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Category Archives: Super Bowl

Super Bowl XLVI is in the books!

06 Feb

What a game! I tell you one thing, the Super Bowl of the last 13 or so years have given us a lot of epic championship games. You can’t always have said that. Let’s just look at all the great games we have witnessed recently:

  1. 1999 – Super Bowl XXXIV – Rams 23 Titans 16 – Just one yard short.
  2. 2001 – Super Bowl XXXVI – Patriots 20 Rams 17 – Vinatieri for the win.
  3. 2003 – Super Bowl XXXVIII – Patriots 32 Panthers 29 – Back and forth all game long culminating in a Brady-led drive setting up the winning FG in the last seconds.
  4. 2007 – Super Bowl XLII – Giants 17 Patriots 14 – Manning to Tyree, greatest play ever, that led to game winning TD in last seconds.
  5. 2008 – Super Bowl XLIII – Steelers 27 Cardinals 23 – Cardinals win it in last minute…not so fast, Roethlisberger to Holmes with seconds left to win it.
  6. 2010 – Super Bowl XLV – Packers 31 Steelers 25 – Not really epic, but a very close game won in the last minutes.
  7. 2011 – Super Bowl XLVI – Giants 21 Patriots 17 – You just watched it!

Before those games you rarely got an epic game, let alone 7 in 13 years! As much as I have to gripe and complain about the NFL these days, this is not one of those instances. The Super Bowl has been the greatest one day sporting spectacle in the world for decades now. But, only recently has the game lived up to that hype and we are all the beneficiaries of that.

Eli Manning and the Giants came out with a bang. It was like they could do no wrong. The Giants owned the 1st quarter, leading 9-0. The Patriots did mount a drive early in the 2nd quarter but only got a field goal out of it. The Giants seemed to continue their domination of the 1st half, but could not muster any more points. I remember near the end of the 2nd quarter thinking “Wow, the Giants are dominating this game and only up 9-3, I wonder if this will be another Super Bowl XXI.” Well, right after that Brady got started. Tom Brady took the Patriots on a, Super Bowl record-tying, 96 yard drive which culminated in a Patriots touchdown giving them the halftime lead at 10-9 and what seemed like a huge momentum swing.

After M.I.A. flicked the whole world off, the Patriots went on another long drive, 79-yards to be exact, for a score and a commanding 17-9 lead. But, Eli would not let the Patriots run away with this one. While the Giants had just collapsed in back-to-back drives, Eli would then take the Giants offense on two drives ending in 2 field goals and cutting the Patriots lead to 17-15. It would stay this way for a while actually and it quickly became apparent that this was going to come down to the wire.

With 3:46 remaining in the game Eli Manning mounted an 88-yard touchdown drive that would give the Giants a 21-17 lead, after a failed 2-point conversion. But it was the 6-yard touchdown run by Ahmad Bradshaw that left everybody scratching their heads. The Patriots defense, in the most obvious way, allowed the Giants the touchdown. Bradshaw had been instructed to kneel down at the 1 to run as much time off the clock as possible. The only problem was he tried to kneel down but all of his weight, most of it in his gut, carried him over the goal line. This all resulting in what was the weirdest looking touchdown ever. Seriously, the man looked like someone had knocked him down with a Taser Gun. Just weird.

With Bradshaw’s goof, the Patriots and Tom Brady were left with 57 seconds left in the game. Time to mount another game-winning drive that has defined this quarterback and team. The only problem? Well, for the first few plays it was Brady’s receivers dropping every single ball like they were in Snoop’s music video. Brady was able to move the ball a little but not enough to make an impact. The last throw coming to a knock-down end. GAME OVER! The New York Football Giants won their 4th Super Bowl and 8th overall NFL Title. Tom Coughlin now securing his future in Canton and Eli Manning almost assuredly will be joining him. Which brings me to my last point.

Just two short months ago, every single Giant fan in the world was screaming for Tom Coughlin’s head. In fact, if it wasn’t for their run at the end of the season, the outcry would have been so loud and strong that Mara & Tisch, very conservative owners (when it comes to hiring/firing head coaches – I mean even Jim Fassel was given 7 years), would have probably had to fire Coughlin whether they wanted to or not just to settle the base down. So, it struck me odd that both Mara and Tisch would proudly spout superlatives about their fan base on the very stand they were handed the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Greatest fans ever! Most loyal fan base! Best fans in the world! Well, I would have to disagree…but even if I’m wrong on that point, what is right is that all of Giants Nation are lucky to have a head coach as good as Coughlin. In fact, they don’t deserve the success that he has brought their franchise. But, Giants fans should enjoy this one. They have now beaten the “best team of the decade” twice now, in the Super Bowl. That should count for something.

