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//  Friday, March 12, 2010

Thoughts On the End of the NFL Season

Sunday, February 7, 2010
Posted by James Oldham

I wanted to write an article previewing the Super Bowl alone, but I realized I had a few other things to talk about. This article will seem similar in tone to my previous "My Two Cents" article. So, let's jump right in...

  • Before all the off season talk about Favre reaches the point that the sheer mention of his name is enough to drive a man insane, I'm going to tell Favre what he should do. Play the game Brett. Look, your still really, really good. You had arguably your best season at the quarterback position, and set a career high in passer rating. You were efficient, surgical, and deadly. You made Sidney Rice a super stud. Please have a heart and save us from having to listen to your name all summer long. There shouldn't even be a debate about this. Don't even mouth the word retirement. Tell Deanna that you still love the game, and that your body is in fact a terminator disguised as a human. Tell Brad Childress your going to play, but your skipping the off season. Just do it today. Please?
  • Kurt Warner, thank you. You know, when Warner started lighting up defenses with the Rams, I despised him. I thought Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt, and Issac Bruce were the really talented guys on that offense. Warner was just a grocery bagger who burst onto the scene. I'm not big on the "this scrub from out of nowhere is amazing" angle. This is proven by the fact that I also hate Tony Romo, and I wish that the Tommy Maddox Steelers era would be forgotten Area 51 style. After Kurt Warner torched the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV, I hated him even more. Then things got a little depressing in St. Louis. Warner got beat by the Pats in his next Super Bowl appearance. Soon after he was traded to the Giants, but mediocre passing numbers and constant fumbles led to Eli Manning unseating him for the starting position. I started to feel bad for Warner. Then he joined the Cardinals. Using the best receiving tandem in football (when Boldin's healthy), Warner hit his stride again. He owns the three highest passing totals in Super Bowl History. He took two perennially abysmal franchises to the top of the mountain. He was a nightmare against blitzes, reading the defense and shredding you down field. At some point, I gained respect for the man. When he had receivers to throw to, he was lights out. He's a humble guy, family man, and a true competitor. He bowed out of the game with dignity and class, and Warner will stay retired. Thank you Kurt Warner, it's been a pleasure watching you preform.
  • Oh, and Warner will be a hall of famer. No doubt about it.
  • How sad is the Pro Bowl? I turned on the game as David Garrard was breaking the huddle, and that was enough for me to change the channel. If David Garrard is playing in the Pro Bowl, then the selection process is broken. The players have no incentive to play, save for the measly pay check. They even took away the free Hawaii vacation aspect, planting the game in Miami. Who cares if it's on the week before, or the week after the Super Bowl? Does anyone pay attention anymore? When your being considered for the MLB or NBA hall of fame, your all-star appearances are strongly considered. In the NFL? No one cares, and that's too bad. I don't even know how to fix it, I think it's beyond repair. 
  • I miss the old L.T. I think he could be a 3rd down back on some team, and probably be one of the best in the league in that role. He'd be fresh, plus he could catch and run out of the backfield. I don't know if he'd be willing to come of the bench, but if he did, look out.

Super Bowl XLIV: The Indianapolis Colts vs. The New Orleans Saints

I don't need to analyze this game they way I analyzed the AFC and NFC title games. You're already aware that Manning and Brees are the key players. You already know that Garcon and Bush are the x-factors, and that anyone can be a hero come Sunday. But you might not know why Freeney's health is so important. Of course Freeney rushes the passer, but he also ensures that an extra blocker has to stay in on the line to contain him. This leaves one less player the Saints can send down field. Without him, Brees gets another target. You also might not have known that the Colts destroyed the Cardinals in week 3 this season, 31-10. Arizona, like New Orleans, featured a high octane passing attack. The Colts wiped the floor with them.

People forget that, 13 weeks into the season, this was the match-up we were all dreaming about. Two 13-0 teams that looked unstoppable, a potential double undefeated Super Bowl! Manning vs. Brees, the mastermind against the gunslinger. This was what we all wanted. So what happened? The Colt gave up two games, the Saints looked dreadful to end the season, and the Chargers and Vikings sucked everyone in. Now all of a sudden, we get our dream match up, and everyone is declaring a Colts victory? So why is that?

Perhaps it's because Peyton Manning is the best quarterback on the planet right now. It could be because the Colts haven't lost a game all year in which Peyton played all the way through. Maybe it's because it only takes Manning one quarter to learn how your defense is set up. The next three quarters are then owned by Manning, who surgically slices up your defense at every angle. He's too smart, too well prepared, and too dangerous. The Colts actually seemed like they were slipping against the Jets two weeks ago. The Jets had all the momentum, and a 16-7 lead. Then Manning ripped their hearts out by unleashing two inhuman passes, and proceeded to eat them alive for the rest of the game. He's just too good.

And that's why I can't bet against him. I would love to see New Orleans win. I like Drew Brees and Reggie Bush, and I want New Orleans residents to be celebrating in the French Quarter on Sunday night. After all, they deserve something this big. The Saints are playing this game with all the motivation you could ask for, the "nobody believes in us" factor adding to the suspense. But in the end, Manning will win the game of chess, and the Colts will win another Super Bowl.

Final Score: Colts 27, Saints 24

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