NFL

AP Sports WriterThousands rally, send Patriots off to 3rd Super Bowl in rowBy JIMMY GOLENFOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) The New England Patriots have the Super Bowl send-off routine down pat.Break out the ''Super Bowl Bound'' banner. Queue up the highlight video. Take a few shots at those loser cities...

Patriots among admirable company as sports dynastyBy The Associated PressSports fans love dynasties. And hate them, too.That a team could be so dominant for a long period as the New England Patriots have been should be admirable. Their detractors point to scandals such as ''Spygate'' and the deflated footballs...

AP Sports WriterThousands rally, send Patriots off to 3rd Super Bowl in rowBy JIMMY GOLENFOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) The New England Patriots have the Super Bowl send-off routine down pat.Break out the ''Super Bowl Bound'' banner. Queue up the highlight video. Take a few shots at those loser cities...

AP Sports WriterWith 44 newbies, Pro Bowl could be more intense than usualBy MARK LONGORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Chicago Bears safety and Pro Bowl newcomer Eddie Jackson posed the same question to several veterans this week: What's the tempo of practices and the game?''They told me, `If you go...

Associated PressPolice: Detroit Lions' Trevor Bates punched officerBy VERENA DOBNIKNEW YORK (AP) Police say Trevor Bates of the Detroit Lions was arrested in New York for failing to pay a taxi fare and then punching a police officer in the face.The 25-year-old linebacker was charged with assault, resisting...

Tennessee Titans hire Todd Downing as tight ends coachNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Tennessee Titans have hired Todd Downing as their tight ends coach after he spent this season in the same role with the Minnesota Vikings.Arthur Smith had worked as the Titans' tight ends coach in 2018 but...

Bears sign RT Massie to 4-year extension through 2022LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) The Chicago Bears have signed right tackle Bobby Massie to a four-year contract extension through the 2022 season.Massie has spent the past three years as Chicago's starting right tackle. He played with Arizona from 2012-15.Massie started...

Associated PressPolice: Detroit Lions' Trevor Bates punched officerBy VERENA DOBNIKNEW YORK (AP) Police say Trevor Bates of the Detroit Lions was arrested in New York for failing to pay a taxi fare and then punching a police officer in the face.The 25-year-old linebacker was charged with assault, resisting...

AP Sports WriterRams' Gurley says he doesn't care about Super Bowl roleBy GREG BEACHAMTHOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) Todd Gurley is a serious sports fan who loves going to the Super Bowl each winter, attending all of the decadent parties and soaking up the game-day atmosphere.The Los Angeles Rams'...

Associated PressProsecutor: Detroit Lions' Trevor Bates punched officerBy VERENA DOBNIKNEW YORK (AP) Trevor Bates, a linebacker for the Detroit Lions, was arrested Saturday in New York on charges that he failed to pay a taxi fare and then punched a police officer, who suffered a concussion.Bates faces charges...

Associated PressWith voodoo dolls, cookies Saints fans protest missed callBy STACEY PLAISANCENEW ORLEANS (AP) A New Orleans bakery is turning out thousands of cookies with a picture of a referee with a circle and slash mark across it in red icing.The owner of a locksmith shop has hung...

Pepsi, Coke vie for publicity days before Super BowlATLANTA (AP) Atlanta-based Coca-Cola and rival Pepsi are vying for publicity in the days leading up to the Super Bowl.The Coca-Cola Foundation on Thursday announced it will pay for a month of free admission to the National Center for Civil...