There are two situations that can bring a wedge down between a teammate and the rest of the roster. One is the aging superstar who hasn’t realized that his body has changed. The other is the hurt player, fully aware of the situation. In the former, the individual can help out his team and be a part of their success. In the other, the individual can either hope that his absence proves his worth or that he isn’t needed for success.

QB Wentz Opens Up In New Interview

When the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LII with him out on the bench and then made the playoffs this year without him both times, quarterback Carson Wentz found that he wasn’t as valuable to his team as he might’ve thought. This created a divide within the team. When the Philly Voice published a story about Wentz being a bad teammate, Wentz didn’t outright deny it but he did refute multiple details. Now, he’s admitting that there’s some truth to it.

“I know who I am, first of all. I know how I carry myself. I know I’m not perfect. I know I have flaws,” he said during a recent interview. “So I’m not going to sit here and say it was inaccurate and completely made up. I’m not going to do that. But at the end of the day, I will say our locker room is really close. If there were guys that had issues, in hindsight, I wish we could have just talked about them. But, again, I don’t know how that all happened and everything with that.”

Wentz said he didn’t notice that there was friction building up. He initially tried to figure out who contributed to the story but then decided it didn’t matter.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

“I’ll learn from it and we’ll all learn that A, things shouldn’t kind of come out the way it did, and B, the pieces that I can learn from it and be a better teammate and player and all that stuff I will grow from,” he said. “But other than that, just turn the page.”

The 26-year-old Wentz was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. This year, he threw for 3,074 yards and 21 touchdowns in 11 games before suffering a season-ending back injury. His backup Nick Foles is expected to be franchise-tagged by the team, though most expect him to be traded.

Malcolm Butler did not get any defensive snaps in the New England Patriots‘ Super Bowl LII loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, and it is now known why the cornerback got no playing time.

Malcolm Butler Super Bowl benching news

Coach Bill Belichick said Monday there were several reasons — many of them disciplinary — he decided to bench Butler, who will be 28 in March.

Butler reportedly violated a team rule relating to curfew, although other reasons revolved around the Pro Bowl cornerback having a mediocre week of practice as he battled flu-like symptoms. Belichick hinted on Monday that Butler hadn’t practiced enough.

Some were even more surprised by Belichick’s decision after it became clear Butler’s replacement, defensive back Eric Rowe, couldn’t keep up with Eagles receiver Alshon Jeffery, who made several key plays and scores on Sunday.

Butler was hailed as the hero of Super Bowl XLIX three years ago, when he intercepted a pass from Russell Wilson in the end zone in the final seconds to secure the Patriots’ 28-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, the team’s first national title since the 2004 season.

Nevertheless, Butler was not named Super Bowl MVP that year: that honor went to Tom Brady, who also got the award last year.

Butler was reportedly very upset with not playing any minutes in Super Bowl LII, and said he believed the Patriots “gave up on” him:

Will Butler return to play for New England next season? Time will surely soon tell.

World War II hero Hershel “Woody” Williams served as Super Bowl LII’s “Honorary Captain” on Sunday.

Super Bowl LII coin toss news

The 94-year-old decorated Marine, who won the Medal of Honor in 1945, stood at the 50-yard line amid a group of Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots players at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

When the referee announced his name, a deafening applause from the Eagles-dominated crowd ensued.

Williams flipped the coin to determine which tea would kickoff and which would receive. The heads side of the coin included the Lombardi Trophy and the tails featured both NFL teams’ logos.

“The honor is yours,” said referee Gene Steratore.

Philadelphia called tails. It landed on heads.

Among those who snapped a photo with Williams was CNN anchor and lifelong Eagles fan Jake Tapper:

Williams is the last living solider to receive the nation’s highest honor for valor from serving in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

While speaking with a local television station in his native West Virginia, Williams said he was looking forward to the toss. When asked if he had been practicing coin-flips, the war vet added, “We’ve done that all of our life. Heads I win, tails you lose.”

He also said he hoped his coin toss would inspire unity in the country.

Williams went beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he reportedly used a flamethrower to destroy pillboxes, or dug-in guard posts, made of concrete. He also won a Purple Heart, among other honors.

Besides Williams, 14 other veterans who received the prestigious Medal of Honor were honored at Super Bowl LII.