 
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Posted by on February 6, 2012 in Ahmad Bradshaw, Eli Manning, Jim Fassel, John Mara, New England Patriots, New York Giants, NFL, Steve Tisch, Super Bowl, Tom Brady, Tom Coughlin

 

Super Sunday: Super Bowl XLVI

05 Feb

It has finally arrived. The game to end all games, Super Bowl XLVI. All the hype, trash talking, speculation…everything ends and nothing else matters than what takes place on the field. The New York Football Giants take on the New England Patriots. Eli Manning vs. Tom Brady. Tom Coughlin vs. Bill Belichick.

The Rematch. Even if you hate both teams you have to admit that this is going to be a great game with great games within the game. Will the Giants pass rush get to Tom Brady and if they do how will he take it? Will Eli continue to play like the elite quarterback that he has grown into this year? Will the Patriots defense play like it did in the regular season or the playoffs? Is Rob Gronkowski’s ankle ready to go? If so, where is he at physically? 70%? 85%? 100%? Will Bill Belichick tape the Giants walkthrough?

I have gone back and forth on this game. Either team that wins will be making history. If the Patriots win, they will be the first team in Super Bowl history to have a bottom 3 defense and win. If the Giants, with a 9-7 record, win, they will be the worst team (record-wise) to have won a Super Bowl. So who do you pick? Can the Giants beat the Pats twice in one season? Can they win the rematch?

Well, it’s time for me to stop asking questions and start answering them. I do believe the Giants defense gets to Tom Brady. I don’t think Gronkowski will be much of a factor because of his ankle. Eli Manning and his WR corp will shred the New England defense, while New York’s running game will wear them down. I think the Patriots defense will revert back to how it played in the regular season. Don’t count on Tom Brady having another multi-pick game but he will not be able to come through in the clutch. The game will be close and won in the final minutes. Tom Brady and Co. will put up a valiant fight and it will be another Brady-Belichick Era Patriots Super Bowl that is decided by 3 points. Giants 27 Patriots 24.

Hall-of-Fame Inductees

Jack Butler, Steelers CB (1951-59), Dermontti Dawson, Steelers C (1988-2000), Chris Doleman, Vikings, Falcons, 49ers DE/LB (1985-99), Cortez Kennedy, Seahawks DT (1990-2000), Curtis Martin, Patriots, Jets RB (1995-2005), Willie Roaf, Saints Chiefs T (1993-2005)

All of these men were chosen to enter the hallowed halls of Canton this August. Now, almost all of the 15 Finalists deserved to be in, voters can only choose for 5. Unfortunately, WR is being backlogged and some great receivers are being left out. How is Dermontti Dawson chosen over Tim Brown and Cris Carter. It’s a disgrace that some clear cut Hall-of-Famers cannot even sniff the spot…just look at how long it took Lynn Swann and Art Monk to get in. Sometimes you just have to wonder if the guys making the votes actually watch the game…or if they have a hidden agenda.

 
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Posted by on February 5, 2012 in Bill Belichick, Eli Manning, Hall-of-Fame, New England Patriots, New York Giants, NFL, Super Bowl, Super Bowl XLVI, Tom Brady, Tom Coughlin

 

Second Place Is Just The First Loser, Part II

04 Feb

I was reading an article by ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley and Mike Sando about the best and worst Super Bowl losers of all-time. It’s a great piece and I really suggest you all checking it out. You can click here to do that. As I was reading this I was thinking how great to re-do their list. I’m guessing you guys would have a different list than theirs and mine, too.

Yesterday, we looked at the 10 best teams to lose a Super Bowl. Click here for Part 1. Today we are looking at the 5 worst teams to lose in the Super Bowl today. Also, we will go over the 1 Super Bowl that was played on February 4th. So, let’s get crackin’.

