MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2023 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Jackson, Butler (38th), McMahan, Blackmon, Harkins, Parker, Sparks, Blackwell, England, Turner-Ford, Branning, Hill, Simmons (12th), McDaniel, Michel, Barnett, Butler (36th), Frazier, Moran, Seymour, Simmons (13th), Tate, Suber, DeLano, Fillingane, Norwood, Williams, Jordan, Thomas, Caughman, Thompson, Chism, Whaley, Blount, Hopson, Chassaniol, Younger, Polk, Horhn, Hickman, McCaughn, DeBar, Bryan, Kirby, McLendon, Carter, Wiggins, Johnson, Sojourner, Barrett, Boyd, Parks

Senate Resolution 45

A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE CONGRATULATIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE TO THE TEN MISSISSIPPI PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS WHO PLAYED IN THE 2023 NFL SUPER BOWL.

     WHEREAS, the Kansas City Chiefs thrilling 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2023 NFL Super Bowl on February 12, 2023, was perhaps the most Mississippi-dominated Super Bowl in history, with ten Mississippians on the two rosters; and

     WHEREAS, A.J. Brown, the Eagles' splendid receiver from Starkville and Ole Miss, caught six passes for 96 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown.  Those are winning statistics.  Brown clearly has become one of the best receivers in the sport; and

     WHEREAS, for the winning Chiefs, defensive tackle Chris Jones of Houston and Mississippi State anchored the defensive line, occupying two Eagles' blockers for most of the night; and

     WHEREAS, Willie Gay, who weighs 240 and runs like a halfback, was in on eight tackles, ranging from sideline to sideline from his middle linebacker position; and

     WHEREAS, linebacker Darius Harris of Horn Lake and Middle Tennessee State was in on one tackle; and

     WHEREAS, Eagles' running back Kenneth Gainwell from Yazoo County and Memphis, accounted for 52 yards total, running for 21, catching four passes for 20 more and running back a kickoff 11 yards.  He scored an apparent touchdown on the first possession of the game only to have it nullified by replay; and

     WHEREAS, the Eagles and former Southern Miss wide receiver Quez Watkins caught one pass for six yards and narrowly missed a diving try for a much-longer pass; and

     WHEREAS, also for the Eagles, cornerback Darius Slay, formerly of Mississippi State, made four tackles, and big Fletcher Cox of Yazoo City and Mississippi State made one tackle.  Cox, like Chris Jones, was often double-teamed by the Chiefs' blockers.  Cox and Jones are perfect examples of how misleading the statistics of defensive linemen can be, they both consistently did their jobs, occupying two blockers; and

     WHEREAS, Nakobe Rashod Dean was drafted in the third round (83rd overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.  Nakobe played high school football at Horn Lake School.  As a senior, he won the Butkus Award.  His rookie season with the Philadelphia Eagles ended with a trip to Super Bowl LVII; and

     WHEREAS, backup quarterback for the Eagles in the Superbowl was Gardner Minshew, II, who took the Brandon Bulldogs to the MHSAA 6A Championship Game in 2014.  Gardner was the starting quarterback for the Eagles Christmas Eve Game against the Dallas Cowboys; and

     WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi has produced a legacy of talent in the National Football League, which surpasses any other state, particularly considering the lower population of our state compared to others; and

     WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize these Mississippi professional athletes who have brought honor to the universities and colleges where they played, to their home communities and to the State of Mississippi:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby extend the congratulations of the Mississippi Senate to the ten Mississippi professional football players who played in the 2023 NFL Super Bowl, and extend to these players and their families our best wishes on this memorable occasion.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the ten Mississippi professional football players who participated in the 2023 NFL Super Bowl, forwarded to the Athletic Directors of their former Mississippi universities and colleges and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.