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| The Thrilla in Jacksonvilla By Mike Dodge Here we are, days before the Super Bowl. The stage is set, the teams have arrived, and the trash talking has begun. Question to Freddie Mitchell; WHAT WERE YOU THINKING calling out Rodney Harrison. Talk about poking a sleeping grizzly bear with a stick. It�s bad enough you don�t know the names of the New England secondary (or the correct numbers), but you call out one of the most vicious hitters in the league. The last thing the Eagles organization wanted, Freddie Mitchell provided�added motivation for the Champs. Freddie, how many receptions did you have this year? If 22 total receptions gives you the confidence and the right to talk trash�have at it buddy. Just do your family a favor, and make sure your life insurance premiums are up to date. It is safe to say that the two biggest names in Super Bowl XXXIX have shown the highest degree of class�Tom Brady and Donovan McNabb. You will not see these two field generals get caught-up in the �war of words�. Donovan may take the occasional pop at Rush Limbaugh, but that would be understandable. If you have watched ESPN, or opened a newspaper of late, the coined phrase of the past week or so has been �Dynasty or Destiny�. Personally, I am rather fond of the catch phrase�but wasn�t it used just a few years ago. During the weeks leading up to Super Bowl XXXVI, the Rams vs. Patriots drew the same headlines. It must have been different times, because the media was coining the �Dynasty� term for a team that was trying to win its second Super Bowl in 3 years. The Pats have already done so, but in order for them to be crowned with �Dynasty� status, they must beat the Eagles. Figure that one out for me. Arguably, the biggest story surrounds T.O. and the big question (To play or not to play). From what I heard, T.O. traveled to Israel, climbed Mount Sinai, and just as Moses did, had a �sit down� with the Big Guy. After his biblical pilgrimage, T.O. returned miraculously healed spiritually. Also worth mentioning, T.O. takes credit for authoring the 11th commandment �Thou shall play injured�. Although the Lord is on his side, it probably won�t hurt to keep a cart on the sidelines�just in case Restless weekend before the Super Bowl The weekend before the Super Bowl is a grim reminder of what�s to come�NO NFL FOR 6 MONTHS! I tried watching arena football, but c�mon, what the hell is that all about? I ended up driving to Stop & Shop and buying the DVD �21�, The Story Behind the NFL�s Longest Winning Streak. For $24.99, I took care of my football fix for four solid hours. For the Patriot fan, it is a must have. Did you ever notice MLB doesn�t hold a candle to NFL Films? Slow motion just doesn�t do it for baseball like it does for football. My wife actually can sit and watch any NFL films release. I love baseball, but taking an already extremely slow game and slowing it down can be excruciatingly painful? Then again, there is always ESPN If anybody watched ESPN Classic last Sunday, they spent the entire day recapping each Super Bowl. The games that really stood out were the Super Bowls of the 90s. I remember all the hype and articles I read the weeks before the big event. I could have saved a lot of time and just looked at who Vegas picked, because in almost every occasion�they were right. Even down to the spread. In 1997, when a 14 point line was released after the NFC/AFC Championship games, the Pats were a HUGE underdog. I couldn�t believe it. I wanted to bet the house, but of course the wife put an end to that nonsense. Needless to say, the Packers�I mean Desmond Howard ran all over the Pats, and thanks to my wife, we were not homeless after the game. Moral of the story, Vegas is correct picking the winner more often than not...the spread is a different story. Rust forming in the �Steele City� The love �honeymoon� is officially over between Bill Coward�I mean Cowher (what else do you call a guy that kicks a FG instead of going for a TD on the Patriot 2 yard line) and rookie phenom Ben Roethlisberger. Ben came out following a humiliating loss to the Champs and said �I was playing with broken toes�, Cowher stated that was a false statement. Now what the heck is going on? I was under the impression it was his thumb! Needless to say, something just aint right in Steelerville. I was under the impression the Colts were the only team in the NFL that blamed imaginary things for a playoff loss. Then there were the streaming tears of Hines Ward. Quick, change that baby and give him a bottle. The over display of emotion was embarrassing. I had one reader tell me �Hines Ward is a gamer; he leaves everything on the field. He gives everything he has to the game, and that�s why he was so emotional after a tough loss�. Tough loss? They got it handed to them from the get go. It was never close, they weren�t beaten by a last second field goal, give me a break. I would argue that 99.9 percent of players in the NFL �leave it all on the field�. I can only think of one player that doesn�t take the NFL or the game seriously�Randy Moss. Crying for 15 minutes during locker room post game interviews was simply laughable. Jack Lambert and �Mean� Joe would have stuffed Ward in a locker, in their day. Borderline Pension Collectors The big question in Steelerville is �Will the Bus retire�. After watching him mope on the bench during the AFC Championship game (where he spent much of the second half), I don�t see much of a reason to return. The wheels on the Bus go round and round�but fail to rotate against a formidable defensive line. Have no fear Jerome, the NFL Network is always looking for former NFL players�especially those with borderline HOF careers. Brett Favre on the other hand�PLEASE RETIRE! It�s over, you�re not getting any younger, and Canton is calling. Don�t be like Marino and keep pushing the envelope with your health and sanity. Marino�s motivation was to win �A� ring�you have one, now please move on. I will be the first to admit, you are the best at playing under emotional and physical adversity, but do the Cheese factory a favor and make room for a �future QB�. The NFC is at its weakest; if Favre can�t make it to the Super Bowl now, then when? Steve McNair? Now that is a different story. All this talk of maybe retiring is hog-wash. I�m here to tell you, frustration and injuries can definitely cloud a man�s judgment, but have no fear, this is all a smoke screen�he will be back. McNair is living the dream. How many players do you know get to chill on the sidelines during practice an entire year? How about 2 entire seasons? I believe their may be some resentment in the locker room, but McNair is bigger then that. Here is a little advice Steve; if you don�t want to get hurt�throw the damn ball. Sitting in the pocket too long, or thinking you are still a great scrambler is going to get you killed. The draft is coming up, be sure to let management know that you want 2 faster linemen and a couple more targets to throw to. Emmitt Smith...two years too late. Going out a Red Bird just ain't cool. Until next week folks, enjoy the game! Pictures provided by NFL.com |
| By order of the "Big man upstairs; there better be a larger offering in the collection plate this Sunday. |
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| "Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cry"...Just like my mom told me. |
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| Just how I want to hate him...I mean "remember" him. |
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| Just another Super Bowl Q&A session with the "Derek Jeter" of the NFL. |
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