The Flab Five: The Five Worst Teams to Grace The Super Bowl

  1. 1979 Los Angeles Rams - Until 2008 and this year, the ’79 Rams had the worst record of any team to make the Super Bowl. Just think about that. For the first 42 Super Bowls, the Rams were the only team to have gone to “the show” with a 9-7 record. That’s just bad. Then the Cardinals, and now this year’s Giants have followed up the Rams mediocrity. Now, I was about to pick one of those teams, but they have studs, the Rams didn’t. Plus, the Giants were riddled with injuries for the first 2/3s of the year. The Rams had legendary Vince Ferragamo quarterbacking the team. Actually, the only stars of the team were the Youngblood brothers. To their credit they played a great game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIV. Now, look at that Super Bowl logo…beautiful…now look at the teams…beautiful…all of this in the Rose Bowl? Thank God those mediocre Rams got there, because they gave us the most eye-pleasing game the Super Bowl has seen. That’s about the best compliment I can give them.
  2. 1994 San Diego Chargers - Do you remember this game? The 49ers not only had the quickest 1st score in Super Bowl history(at that time), they also had the quickest 2nd score. Before 5 minutes expired the game was OVAH, O-V-A-H, OVAH! Seriously, the NFL should have called it right there. This Chargers team had a couple of good-great players: Junior Seau, Natrone Means…and the list stops there. Remember Stan Humphries? Yeah, this team was so overmatched going into it that even Charger fans were putting money on the Niners.
  3. 1985 New England Patriots - Tony Eason and Steve Grogan…that’s who the Patriots were bringing into battle with them against the 17-1 Chicago Bears…yeah that Bears team! This isn’t your brothers Patriots that you see today…these were your father’s Patriots. The only team in NFL history to make awesome uniforms look like clowns clothes because their play was so horrendous. Now, this team did have some talent: Irving Fryar, Andre Tippett, Craig James…heck, their head coach was none other than Hall of Famer Raymond Berry. Too bad he couldn’t have played this one for them.
  4. 2008 Arizona Cardinals - I tried Arizona, I tried…but you’re team just should not have been there. Now, this is why to many people Kurt Warner deserves to be in the Hall of Fame (I believe he should have been in even before this one). The Cardinals had talent: Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Adrian Wilson, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. So, placing them in this list was hard and they really should have won the game. Heck, Warner and Fitzgerald almost single-handedly won the game for them…but the Cardinals defense just wouldn’t let that be.
  5. 1986 Denver Broncos - I tried to pick teams that weren’t on ESPN’s list, but I just have to agree with them. Obviously, I don’t have them in the same order, but I do agree with the 5. This team…well, the 80′s Broncos were basically all John Elway. Just go back and look at those teams. Elway’s stature gets raised even higher in my opinion because he took 3 Broncos teams that were anywhere from average to bad without him, to Super Bowls. This team was just too bad on defense. They are on par with this year’s New England D…the only difference being that New England has been picking up their play as of late. 

Now we need to get to the Super Bowl that was played on this day 5 years ago. The Colts were hoping this is how they would end this year in their home stadium, but fate would have something to say about that.

February 4, 2007 – Indianapolis Colts 29, Chicago Bears 17 – Dolphin Stadium, Miami, FL - The first Super Bowl to have rain. I still believe Rhodes and Addai should have been co-MVP’s, but Manning earned that honor with 25-38 passing for 247 yards and a touchdown. It was astounding that Lovie Smith and the Bears took the ball out of Thomas Jones‘ hands, 112 yards rushing on only 15 carries, and put it in Rex Grossman’s hands. And Tony Dungy laughed. The Colts won their 2nd Super Bowl title, the first for them in Indianapolis.

Tomorrow I will do my preview and picks for Super Bowl XLVI. Enjoy Super Bowl Eve…yeah, it’s going to be a trend!

 
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Posted by on February 4, 2012 in Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Dominic Rhodes, Indianapolis Colts, Joseph Addai, Los Angeles Rams, Lovie Smith, New England Patriots, NFL, Peyton Manning, Rex Grossman, San Diego Chargers, Super Bowl, Thomas Jones, Tony Dungy

 

Second Place Is Just The First Loser, Part I

03 Feb

I was reading an article by ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley and Mike Sando about the best and worst Super Bowl losers of all-time. It’s a great piece and I really suggest you all checking it out. You can click here to do that. As I was reading this I was thinking how great to re-do their list. I’m guessing you guys would have a different list than theirs and mine, too.

So, let’s look at the best teams to lose in the Super Bowl today and tomorrow we will check out the worst to grace the best game of the year. Also, we will go over the 2 Super Bowls that were played on February 3rd. So, let’s get crackin’.

