Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for July 12, #292

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Today's Connections: Sports Edition has one of those classic purple categories, where you probably won't figure it out before you've answered all the others. Need help? Read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That's a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn't show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic's own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Here are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Show Me State.

Green group hint: Old Line State.

Blue group hint: Gridiron greats.

Purple group hint: Names begins with a certain creature.

Yellow group: Missouri teams.

Green group: Maryland teams.

Blue group: Hall of Fame football coaches.

Purple group: Sports people or terms starting with an animal.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

The theme is Missouri teams. The four answers are Blues, Cardinals, Chiefs and Royals.

The theme is Maryland teams. The four answers are Maryland, Navy, Orioles and Ravens.

The theme is Hall of Fame football coaches. The four answers are Levy, Madden, Noll, and Shula.

The theme is sports people or terms starting with an animal. The four answers are batter, Catchings, Cowherd and dogleg.