Nick Foles not only helped lead the Philadelphia Eagles to their first-ever Super Bowl victory in the modern era, but the quarterback was also named the game MVP.

Nick Foles Super Bowl LII MVP facts

The 29-year-old won the hearts of millions when he called his wife Tori (the younger sister of former NFL tight end Evan Moore) “his life” and also held his baby daughter Lily in his arms before accepting the Vince Lombardi Trophy from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. 

Foles was drafted by the Eagles as a third-round pick out of Arizona in 2012, and played with Philadelphia (where he started some games) for three seasons before joining the then-St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs for one-year stints on each team.

Just over two years ago, backup QB Foles was prepared to retire from football age 26 after feeling frustrated with a string of poor performances.

On Sunday, he out-dueled Tom Brady, his New England Patriots counterpart who was called the “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time) after he led the Pats last year to their fifth Super Bowl title since 2001 in an amazing comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Foles put up some impressive stats on Sunday: he threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns in the Eagles’ 41-33 victory in Minneapolis. He even added a 1-yard TD catch on a trick play. The Austin, Texas native replaced Eagles QB Carson Wentz as starter after the standout passer injured his knee late in the regular season.

“The stage is never too big for him,” tight end Zach Ertz — who caught the game-winning touchdown pass — of Foles.

“I didn’t have to be Superman,” Foles said. “I have amazing teammates.” His daughter Lily donned a green Eagles scarf Rosie-the-Riveter style across her head and pink noise-canceling “Beats by Dre” headphones. After Foles pulled a silver chain out from underneath his jersey, Lily began playing with the cross at the end of it.

Among Foles’ amazing passes were a 34-yard lob to Alshon Jeffrey and a 22-yard bullet to Corey Clement. 

Foles originally committed to Arizona State but then decided to attend Michigan State. He ultimately transferred to Arizona. The QB is a Christian, and was one of several Eagles players to thank God for allowing the team to finally earn a Super Bowl ring. “All glory to God,” he said.

Watch Foles’ post-game interview here:

PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 15: Nick Foles #9 of the Philadelphia Eagles scrambles with the ball as Frank Alexander #90 of the Carolina Panthers defends on August 15, 2013 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennslyvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 41-33 in a close, thrilling Super Bowl LII matchup in Minneapolis on Sunday night to earn their first national title in the modern era.

Super Bowl LII highlights and stats

The game was close nearly all night long, and was not fully decided until time expired: in the dying seconds, Tom Brady threw a Hail Mary pass almost the entire length of the field. However, no player on the field was able to catch the ball that seemed like it would have landed just inside the end zone.

Here are some stats to know about this year’s Super Bowl:

The two teams combined for the most offensive yards in any title game by more than 200 yards: 1,151. The Eagles finished with 538 yards, the Patriots with 613.

There was only one sack in the entire evening: it actually doubled as a pivotal fumble recovery by the Eagles late in the fourth quarter. Brandon Graham stripped Brady to set up a Derek Barnett recovery that got Philadelphia closer to scoring.

Out of the Eagles’ ten possessions, only two didn’t result in some type of scoring. Philadelphia QB Nick Foles, who was named the game MVP, recorded 8.7 yards per attempt. The 29-year-old — who replaced Carson Wentz late in the regular season after the former first-round pick suffered an ACL injury — went 28-for-43 for 373 yards, three touchdowns, and a touchdown reception. Brady went 28-for-48 for 505 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions.

Foles was picked off in this insane moment late in the second quarter:

Here is an adorable picture of Foles holding his daughter Lily James at the end of the night while receiving the Vince Lombardi Trophy:

There were also four extra-point or two-point conversions that failed.

Philadelphia was rather successful on third-down attempts. The Eagles were 10-of-16, or 63 percent.

Notably benched for New England was cornerback Malcolm Butler, who made the game-ending interception on Russell Wilson’s pass in the end zone in Super Bowl XLIX three years ago that sealed the Patriots’ victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Butler did not get any defensive snaps on Sunday.