The Greatest Teams to…ugh, not….Win The Super Bowl

  1. 1968 Baltimore Colts - Honestly, can anyone pick a different team. The Colts roared to a 13-1 record. The Colts then destroyed their competition in the NFL playoffs, which included the Cleveland Browns, the only team to beat them that year, 34-0. The biggest disappointment is that they had the ultimate bulletin board material in Joe Namath’s legendary guarantee. There is no greater upset that football, and maybe all sports, have ever seen as the #2 offensive and #1 defensive team went down to Broadway Joe’s Jets.
  2. 1978 Dallas Cowboys - How good was this Cowboys team? They had the #1 offense and #3 defense that year. They lost to a Pittsburgh Steelers team that had the #5 offense and #1 defense. Super Bowl XIII is considered one of the greatest Super Bowls of all-time. A team that lost to one of the best teams during arguably the greatest dynasty the NFL has ever seen has to be in this discussion. Remember, if Jackie Smith had caught that pass in the end zone, this game probably would have been won by the Cowboys.
  3. 1983 Washington Redskins - One of the greatest teams of all-time was absolutely dominated in the Super Bowl. No team in NFL history, until 1998, had a more prolific offense than this Redskins team. All I have to say is thank God I was almost 2 years old at that time. I still won’t watch Super Bowl XVIII highlights and I was too young to remember it. I don’t want to talk much more about this horrible memory as all I hear right now is John Facenda saying, “On came Marcus Allen, running with the night.” Ugh.
  4. 1969 Minnesota Vikings - How in the world did the Purple People Eater’s not win a Super Bowl? This team was the very best of those teams. This was the #1 offense and defense in the league. But, as great as the Vikings were, they ran into a greater team in the Kansas City Chiefs. And thank God the Chiefs won, because we get to enjoy beautiful clips from the man, Hank Stram. (check them out here)
  5.  2007 New England Patriots - Yeah, that’s right. What ESPN and the rest of the media were declaring “the greatest team ever” is all the way down to #5 on my list. First, teams of today would get absolutely annihilated by teams of the past. With free agency and the cap, you just can’t build teams like you used to. Go figure that the 1974 Steelers were the same team as the 1979 Steelers but there are only like 5 guys on this year’s New England Patriots that were on the field in 2007 for the Pats. So, while there is more talent throughout the NFL, it just can’t come together on one team, especially for any length of time. The 2007 Patriots were hurt by 2 things: an aging defense and an ego-maniac of a head coach. Bill, you should have stopped trying to run up the score on every team like this was college football in the 90′s and ran the ball more. Maybe, Brady would have had an extra couple of seconds to be able to make all of the throws. Just sayin’.
  6. 2001 St. Louis Rams - I have to admit, and you need to too, that I never saw this coming. The Patriots, led by a back-up QB that could barely beat out Drew Henson at Michigan, are going to beat “The Greatest Show on Turf”…and they’re playing this game on turf? Wow! But, now that we know who really won this game (can anybody say a video camera taping the Rams’ walkthroughs) is anyone surprised the best team in 2001 lost? I say the NFL destroy the Pats’ Lombardi Trophy right with the evidence they destroyed.
  7. 1990 Buffalo Bills - Poor Bills fans. They had to hear the jokes (Do you know what Bills stands for? No, what? Boy-I-Love-Losing-Super Bowls) and the teasing. But, this was one of the best teams of the 1990′s. Four Super Bowls in a row? Even the 70′s Steelers couldn’t do that…although they did win all of their four trips. Marv Levy was just out-coached. But, that is hardly a cutdown. He was facing Bill Parcells. One thing that has always gotten to me was that the Giants don’t get more credit. It is always like the Bills lost to a nobody. Has anyone seen tape of that defense? They shut down the 2-time defending champions 49ers the week before…and both Hall-of-Fame QB’s (Montana and Young) couldn’t do anything about it. The Bills shouldn’t be ashamed of losing to such a good team. The only problem was, in hindsight, this was their only shot at a ring.
  8. 1997 Green Bay Packers - Brett Favre was leading the Packers to back-to-back Super Bowl titles, just like Bart Starr had done 30 years before. Problem was, they were running into one of the last truly great teams led by an even better QB than “Mr. Retire-or not”. John Elway and Co. stole the show, but this was a very close affair. Brett Favre even had a chance to win it in the last minutes. The Packers came up just 7 points short as they had no answer for Terrell Davis, who would go on to have a 2,000 yd. season the very next year in what would be Denver’s 2nd straight title.
  9. 1973 Minnesota Vikings - I have to say I like the QB better on this Vikings team than on the ’69 team. But they were a stronger unit on the ’69 team. This Vikings team had the 2nd best defense in the league. Problem was, they were facing the #1 defense in Miami’s “No Name” Defense.
  10. 1991 Buffalo Bills - This was the 2nd best Bills team they had. They just ran into one of the best Super Bowl Championship teams. The Bills talked a big game, but when it came down to it Thurman Thomas, Jim Kelly, James Lofton, Andre Reed, Bruce Smith, Cornelius Bennett, Darryl Talley, Shane Conlin and Co. just couldn’t get it done on the field. You look at those Bills teams and really wonder…how in the world did they not win just 1 Super Bowl. I guess that’s why they’re on this list twice. 

