Home
Monday Morning QB Power Rankings
Weekly Picks
Special Reports

Post Super Bowl time is the worst. This is the longest stretch we have to wait for another meaningful NFL game. I’m counting the days until my life has meaning again, and Super Bore XL is out of my memory. Huge blow out games are better than what we were treated to in this game. At least then you get to see a team consistently making good plays. Most people and the NFL especially think of the Super Bowl as some sort of sacred cow (no offence India) and won’t tell you the truth about this game. This very simple truth is that Super Bowl XL was and XL size Super Bore. They also won’t tell you that the refs cost the Seahawks the game, and that this game was not won by the Steelers, but rather lost by the Seahawks (yes, there is a HUGE difference, like someone walking down the street and then out of the blue being handed a million dollars and someone working hard in a career, taking chances and making that money with hard work and intelligence). The Super Bowl was very indicative of the NFL playoffs with the refs having a lot to say with the outcome of the games. Also, the game was quite boring, just like the entire playoffs have been this post-season. If you weren’t an ardent fan of either the Steelers (of which there are many) or the Seahawks, then this game must have really sucked for you. Super Bore XL will go down in history as, well… nothing, since no one will remember it in a week. The game was decided by the refs and by the only 3 plays the Steelers made all game.

Here’s a little recap of the calls the refs made. You can argue that the refs were right on some of these, but to say they were right on all of these, that just means you weren’t watching the game because you were too busy fondling your sister instead. Here are the ‘questionable’ (read ‘blown’) calls the refs made that hurt the Seahawks:

1. The Darrel Jackson TD that was called offensive Pass Interference was not PI, no way. Blown call. This cost the Seahawks a TD. At half time, Michael Irvin stated that this was a blown call. OK, so you say he’s a crack addict? Well, Steve Young ALSO stated that it was a blown call. And he’s a Mormon, so I don’t think he’s on crack like Irvin.

2. This is an obscure one that most of you probably missed. I’m talking about Peter Warrick’s big punt return that was called back for holding at the line of scrimmage. This was not holding. This wiped out a huge gain by the Seahawks at a time when they were controlling the game.

3. Then comes the Big Ben TD run. I don’t think he got in the end zone (as was echoed again by many analysts) but I don’t even think this was a big deal. It was too close to call. The really annoying thing here was the sideline ref who came running in with one arm raised ready to spot the ball. Then half way through his run up to the ball, decides to call it a TD. Why the change of heart? This was just weird. This was a big call because it was on 3rd down, it would have forced a possible FG, and if the Steelers went for it, well, the Seahawks had stopped them on 1st, 2nd and 3rd down so they had a good chance of doing it again.

4. Here’s the turning point of the whole game and what defined this game. Hasselbeck’s pass to Jerramy Stevens at the 2yd line (what would most likely lead to a TD or at least a FG but basically ended in a 14 point swing) where holding was called. This was not holding. John Madden pointed this out instantly. Thank you Madden.

5. After the above mentioned referee gaffe, Hasselbeck tosses up an interception, then on the ensuing interception return, Hasselbeck tackles the Steeler DB and gets a personal foul for blocking low. I’m sorry, but this just made no sense at all. 15 yards is a lot no matter what eventually happens on the drive. This was the most bizarre call of the game.

Now let’s look at the ‘questionable’ calls made against the Steelers:

Oh, sorry, there were NONE! Weird. There were barely any penalties against the Steelers at all actually (3 total penalties all game). I don’t even remember one holding call. How can they not get called for holding in a game? That’s bizarre. Especially when the refs are calling phantom holding calls against the Seahawks all game. You’d think they’d catch some phantom Steelers holding calls as well. 

The Seahawks actually moved the ball pretty well all game, it was just these calls and some key drops that stalled them. The Steelers were shut down except on 3 plays. 3 big plays. The 3 plays that got them their only points of the game. The first was the 3rd and a mile that Big Ben just heaved in the air with a prayer. It was answered. The 2nd was Willie Parker’s 76 yd run, he was otherwise shut down. How do you have a 76 yard run for a TD in a game as a starting RB and NOT crack 100 yards rushing on the day? The last big play was nicely executed and took advantage of backup Kelly Herndon while Andre Dyson was out with an injury. This was Randal El’s pass to Hines Ward. These three plays all ended up getting the 3 TD’s the Steelers managed to score all game. They had no more points or even attempts at getting points with FG tries. Other than these plays, the Steelers did nothing. Big Ben was horrendous. The pressure of the big game got to him, that was very obvious. Yet, lucky for him, he’s now the youngest QB to win a Super Bowl, even though the Steelers won despite him. This is why the ‘winning games’ stat for a QB is over-hyped. Teams win games (or are given wins by other teams/refs as in this case), not individuals even at the most important position in football.

