-CNN-Wire & 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company.