Now onto the Super Bowls of the past:

February 3, 2002 – New England Patriots 20, St. Louis Rams 17 – Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA - Tom Brady led the upstart Patriots to a massive upset in one of the best Super Bowls of all-time. Adam Vinatieri became a Patron Saint in New England. Tom Brady earned MVP honors as he passed 16-27 for 145 yards and a touchdown. The Patriots mugging the Rams’ wideouts was a big reason why the Patriots were able to hold on and win this game. Also, there was something about a video camera, too. The Patriots won their 1st Super Bowl title.

February 3, 2008 – New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 – University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ - This Super Bowl is in the top 3 Super Bowls of all-time. The Giants, who barely got into the playoffs, scored a massive upset agains the 18-0 New England Patriots. Eli Manning and David Tyree gave us the greatest play in Super Bowl history. Manning earned MVP honors with 19-34 255 yards and 2 TD’s. But, it was the Giant’s D-line who were the true MVP’s as they never let Brady get in a rhythm. The Giants won their 3rd Super Bowl title.

 
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Posted by on February 3, 2012 in Adam Vinatieri, Baltimore Colts, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, David Tyree, Eli Manning, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New York Giants, NFL, St. Louis Rams, Super Bowl, Super Bowl XLII, Super Bowl XXXVI, Tom Brady, Washington Redskins

 

The “Gronk”owski Watch

02 Feb

Is anybody else getting sick and tired of hearing about Rob Gronkowski, his high ankle sprain, whether he’s wearing his boot or not, the new cleat being made for him, ad nauseam, ad nauseam, ad nauseam? Me too. But this is the Super Bowl and all of the hype has been going on for 10 days now, with today being the 11th. But, I have to say that even though his “watch” is getting old what’s worse is every single soul in the ESPN family calling him Gronk. Am I being too nit picky? I am so sick and tired of everybody saying “Gronk did this” and “Gronk did that”…heck, John Clayton even said he laced up Gronk’s shoes for him yesterday. Ok, ok…so I am exaggerating a tad bit. But this is getting ridiculous. Call the man by his name. But, let me please say to ESPN…if you are going to continue to call Rob Gronkowski, “Gronk” than you have my blessing to start calling Bill Belichick, “Belicheat”.

So, the true story on Gronk…just kidding, Gronkowski is that he’ll play. He probably won’t be anywhere near as effective as he normally would be, at least in the 2nd half he won’t. Gronkowski didn’t wear a boot to Media Day because who would? He wanted to try to show the media that he was fine. So, you don’t need to listen to anymore updates on him because here is the low down on it: Rob Gronkowski will play, if he is effective it will be in the first half and he will not have an MVP performance. But, let’s be honest…New England doesn’t need an MVP performance from him to win the game. All they need is for Brady to lead them down the field in the final minutes for a game winning field goal by Adam Vinatieri…..oh, wait…

No Super Bowl recaps today as not one single Super Bowl has been played on February 2nd. That is until the year 2014. I’ll be back tomorrow to recap 2 more Super Bowls of the past. Including one that was the very first Super Bowl to be played in February.

 
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Posted by on February 2, 2012 in Adam Vinatieri, Bill Belichick, John Clayton, NFL, Rob Gronkowski, Super Bowl, Tom Brady

 

A little Brady, a little Roethlisberger and a little Rodgers?

01 Feb

Before we jump in the time machine and go back a few years we have some Super Bowl/Pro Bowl news to address. First, the “big” Super Bowl news right now is that Chad EightFive, yes Ochocinco in Spanish is eightfive not eighty-five, is in his first Super Bowl. Chad is what? That’s exactly what I was thinking when I flipped over to the NFL Network to watch a minute of Media Day. I had forgotten all about him this year. Weird that a “future Hall-of-Famer” was a non-factor this year. Did anyone remember that he was a Patriot and that he’ll be “playing” on Sunday? Rumors are not true, however, that he will have a celebration planned after every water break he successfully completes.

The second bit of news comes out of Green Bay where Aaron Rodgers has something to say. He was on ESPN 540 in Milwaukee yesterday and had this to say:

“I’ll be honest with you. I was a little bit disappointed. I felt like some of the guys on the NFC side embarrassed themselves.”

Wait a minute…was he talking about his Packers in the playoffs? Was he disappointed in the whole NFC side in the playoffs this year? Maybe, he has seen the future and the Giants don’t have a good game this Sunday?! Let’s look further to see:

“I was just surprised that some of the guys either didn’t want to play or when they were in there didn’t put any effort into it. I’ve always found that when you’re going that tempo, that’s when the injuries are going to happen, not if you’re going full speed. You’re more likely to get an injury standing around the pile or just going through it half-speed.”

