The Super Bowl — arguably the biggest annual event in American sports after Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest — is set to take place tomorrow between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. Each year, the organizations involved will stop at nothing to win — this time, that includes taking tips from China.
A surveillance balloon — much like the one shot down over the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 4 — was recently spotted over Kansas City head coach Andy Reid’s Missouri home. Believed to have been hovering in the same location for days, the balloon has since drifted south following the team’s departure for Arizona's State Farm Stadium.
The Philadelphia Eagles organization is the most obvious party to blame. Yet, at least for his part, head coach Nick Sirianni denies any involvement.
“I feel like you guys think we’re stupid sometimes. Look — this is my profession. This is my job. And, you know, I’m not going to be the guy who raises his hand in the boardroom to suggest we get a balloon and float it up there. This is Philly, not a five-year-old’s birthday party,” said Coach Sirianni.
Though the surveillance balloon is unlikely to have captured much of Kansas City’s game plan given that it was thousands of feet in the air and Reid’s home has a roof, there is concern over what may have been captured in the Lombardi winner’s backyard. Most concerningly, an incident in which Reid can be seen grilling what appears to be hot dogs for himself and his grandkids rather than his usual cheeseburger.
“I understand how it looks, but you just have to believe me — it was a one time thing,” said Coach Reid when confronted by the National Football League. “I know what’s expected of me and it was never my intention to deceive the American people. I move forward with the hopes of grace and, when I’m deemed to have earned it, forgiveness.”
Reid went on to conclude that he will never fall off of his cheeseburger-only diet again “as long as there’s enough ground beef for everyone to have at least two.”
As of Feb. 11, there are no clear answers as to who is responsible for the surveillance balloon. That being said, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to look into Tom Brady’s recent purchase history to confirm that the future first-ballot Hall of Famer is not spying on NFL figures like other retirees go bird watching.
Photo courtesy of All-Pro Reels via Creative Commons
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