SportsXchange: Shanahan exits Falcons after deflating defeat

By Art Spander
SportsXchange

HOUSTON -- It was nearly a perfect ending for Kyle Shanahan. The offense that he developed as coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons couldn't be stopped, and the defense was no less impressive.

Shanahan's final game with the Falcons, Super Bowl LI on Sunday night before he stepped away to become the presumptive head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, was everything the Falcons and their fans -- and the Niners -- could have wanted. 

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2017 SportsXchange

Newsday (N.Y.): Super Bowl LI: Falcons defense left reeling from late collapse

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

HOUSTON — He came from Seattle with a well-earned reputation. Dan Quinn was the defensive coordinator of the Seahawks, curator of the so-called “Legion of Boom.” Seattle won one Super Bowl and almost won another.

The Atlanta Falcons made Quinn their head coach before the 2015 season, and with his strategy and tactics — and draft picks — he made them the 2016 NFC champion.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2017 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Newsday (N.Y.): Super Bowl LI: Don’t expect confrontation if Patriots win

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

HOUSTON — The question is what will happen if the New England Patriots win Super Bowl LI on Sunday and — a laugh is permitted — quarterback Tom Brady and team owner Robert Kraft receive the trophy from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Nothing out of the ordinary, if history means much. It would be an old production with new performers.

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Copyright © 2017 Newsday. All rights reserved.

SportsXchange: Politics seeps into Super Bowl week

By Art Spander
SportsXchange

HOUSTON — Has the prelude to the Super Bowl gone off the rails? Hasn't the prelude to every Super Bowl? 

Of course, rarely was there such a mixture of, pardon the reference, politics and Patriots. However, that is to be expected given current events. 

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2017 SportsXchange 

SportsXchange: Belichick too focused on winning to worry about legacy

By Art Spander
SportsXchange.com

HOUSTON — Was Paul Brown like this? Vince Lombardi? 

Bill Walsh had his moments, times when he could be stern, rough, but mostly he chose to be less stringent, even friendly. Remember that 1982 Super Bowl when Walsh dressed as bellman to handle the bags of the team. 

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2017 SportsXchange