So, what is Rodgers talking about? The Pro Bowl. I will wait to let that sink in… … … … I hear Allen Iverson saying “we’re talking about [the Pro Bowl] man, we’re talking about [the Pro Bowl]. Not the game, not the game. We’re talking about [the Pro Bowl} man.” Is Aaron serious? Has he eaten too much casu marzu?? (If you don’t know what that is, click here) I mean, this is the Pro Bowl we’re talking about. Even the fans don’t care about this game. Nobody even watches this thing. I mean, the Hawaiians are so in love with it that they don’t even fill half the stadium for this game. So why does Aaron Rodgers care so much? It’s not like Brett Favre was leading the AFC this year. Relax Aaron. You’ve got your Super Bowl ring and a promising future. But, I know the real reason why Aaron is so peeved: Not only did State Farm steal his move, but BJ Raji has it as a new dance and finally State Farm got tired of Rodger’s move and moved on to Clay Matthews’ move since he actually plays football…professionally.

Now on to the important stuff…well, at least in my opinion.

February 1, 2004 – New England Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 29 – Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX - What looked like a lopsided affair going into the game, became an all-time classic Super Bowl. If not for John Kasay kicking the ball out of bounds on the kickoff, the Panthers probably would have won this one. But, Tom Brady, earning MVP honors, led the Pats to a Vinatieri game winning field goal (where have we seen this one before?) and the Patriots’ 2nd title in 3 years. Brady went 32-48 (Super Bowl record for completions) for 354 yards and 3 TD’s.**

February 1, 2009 – Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23 – Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL - Another classic Super Bowl and even though the Cardinals lost, Kurt Warner sealed a spot in Canton. Ben Roethlisberger and Warner dueled to the very end, James Harrison had the longest play in Super Bowl history (a 100-yard INT return for a TD) and Santonio Holmes earned MVP honors with 9 catches for 131 yards and the game winning TD with just :35 seconds left. Pittsburgh had won their league leading 6th Super Bowl title and 2nd in 4 years.

** – yes, I know about the halftime show with Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson…but come on…let’s cover up for the kids, alright? Save that for Skina Cinemax.

 
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Posted by on February 1, 2012 in Aaron Rodgers, Adam Vinatieri, AFC, Arizona Cardinals, Ben Roethlishberger, BJ Raji, Brett Favre, Carolina Panthers, Chad Johnson, Chad Ochocinco, Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers, James Harrison, Janet Jackson, John Kasay, Justin Timberlake, Kurt Warner, New England Patriots, New York Giants, NFC, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pro Bowl, Santonio Holmes, Super Bowl, Super Bowl XLIII, Super Bowl XXXVIII, Tom Brady

 

John Elway: The beginning and the end.

31 Jan

Now, before you call the title blasphemous, this is about Super Bowls. We’re talking about 3 in particular today and John Elway happens to be in 2 of them. He is in the first and the last that we will go over today. The 31st of January produced some great blowouts to watch. So, as the immortal Samuel L. Jackson would say (in Jurassic Park) “hold on to your butts”.

January 31, 1988 – Washington Redskins 42, Denver Broncos 10 – Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, CA - “The Quarter, the 2nd quarter to be specific”. That’s all you have to know about this game. The Redskins were down 10-0 and scored 35 unanswered points in one quarter (the most in Super Bowl history) to complete the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. Doug Williams earned MVP honors with 340 yards passing and 4 TD’s. Timmy Smith rushed for a Super Bowl record 204 yards. The Redskins won their 2nd Super Bowl and 4th NFL title.

January 31, 1993 – Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17 – Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA - What didn’t the Cowboys do in this game? Buffalo was no match for the Cowboys as Troy Aikman earned MVP honors while going 22-30 for 273 yards and 4 TD’s. The only negative (and probably the most well-known play of this Super Bowl) for the Cowboys was Leon Lett showboating and getting stripped right before the goal line by Don Beebe. This was the Cowboys 3rd Super Bowl title and what would become the 1st of 3 titles in 4 years.

January 31, 1999 – Denver Broncos 34, Atlanta Falcons 19 – Pro Player Stadium, Miami, FL - The Denver Broncos were the best team all year and ended it in fashion by beating the upstart Falcons coached by their former coach Dan Reeves. John Elway earned MVP honors in what would be his last game, going 18-29 for 336 yards and 1 TD. The Falcons were no match for the dominant Broncos. Denver won it’s 2nd Super Bowl title in back-to-back years.

I can remember all 3 of those Super Bowls. Super Bowl XXII is the earliest memory I have for both my beloved Redskins and the Super Bowl. Super Bowl XXVII was a beautiful Super Bowl in the Rose Bowl (seriously NFL, why don’t you bring it back to the Rose Bowl?) but a horrid game and outcome (I guess Cowboy fans loved this one). Super Bowl XXXIII was a final cap on an all-time great career for the legend John Elway. I was rooting for the “Dirty Birds” Falcons but am glad Elway got another ring and an MVP to add to his legacy. He, in my opinion, is the 2nd greatest quarterback I have ever seen with my two eyes (Joe Montana being 1st).