I’m happy that Jerome Bettis and Bill Cowher got their Super Bowls, but in my eyes it’s a tainted victory that was aided by the officials. In fact, I like the Steelers as a team, with the exception of the dumbest player in the NFL, that being Joey ‘me good no talk’ Porter. It’s sad to see him get a Super Bowl title.

Mail Bag

This is from Curtis:
I think You guys are the sexiest. Mister Kay you have a nice fro.
           
Xoxoxo

Well, thank you Curtis for those kind and awkward words. I’ve been working on my fro for many months now due to escalating hair cut prices in today’s market.

No Huddle

I loved the introduction of all the past Super Bowl MVPs. This was a great idea. The best part was Joe Namath’s suit with the JETS imprinted on the inside that he graciously flashed us with. I want a jacket like that. Pure genius.

Tom Brady doing the coin toss?! Why?! You shouldn’t have a current player flipping the coin, that’s ridiculous. The only, and absolutely only justification of this is that they always will choose the previous Super Bowl MVP (if available) to do the coin toss. I didn’t hear if this is the case though, but had better be. I hope Hines Ward is flipping that coin next year.

I think Janet Jackson is very ugly, right boob and all. If people thought that her half time spectacle a few years ago was offensive, the Rolling Stones were much worse. Seeing these old chicken legged, saggy-armed men flail around on stage was really nauseating.

The whole stupid Joey Porter/Jerramy Stevens dispute was just another example of the media begging for and creating a story for nothing. Well, I shouldn’t say for nothing. It made their work day easier on choosing a topic to write about. Just make something happen, and then you can write about it. Good ol’ fashioned journalism. This had no affect on the game. Stevens sucked with his 3 dropped passes, and Porter sucked with his 3 tackles and got utterly man-handled by Walter Jones all game. I forgot the loud mouth Porter was even on the team in this game up until he horse collar tackled Shaun Alexander on one play.

If you’re a sports commentator/analyst or whatever on tv doing a recap of the game, don’t blatantly show me your bias. Merril Hoge (formerly of the Steelers) was holding a Terrible Towel (formerly and presently a symbol of the Steelers) while recapping the game on ESPN’s Prime Time. Someone should have stepped in and told him to get rid of the towel while being on air.

It basically seemed everyone wanted the Steelers to win this game. Everyone likes Jerome Bettis and Bill Cowher and Hines Ward among others for their personalities, and they wanted them to have a Super Bowl ring so they secretly (and sometimes openly) were rooting for them. It was the Seahawks against the world, and the world won. Of course, the refs were on the world’s side too.

That was quite the disappearing act from Darryl Jackson after the first quarter. He ties a record with 5 catches in the first quarter, then gets none the rest of the game.

The Seahawks are really pro Jesus. Why did He let them down? Why hasn’t He delivered on of the plagues on the refs for screwing the Seahawks? It may be time to switch to Buddhism.

Offensive MVP: Well, in a game where no one stood out on offence, I suppose Hines Ward will get this prestigious accolade in addition to his Super Bowl MVP award. He made catches and got yards and a TD. Nothing really special, but comparatively it was the best performance. His best play was running down and tackling Kelly Herndon after his interception.

Defensive MVP: Well, in a game where no one stood out on defence, I suppose, um, this one’s hard. Well, Kelly Herndon since he had the record for longest interception return in a Super Bowl. He also blew the coverage on Hines Ward’s TD catch from Randel El, but I have to overlook that since no one else stood out on defence in the least.

Special Teams MVP: Well, in a game where no one stood out on special teams, I suppose nothing. No one gets this. But I will mention that Tom Rouen and his constant touchbacks on his punts gets the Special Teams anti-MVP award.

Pet Peeve of the Week: Easy. The actual Super Bowl XL game and the dumbass refs that helped ruined it.

Joe Theismann Award: I think Madden and Al Michaels called a good Super Bowl so no one gets this award.

Top One:
1. Seattle Seahawks – For getting gypped out of a Super Bowl victory because of the refs. No one should doubt who the better team was on Sunday. Winning doesn’t always prove this as we just saw.