This play might never get old.
How the F did Eli Manning escape three sacks? How the F did David Tyree come down with that ball? How the F did the Patriots not sack Manning and Rodney Harrison allow Tyree to catch that pass? He had good coverage, but his swat at the ball was brutal.
Oh yeah, and how the F did David Tyree come down with that ball?!
In case you missed the Super Bowl last night – and based on the ratings, you didn’t – the broadcast beat the 1996 Super Bowl with 97.5 million viewers.
The game eclipsed the previous Super Bowl record of 94.08 million, set when Dallas defeated Pittsburgh in 1996. The final “M-A-S-H” episode, which drew 106 million viewers in 1983, is the only other show in American broadcast history watched by more people.
Sunday’s game had almost all the ingredients Fox could have hoped for: a tight contest with an exciting finish involving a team that was attempting to make history as the NFL’s first unbeaten team since 1972.
Glad FOX made more money last night.
Now that Eddie Sutton has reached 800 wins will he retire immediately or begin his quest for 900. Since he said he did not want to go back to San Francisco (found out that coaching at the lower levels when talent is scarce is not as easy or fun), where will be his next stop. Coaches with new athletic directors (ad’s that didnt hire the current coach) better start worrying. Every AD is looking to win the press conference and who better than a Hall of Fame coach fresh off his 800th win….
Speaking of openings, I hear South Carolina is interested in former Wintrhop coach and current Wichita State coach Greg Marshall. Also, on the list is Fran McCaffrey from Siena. Both excellent coaches and great teachers.
Disappointment of the week has to be Michigan State losing to Penn State. A Penn State team that got beat by double digits by Iowa should not be able to take down the Spartans. Oh, that’s right, Michigan State lost to Iowa as well. Iowa has inched closer to the top half of the Big Ten with a solid win at home vs. Ohio State. They can solidify their climb with a win over Wisconsin on Wednessday. Considering all of the injuries and changes, that would be a tremendous accomplishment for first year head coach Todd Lichlighter.
Games on tap with a chance for fireworks:
#2 Duke vs. #3 North Carolina— You can always count on a great game when these two ACC titans square off. Coach Roy Williams coaching prowess will be tested with the injury to Ty Lawson. That means third stringer Quintin Thomas will get the starting nod. Very unusual for Coach Roy to go into a game with less talent than his opponent. Might be the first time in his head coaching career.
Gonzaga vs. St. Mary’s— The battle for the WCC crown. Gonzaga has beaten St. Mary’s at home and now must go to Moraga. Patrick Mills will need his A game tonght for the Gaels. If Gonzaga wins this one, then look for them to run the table in the league.
Indiana at Illinois— The fireworks will be caused by the visit from freshamn Eric Gordon. As some of you will remember he commited to Illinois first before changing his mind and becoming a Hoosier. I don’t think the Illini coaching staff has forgotten.
As a Cleveland fan, I know exactly what it’s like to suffer heartbreaking losses. Until recently, Boston fans had their share as well.
ESPN’s Bill Simmons is a well-known Boston fan, and he does a great job capturing the agony and bewilderment that one feels after these kinds of losses. Of course, he focuses on Eli’s big play on the last drive, which reminded me of many of John Elway’s heroics against the Browns.
With that said, I never thought the Patriots would lose. I thought they’d be tested, I thought the game would be great … but lose??? You could point out 10 different instances when the Pats blew a chance to make a monster play or put the game away, and you could point out all the different times the Giants caught a break or had a ball bounce their way, but really, everything you need to know about Super Bowl XLII happened on the Miracle Play To Be Named Later — you know, the third down on the do-or-die drive when Eli Manning ripped himself away from the entire Patriots defensive line (THEY HAD HIS JERSEY!!!!!!) and threw a pass that hung in the air forever like one of those sports movie passes, and even though David Tyree and Rodney Harrison had an equal chance of getting it, Tyree jumped a little bit higher, hauled in the football, trapped it against his helmet and somehow held on while Harrison was doing everything but performing a figure-four leg lock on him.
Here’s another great paragraph from his column.
Speaking of Brady, if the Patriots had finished 19-0, I planned to start my column with a scene from the Patriots’ postgame party. Through some mutual friends, I had arranged to hang out with Brady’s crew for what promised to be a laid-back celebration in somebody’s hotel room, probably no more than 15-20 people since Brady’s circle is surprisingly and refreshingly small. Because it was a rare chance to catch Brady in an unguarded moment — and an important moment at that — I spent most of Friday and Saturday thinking about that first paragraph and all the different ways it could start. I kept seeing Brady sitting in a chair with his right ankle encased in ice, quietly sipping a bottle of champagne with a satisfied smile on his face, and Gisele would be there, and everyone would be recapping 19-0 and remembering the incredible season. I liked the thought of a famous person celebrating a historic night in such a totally normal and relatable way. And that’s what it will remain. A thought and only a thought. It never happened.
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Falcons will not be able to recoup the $20 million paid in roster bonuses to jailed quarterback Michael Vick.
A special master ruled in October that the Falcons were entitled to recover the bonuses. The Falcons argued that Vick used proceeds from a contract he signed in 2004 to finance his illicit activities.
But U.S. District Judge David Doty of Minneapolis ruled that the Falcons’ recovering the bonus money would violate the NFL collective bargaining agreement. The agreement does not allow signing bonuses to be forfeited for years a player has already performed.
The Falcons probably weren’t going to get back all of the $20 million anyway, but many figured they would have at least recovered three or four million. So the football gods look down on the Atlanta Falcons again and laugh. Not only do they still need a quarterback (I say that with all due respect to Chris Redman, Joey Harrington and Byron Leftwich, of course), but also won’t receive any cap relief in order to maybe pursue one.
At least Vick can use some of the $20 million to pay back Wachovia Bank for the $1.08 million he borrowed to open up a wine and spirits restaurant.
Update: Check that, Vick is now on the hook for $3.75 million.
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