The quote I put up on Super Bowl XXII’s blurb was from Jeff Kaye narrating Super Sunday: A History of the Super Bowl, which I highly recommend. You can check out the full “tape” on YouTube by clicking here. It is seperated into 5 parts and covers Super Bowl I to Super Bowl XXII. The quote I used is obviously in Super Bowl XXII on Part 5. All football fans should watch that video. I remember watching it over and over as a kid and still love it.

Chime in about what you remember of these Super Bowls and who you were rooting for, etc. Tomorrow we will tackle 2 really good Super Bowls.

 
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Posted by on January 31, 2012 in Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Dan Reeves, Denver Broncos, Don Beebe, Doug Williams, Joe Montana, John Elway, Leon Lett, NFL, Super Bowl, Super Bowl XXII, Super Bowl XXVII, Super Bowl XXXIII, Super Sunday: A History of the Super Bowl, Timmy Smith, Troy Aikman, Washington Redskins

 

Super Bowl Moments in Time

30 Jan


The Super Bowl-hype ban is officially over. I was going to do some of this last week but decided not to. I want to take a look at some Super Bowls on the anniversary of their playing. Next year I will add all teams’ Super Bowls into this but we still have some time to go over many great games of the past. So, over this next week each day we will look at all of the Super Bowls that happened on the day that they happened. I will also add in info on this year’s Super Bowl and other sports news as it breaks. So, for that 1 guy who enjoys the Pro Bowl, the AFC won yesterday 59-41. For the rest of us, let’s get on with the important stuff.

January 30, 1983 – Washington Redskins 27, Miami Dolphins 17 – Rose Bowl, Pasedena, CA – This was a rematch of Super Bowl VII back in 1972. Unlike that one, this Super Bowl was a great looking one. John Riggins earned Super Bowl MVP honors as he both carried the ball the most times in Super Bowl History(38) and for the most rushing yards(166). Behind The Hogs, the Redskins rushed for the most yards in Super Bowl history (276) as the Skins carved up the “Killer Bees” defense in route to their first Super Bowl title and first NFL title since 1942.

January 30, 1994 – Dallas Cowboys 30, Buffalo Bills 13 – Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA - A rematch of the previous year’s Super Bowl, Super Bowl XXVIII was not a blow out. Emmitt Smith earned Super Bowl MVP honors with 132 yds. on 30 carries and 2 TD’s. The Cowboys won back-to-back Super Bowls and their 4th Super Bowl title. Meanwhile, this marked the end of the Bills’ dominance of the AFC as they lost their 4th straight Super Bowl.

January 30, 2000 – St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16 – Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA - This game showed us that football is truly a game of inches. The game was pretty boring until midway through the 4th
quarter as the Titans made a furious comeback, only to come up 1 yard short. Kurt Warner earned MVP honors as he threw for a Super Bowl record 414 yards passing, going 24-46 with 2 TD’s. His 46 passing attempts without an INT is a Super Bowl record. The Rams won their 1st Super Bowl and their 1st NFL title since 1951when they were in LA.

In other NFL news, the Carolina Panthers have decided to tweak their logo and re-do their word mark for the 2012 season. I actually think the logo looks better now, the word mark? Eh. If you’d like to see a small video clip of the old and new logos/word marks check it out here.

 
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Posted by on January 30, 2012 in Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Emmitt Smith, John Riggins, Kurt Warner, Miami Dolphins, NFL, St. Louis Rams, Super Bowl, Super Bowl XVII, Super Bowl XXVIII, Super Bowl XXXIV, Tennessee Titans, The Hogs, Washington Redskins

 

The Power of Hate

28 Jan

hate

verb

transitive verb

1: to feel extreme enmity toward <hates his country’s enemies>

2: to have a strong aversion to : find very distasteful <hated to have to meet strangers> <hate hypocrisy>

Hate is a powerful word. Hate is a powerful emotion. You can move and motivate people on the emotion of hate. Break down the teams you love and root for in each sport. Now look at the teams you loathe, the teams you love to see fail. Was there a single person in all of God’s green earth, outside of New England, that wanted the Patriots to win Super Bowl XLII in 2007? As a fan of an NFC East team, I will tell you straight up that fans of other teams in the NFC East were moved to pull for the Giants to beat the Patriots that year. Why? Why would fans of rival teams pull for that team they would never root for in other games? Hate. Let’s be honest, anyone outside of the true Northeast absolutely hate Bill Belicheat. A lot of fans hate Tom Brady. Some fans even hated Teddy Bruschi.