Here are the full game highlights:

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – JANUARY 03: Nelson Agholor #17 of the Philadelphia Eagles carries the ball in the third quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on January 3, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New York Giants 35-30. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has been cleared from the concussion protocol and will play in Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Rob Gronkowski injury news update

Gronkowski, 28, participated fully in Thursday’s practice. The All-Pro missed the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory last year due to a back injury. Defensive lineman Deatrich Wise also practiced after being cleared from concussion protocol.

Gronkowski had been sidelined since taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church during the first half of New England’s AFC Championship Game victory. Gronk addressed the injury with reporters Thursday.

“It’s football. It is what it is,” he said. “I mean, it’s a split second to make a decision. It’s running full speed one way. I’m going the other way. It’s just part of the game. It happens. Just got to move on… But yeah, I had a concussion for sure obviously or else I would have never been in protocol this whole time, for the last 10 days or however long it’s been. Everything’s going good.”

Fans and players alike chimed in on social media when the hit occurred, and most seemed to agree the hit was inevitable.

The tight end led the Patriots in receiving during the 2017 regular season with 69 catches for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns. Gronkowski and the Pats will face a tough opponent in the Philadelphia Eagles, who finished the regular season ranked fourth in the NFL in defense.

Philadelphia is giving up 229 yards per game through the air in the playoffs.

Tom Brady has called Gronk a “dynamic player.”

“I’ve played with him a long time, I’ve thrown him a lot of footballs,” said the quarterback. “He knows exactly what to do, he knows where to expect the ball, when to expect it. He’s just a tremendous player for our team.”

In addition to Gronk’s return to the squad, the Patriots also received a visit from former defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, who won Super Bowls with the team after the 2004 and 2014 seasons.

Super Bowl LII will begin at 6:30 pm ET on Sunday.

DENVER, CO – JANUARY 24: Tight end Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots after a reception during the AFC Championship game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 24, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Patriots 20-18. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles will face off in Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis on Sunday evening, and here are some facts to know before watching the title game.

Super Bowl LII preview

This Super Bowl will be a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005, a game the Patriots won 24-21. The Eagles are seeking their first national title in the modern era (they last won in 1960, ten years before the AFL-NFL merger).

Should the Eagles win, they would become the only other team besides the New York Giants to defeat the Patriots dynasty in the Super Bowl. The Giants beat the Patriots in Super Bowls XLVI (2011 season) and XLII (2007 season). Some online football analysts have predicted the Eagles as the winners.

New England is seeking its second consecutive championship and sixth Super Bowl ring in the Tom Brady era (2000-present). The Pats have played in the national championship game ten times — the most of any NFL team ever — and eight since the arrival of Brady and head coach Bill Belichick, who also joined the franchise in 2000. Brady is seeking his fifth Super Bowl MVP award.

The Patriots will reportedly wear white uniforms. They are 3-0 in the Super Bowl when wearing white under Belichick.

Rob Gronkowski — who missed last year’s Super Bowl with a back injury — has been cleared to play after undergoing concussion protocol.

Sunday’s game will be held at the Minnesota Vikings’ U.S. Bank Stadium, the second time it has been played there. The last Super Bowl held there was in January 1992.

The weather forecast for Minneapolis is believed to be around 6 degrees Sunday, although the stadium is a closed one.

Justin Timberlake will be performing at halftime, returning for the second time since the infamous wardrobe malfunction he caused when he sang with Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl in 2004.

Pink will sing the national anthem before kickoff.

Super Bowl LII: Patriots vs. Eagles

Date: February 4, 2018

Time: 6:30 p.m. EST

Place: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

TV Channel: NBC

Streaming: NBCSports.com

HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

James Harrison and Danny Amendola decided to have some fun at the New England Patriots’ press conference on Wednesday afternoon and surprise reporters with a little switcheroo.

Danny Amendola and James Harrison jersey exchange

Wide receiver Amendola — who is five-foot-11 and weighs 190 pounds — was wearing the jersey of 6-foot, 242-pound linebacker Harrison, and vice-versa.

“It fits me nicely,” Amendola, 32, said with a smile.

When asked who came up with the idea for the jersey swap, Amendola revealed the decision was mutual. The pair will play together against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis on Sunday.

“I think he might play receiver this week,” Amendola joked about Harrison, who is in his first season with the Patriots. “I’m going to set the edge on defense and tackle well.”

Harrison was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers in late December and signed a one-year deal with New England on December 26.

