Monday, February 8, 2010

Thoughts on the Superbowl and random football notes.

Let me open this blog by saying a heartfelt congratulations to the New Orleans Saints. The city of New Orleans deserves a positive after so much negativity happening to it. With that said, I found the game itself to be rather anti-climactic. I had a feeling going into the game that we would not see the shootout that so many "pundits" predicted. Perhaps my opinion is tainted because I was rooting for the Colts, but I was rooting for the Cardinals the year before and still found that game very entertaining. I thought the Colts looked like they had no heart. They came out and scored the first ten points and looked like they would dominate. But then the Saints came out and played with a bold style with gutsy calls and the Colts played with no enthusiasm. Whether it's Manning's fault or the coaching staff, I don't see why they did three straight run plays at the end of the first half. And nobody can convince me that field position had to do with it. The Colts had driven the length of the field earlier, tying the Super Bowl record for longest scoring drive, but chose to play it safe and it ended up costing them. The Colts had several dropped passes that really cost them.

That being said, the Saints made the best of their opportunities. Yet all I hear is how great Drew Brees was. If not for the Colts' mistake on that pick six, then Brees' game is no better than Manning's. It would amount to nothing but lots of yards with little to show for it. Another thing that irks me is the amount of fools who say that the Colts not playing out all 16 regular season games may have played a factor in it. That is the most idiotic thing I've heard outside of my former place of work. Indianapolis won two playoff games over tough, defensive opponents in the Ravens and Jets. I can't believe that anyone would say that maybe they might have had more momentum if they'd played out their last two or three games. They made the Super Bowl for cryin' out loud. You can make that argument if they lose their first playoff game, but c'mon.

But enough of my rant on the Super Bowl. The Saints won. That's that. Now for a few random thoughts:

- I may be the only person in America who didn't think last night's halftime show with The Who was that bad. No, they don't sound the same as they used to but Townshend is at least 66 years old and Daltrey can't be far behind. Plus it was LIVE. I think too many people have gotten accustomed to lip synced performances because that's pretty much what a lot of live shows sound like. It's not the perfect smooth sound that you get from a studio recording. That's why I've never understood why rappers tour. They sound horrible live.

- I thought many of the commercials this year were funny, such as the Doritos ones and the Snickers one with Betty White and Abe Vigoda, but overall I was underwhelmed with the commercials as a whole. Too many spots for local ads and too many ads where you were just left thinking "umm...ok." I did enjoy the Brett Favre spot where he is still waffling on retirement in 2020. Nice that he can poke fun at himself.

- Following up on the Brett Favre thing, maybe I'm alone but I've gone to the side that I want Favre in the game. I was rooting for him to make it to the Super Bowl even though he played for the Viking and my second favorite team is the Bears (behind the Rams of course). I will admit that I got tired of the constant coverage and ESPN having Rachel Nichols camped out on his lawn, but isn't that really the media's fault instead of him? Doesn't the man have a right to change his mind just like any other man in any other profession? It's not his fault that the sports media wants answers right away. I acknowledge that he brought some of it on himself after the tearfilled pressers, but the media causes their own problems as well when they bombard Favre with questions about retirement the second he steps off the field after a game in which he was one step away from a Super Bowl and in which he possibly cost his team with an INT. We look back on coaches retiring and wonder if it was too soon, ala Dick Vermeil leaving the Rams or Cowher leaving the Steelers. Why is it we expect Favre, an emotional person, to give an answer that quick and then have to stick to it?

- The Rams have the first pick in this April's draft. And now they're going to blow it. There's rumblings in the local media as well as from ESPN's Chris Mortensen that if he's healthy the Rams may use the top pick on Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford. This would be a mistake of epic proportions. First off I don't believe the guy will be a franchise quarterback, but that's just one man's opinion. The facts are that the Rams have one of the worst offensive lines in the league. Our line has cost us two of the best quarterbacks in St. Louis history. You give the Rams a top flight O-line and Kurt Warner never has to leave. You find a solid O-line after his departure and there is nothing wrong with Marc Bulger. But due to injuries caused by a lack of blocking we have lost those QB's. Now, with that same blocking they want to draft a QB who already has a history of shoulder problems? Also Bradford is a shotgun, spread system quarterback. He has no veteran on the roster to mentor him and will have to learn a completely new system and how to consistantly take a snap from under center. Someone made the comment on sports radio that Bradford will sell more jerseys than Suh. Wow, what a reason to draft someone. Suh is a dominant force. Granted he hasn't played against offensive linemen with the same consistant size as in the NFL but he's got the work ethic and motor to be a roadblock for years to come. The Rams have a problem stopping the run. How is this an issue? Bradford is not a top pick even if healthy and the Rams have bigger problems than just quarterback, which can be plugged for a year or two. Draft defense first. Plain and simple.

- Speaking of the draft, it won't happen but it would be sweet if the Rams or Bears drafted Dezmon Briscoe or Kerry Meier. Both teams need receivers and both players are solid.

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