People, and more specifically fans, have varied reasons to hate a player, team and/or coach. Just think of the reasons why you hate the teams you do. Think of the reasons why you hate certain players. Well, I want to focus in on one player that has gotten a lot of hate this year. Ok, so I already ruined the suspense with that picture above. So, without further adieu…….[building suspense]……let’s talk about Queen King James, a.k.a. LaBron James.

I’ve been wanting to talk about this subject for awhile but with the NFL creating daily headlines, I haven’t been able to do so. I was listening to sports radio back when the NBA season was about to ramp up and the hosts were talking about how fans of the NBA have put away their hate of LaBron James and would probably end up rooting for him this year. This got me to think, who are these jokers talking about/for? Everybody I have talked to still want him to lose. I will be honest with you all, I really liked LeBron when he first came into the league. The only negative thing I wanted to see was him fail to live up to Michael Jordan’s star. You see, I am a Chicago Bulls fan and I am a Bulls fan first and foremost because of His Airness. But, unlike many disgraceful fans who jumped off the bandwagon when MJ retired for the 2nd time (I still don’t count his years in a Wizards uniform) I stuck with the Bulls and always will. Now, I do admit that I am nowhere near as big of an NBA fan now as I was growing up. But the Lakers-Celtics “rivalry” of late and Derrick Rose have really gotten me back into the game. At least a little during the season and a lot during the playoffs.

But let’s get back to LeBron. I, just like many fans, started hating him when he rubbed it into the whole city of Cleveland’s faces when he declared on ESPN that he was “taking his talents to South Beach”. And then the guy claimed this was fine because he donated all proceeds to charity. Are you freaking kidding me? So, let me get this straight. If I got my wife, my family, her family and my mistress in the same room and declared I was taking my talents to my mistress but said it was all cool because I was going to be little Sammy’s Big Brother, that totally justifies my decision?!?! Look, LeBron had every right to leave Cleveland. I don’t think anybody blames him. But to do it on national tv and then expect everybody to just love him? Who in the name of Ben & Jerry does he think he is? And I just love how there were some former players and sports tv personalities defending this. There is a thing called etiquette. And even if you follow that, you can guarantee that the city you left will hate you. But to just think all of America will just roll with it is pretty absurd.

This brings me to the guys on the radio. My level of “hatred” towards the Queen is just as much today as it was back when he made his stupid decision. In fact, his mocking of Dirk Nowitzki being sick in the Finals last year just pissed me off more. He needs to grow up before he can be considered a true leader. I have to say, until the day he hangs it up, I will be there to cheer for him to lose. I really want him to go down in history as a great player that couldn’t hack it when it mattered…that would rather pass the ball than try to shoot the final shot for the win. Now, I’m not an idiot. I know Miami has a really good team, but it’s “anybody but Miami” for me until he declares his talents are going elsewhere. So am I correct? Am I off point? Let me know where you stand on this and if you did hate him last year, if you still feel the same way…

 
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Posted by on January 28, 2012 in Bill Belichick, Cleveland, Dirk Nowitzki, LeBron James, NBA, NBA Finals, New England Patriots, New York Giants, NFL, Super Bowl, Teddy Bruschi, Tom Brady

 

And in other sports…

24 Jan

I refuse to write about the Super Bowl for 2 straight weeks (which is what the NFL is going for with a bye week in between the Conference Championships and the Big Game). So, for this whole week, unless there is earth-shattering news, this is going to be a Super Bowl free zone. Since the news in the sporting world is pretty thin right now, I’ll be talking about other sports leagues/news. We’ll even discuss the NFL, just nothing about Super Bowl XLVI. That will be held up through at least the end of the week. So, no talking Super Bowl until the end of the week, ok? Ok.

The “breaking news” today was the Naval Academy joining the Big East in 2012. Does anyone see this as a desperate move? Look, I love the Naval Academy, but please, this does not help their automatic qualifier that they are so desperately (and rightfully so) trying to hold onto. If the Big East continues on this path, I can see the BCS yanking the automatic qualifier in the not-so-distant future.

On another front, it looks like Tampa Bay wants to go college. They were, and could still be, talking to Jim Tressel. Recently, they almost hired Chip Kelly of Oregon but he turned it down. Does Tampa know what they are doing? I would say no. Leave a comment about who you feel Tampa will hire as their next coach and let us know whether they should/shouldn’t hire an NFL coach or an NCAA coach.

That’s all for today. I will try to drum up a headline for tomorrow so I can get more traffic.

 
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Posted by on January 24, 2012 in Big East, Chip Kelly, college football, Jim Tressel, Navy, NFL, Super Bowl, Tampa Bay Bucaneers

 
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