The 39-year-old linebacker also joked to reporters that he’s hoping to make several catches on Sunday.

“I’ve been trying to tell y’all,” Harrsion quipped. “I’m going seven for 125, OK?” He added he’s hoping to record two touchdown receptions. Harrison also said he might throw some passes, projecting a 24-for-36 completion rate and 375 yards with two more passing touchdowns.

Will head coach Bill Belichick approve of the two players switching jerseys and/or positions? We’ll find out on Sunday.

Chris Long has already missed out on one White House visit, and he isn’t afraid to refuse attending the President’s home again.

Chris Long to skip Eagles’ possible 2018 White House visit

The veteran defensive end has stated that should his Philadelphia Eagles win Super Bowl LII on February 4, he won’t make the trip to Washington.

Here is the exchange Long had with PFTCommenter, the host of the Pardon My Take podcast:

PFT: “If you guys win the Super Bowl, are you going to the White House?”

Long: “No, I’m not going to the White House. Are you kidding me?”

The 32-year-old was one of several New England Patriots players to miss last year’s White House trip after the team won Super Bowl LI. After New York Daily News reporter Chuck Modiano criticized his decision, saying Long should “stand up” to President Donald Trump, the defensive end fired back at Modiano:

Long has made very clear that he does not support Trump, and is one of the many NFL players who has protested the national anthem in some way.

“My son grows up, and I believe the legacy of our president is going to be what it is, I don’t want him to say, ‘Hey dad, why’d you go [to the White House] when you knew the right thing was to not go?'” Long said around the time the Patriots visited the White House in 2017.

This past season, Long donated all 16 of his game checks to causes that are important to him. Six of his paychecks went to fund scholarships in his hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia in the wake of white supremacist rallies that quickly turned violent and ended in several injuries and the death of one counter-protester. Long donated his other ten checks to increase educational equality by launching the Pledge 10 for Tomorrow campaign.

“Some people are tired of hearing me tweet because they want me to stick to football, but I like to use social media like I was a regular guy because I think I am,” Long said, per CSNPhilly.com. “I don’t tell people to stick to their job when they want to talk politics. And this isn’t political. That’s the thing. Everybody is trying to turn this political. This isn’t a political issue. This is right or wrong.”

Long, the second overall draft pick in 2008 out of Virginia, played his first eight NFL seasons with the then-St. Louis Rams.

The NFL has rejected a veterans’ group’s one-page ad in the program for Super Bowl LII, and the group has reportedly issued its own rejection of the league’s suggestion of a compromise.

NFL Rejects Super Bowl LII Vets ad

The group AMVETS submitted an ad with the message “#PleaseStand,” referring to standing for the national anthem, and that also includes instructions on how to donate to the organization.

League spokesman Brian McCarthy explained in an email that the NFL attempts to keep the national championship apolitical, and noted the league’s long-established support of the military and veterans.

“The Super Bowl game program is designed for fans to commemorate and celebrate the game, players, teams and the Super Bowl,” McCarthy wrote. “It’s never been a place for advertising that could be considered by some as a political statement. The NFL has long supported the military and veterans and will again salute our service members in the Super Bowl with memorable on-field moments that will be televised as part of the game.”

The NFL showed its support for veterans last weekend when they worked a deal to ensure that military personnel could watch the AFC and NFC title games despite the government shutdown. The shutdown — which began Friday evening at midnight and ended Monday night, initially meant troops stationed overseas wouldn’t be able to watch the games, which aired on the Armed Services Network.

AMVETs’ ad would have reportedly cost $30,000.

Joe Chenelly, the executive director of AMVETS, said just as players who kneel during the anthem are exercising their freedom of speech, so would members of his group be doing.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell — who has already flip-flopped on the issue of kneeling for the anthem — said this during a recent interview at the Economic Club of New York:

“Our players were all trying to do what’s in the best interest of the local communities they live in, that they care about, and I admire that a great deal. I wish all our players were standing for our national anthem. I always did and I always told them that. But I, I also, we really took the time to understand them. I think we could use a little bit more of that in our society.”

The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles will face off in Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis on Feb. 4.

HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 01: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks with the media during a press conference for Super Bowl 51 at the George R. Brown Convention Center on February 1, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)