DETROIT (AP) — Mike Cofer Drew Lock Jersey , a Pro Bowl linebacker who played a decade with the Detroit Lions and is second on the team’s career list in sacks, has died. He was 58.The Lions said Cofer died Thursday. Cofer’s son Phil plays basketball for Florida State. The school said he found out about his father’s death after the Seminoles‘ victory over Vermont in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. Chuck Walsh, a Florida State spokesman, said Mike Cofer had been dealing with a long illness.Cofer played 123 games with the Lions from 1983-92. He’s the only linebacker in team history to reach eight sacks in a season. He did it four times.“Mike was the definition of the perfect football player,” former Lions quarterback Eric Hipple said in a statement. “His attitude matched his ability and he gave 100 percent in everything he did. The same goes for his care and attention for fellow players, fans and people in general. He brought smiles and joy to those he interacted with and was not only a great player, but also a wonderful man.”A Knoxville, Tennessee, native, Cofer played at Tennessee. He was drafted by the Lions in the third round in 1983, and he was a member of the team that went to the NFC title game at the end of the 1991 season. He received Pro Bowl honors during the 1988 season.He finished his career with 62 ½ sacks.“I was truly blessed to have had the chance to coach Mike http://www.denverbroncosteamonline.com/dre_mont-jones-jersey ,” former Lions coach Wayne Fontes said. “He had such tremendous character. When you heard people talking about a player who always gave 100 percent, it was Mike.”Phil Cofer missed Florida State’s game Thursday with an injured right foot. Coach Leonard Hamilton said he will remain with the team for a second-round game Saturday against Murray State.Hamilton called Mike Cofer “one of the most competitive human beings that has ever played in the NFL.”“He is a guy who had to endure an unbelievably challenging debilitating disease that mentally and emotionally was draining in itself, but the physical toll it took on his body is beyond anything that you possibly could explain,” he said. “And he never complained. He always faced it every day with the heart of a lion, with tremendous amount of courage, and he passed that same mental and emotional aspect over to his son, Phil.”“He always challenged Phil, and he always encouraged him to play with the heart of a lion, and without making any excuses for anything at all. And Phil’s attitude has been as good as anyone that I’ve ever coached in my whole coaching career.”Cofer is survived by his wife, Reba, and sons Michael and Phil. ATLANTA (AP) — Julian Edelman was forced to watch only as a spectator as his disappointed New England Patriots teammates trudged off the field a year ago as Super Bowl losers.Catch after catch in this one T.J. Hockenson Jersey , Tom Brady’s favorite wide receiver helped make them winners again.“It’s pretty surreal,” Edelman said, shaking his head. “Tough times don’t last, tough people do. I preach that, and, I guess you have to live to it.”Edelman certainly did Sunday night, earning Super Bowl MVP honors with 10 receptions for 141 yards while helping lift the Patriots to a 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.“My name was called,” he said. “I was asked to make a couple plays and we were able to do that.”Edelman and Brady made one final connection — at midfield with confetti flying around them. They embraced for several moments — eyes filled with the tears of champions.“The hug was just two Bay Area boys that love football, love to compete and are living out our dreams,” Edelman said before taking a second to clarify one small detail.“I think he held me,” the bushy-bearded Edelman said with a big grin. “I didn’t hold him.”It was an incredibly satisfying ending to a big-time comeback season for Edelman Justice Hill Jersey , a guy considered by Brady to be like a little brother — some teammates even jokingly say they have a “bromance” — and widely regarded as one of the greatest slot receivers in league history.And, he was at it again against the Rams.Reliable and steady. All night long.“He’s a fighter, man, that kid,” Brady said. “I’m just so proud of him. He’s been an incredible player for this team in the playoffs and he just cemented himself, again, in the history of the NFL for what his accomplishments are.”Even when things weren’t working early for the Patriots, Edelman kept the offense going and the clock rolling as a safety valve for Brady. Eight of his catches were for first downs , including a 13-yard grab during the go-ahead touchdown drive with 7 minutes left in the game.“Julian always gives us those kinds of plays,” coach Bill Belichick said. “Tough plays, tough catches http://www.ravenscheapstores.com/ben-powers-jersey-cheap , catch-and-run plays, breaking tackles for a few extra yards. He did a tremendous job.”It has been a long journey back to this point for Edelman, who missed all of last season after tearing a knee ligament in New England’s third preseason game.What he did in this Super Bowl was exactly what the Patriots’ offense was missing in last year’s 41-33 loss to Philadelphia.“I mean, injuries are psychologically so hard for an athlete because you don’t get to do what you love to do,” Edelman said. “When your team’s going out there and playing in the Super Bowl and you don’t get to help or you were not a factor, it was definitely very tough.”Edelman was forced to sit out the first four games of this season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancers.And, then, it was uncertain as to whether the 32-year-old receiver would be as productive and effective as he had been throughout his career with the Patriots.Turned out, he was as good as ever.Not bad for the one-time quarterback at Kent State who became the right-hand man for arguably the NFL’s greatest signal-caller.“Oh, man, I am so proud of Jules Iman Marshall Jersey ,” fellow receiver Chris Hogan said. “I don’t really have a lot of words to describe what Julian did today. Where he has been and what he’s had to battle and what he has had to overcome, I’m really proud of him.”Edelman finished the regular season with 74 catches and a team-high 850 receiving yards with six touchdowns. He kept it going through New England’s first two playoffs games, hauling in 16 catches for a team-high 247 yards.The Patriots led the Rams just 3-0 at halftime, but Edelman was a big reason for that. He tied a Super Bowl record with seven of his catches in the first two quarters for 93 yards as New England outgained Los Angeles 195-57.Edelman also tied Dallas’ Michael Irvin for the second-most 100-yard receiving games in the postseason with six, just two behind Jerry Rice’s NFL record.“He’s an elite player,” Rams defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said. “He plays hard, found some holes in our defense in the first half and pretty much the third quarter.”Brady had won four of the MVP awards in the Patriots’ previous five Super Bowl victories.It seemed only fitting that Edelman walked off the field with this one.Yep, little brother came up big on the biggest stage.“I’m pretty ecstatic,” Edelman said. “I’m emotionally pooped. I’m physically and emotionally pooped.”