AP Missouri

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — NFL players have made it no secret they prefer playing on natural grass as opposed to synthetic turf. They’ll get their wish in Super Bowl 57. NFL Field Surface Director Nick Pappas and his small group of specialists are getting the surface ready at State

By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Sports betting is now legal in two-thirds of the country, and more Americans than ever before have an opportunity to place a legal bet on Sunday’s Super Bowl. With sports betting ads blitzing the airwaves with come-ons and promotions, things might be a bit confusing,

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER Associated Press HONOLULU (AP) — An autopsy report shows that a former rugby player from South Africa who was shot and killed by Honolulu police suffered from a severe form of a brain disease. Commonly known as CTE, the degenerative disease is often found in American football players and other athletes

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer PHOENIX (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles have the advantage in the trenches, in receiving and running options and in the secondary in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. Philadelphia has built a team without any holes, which should set the stage for a repeat from five

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — The Chiefs have been here before, and on both sides of the outcome, and they know that winning the Super Bowl is a whole lot better than losing it. That experience alone is invaluable as they face the Eagles in the big game. But then you

By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Sports betting is now legal in two-thirds of the country, and more Americans than ever before have an opportunity to place a legal bet on Sunday’s Super Bowl. With sports betting ads blitzing the airwaves with come-ons and promotions, things might be a bit confusing,

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jr. Clay scored 23 points to propel Tennessee State to an 85-65 victory over Southeast Missouri State. Clay also had eight rebounds and five assists for the Tigers (15-11, 7-6 Ohio Valley Conference). Christian Brown added 13 points and Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. scored 12. Chris Harris led the way for the Redhawks

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER Associated Press HONOLULU (AP) — A Black former professional rugby player from South Africa shot by police months after moving to Hawaii suffered from a degenerative brain disease often found in American football players and other athletes subjected to repeated head trauma, autopsy results show. The finding could help explain Lindani

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Patrick Mahomes dominated the voting for the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award. Now, he’ll try to break the MVP curse. Mahomes, who also won in 2018, easily outdistanced Jalen Hurts, receiving 48 of 50 first-place votes from a nationwide panel of media members who

PHOENIX (AP) — Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes wins 2nd MVP award ahead of Super Bowl.

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Geno Smith, who earned his first Pro Bowl berth after becoming a full-time starter for the first time since 2014, is the AP Comeback Player of the Year. The Seattle Seahawks quarterback received 28 first-place votes to beat out San Francisco 49ers running back Christian

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — It’s hard enough to feed two regular-sized teenage boys, much less a pair such as Travis and Jason Kelce. One dedicated momma made it happen. Donna Kelce said on Thursday before the “NFL Honors” show that she did her best to keep up with her two

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer PHOENIX (AP) — New York Jets cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award Thursday, taking 46 first-place votes. Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson finished second with 129 points, getting three first-place votes. Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen came in third with

MACOMB, Ill. — Shemarri Allen scored 26 points to lead Kansas City over Western Illinois 76-64. Allen was 9-of-16 shooting with a 3-pointer and went 7 for 10 from the foul line for the Kangaroos (11-15, 7-6 Summit League). Rayquawndis Mitchell added 16 points and five rebounds, while Babacar Diallo scored 15. The Leathernecks (15-10,

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Justin Jefferson ran away with the AP Offensive Player of the Year award. Minnesota’s All-Pro wide receiver got 35 first-place votes and earned 192 points, outdistancing runner up Patrick Mahomes by a significant margin. Jefferson led the NFL with 128 catches and 1,809 yards receiving

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer PHOENIX (AP) — DeMeco Ryans will take the AP Assistant Coach of the Year award with him to Houston. The new Texans head coach received 35 first-place votes after guiding the league’s No. 1 ranked defense in San Francisco. Ryans, who spent the past two seasons as the

By DAVE SKRETTA and HAVEN DALEY Associated Press GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The NFL’s chief medical officer says the league is prepared for any emergency on game day, whether it’s a preseason exhibition or the Super Bowl between Kansas City and Philadelphia on Sunday. Dr. Allen Sills says that was underscored by the way medical