And just like that, another NFL season has come to a close. The day after the Super Bowl is generally the worst day of the year, in my humble opinion, as it's the exclamation point on the fact that football season is, indeed, finished. Three months until the draft, seven months until training camp, and a good eight months until professional football resumes. Months reserved for baseball, basketball, excruciating heat, and general suckiness. The clock starts now on the '09 football season.
That said, the '08 season got a fitting sendoff. Wow, what a game. My predicted final score was 27-14 Steelers, and up til the half it looked good, before Arizona showed signs of life and made it a battle only to finish 4pts shy with a 27-23 final, giving the Pittsburgh Steelers the NFL record with six Superbowl wins. Penalties were the story of the day, as the Arizona Cardinals handed the Steelers over 100yds of free yardage through penalties, most of them poorly timed. I firmly believe that without them the Arizona Cardinals are Super Bowl winners (and yes, that sounds weird).
At the half it looked like a blowout, but you can't give Kurt Warner and the Cards coaching staff enough credit for making a game of it. As much as I hate the era of parity in the NFL, I can't argue with the past couple Super Bowls. And as much as I'm a Cowboys fan, I can't help but feel that all is right with the world when the Steelers won the game. I will take tradition any day when it comes to football. That said, some quick hit thoughts;
-Santonio Holmes may be a knucklehead, but that winning catch was amazing. Viewed live it appears there's no way in hell he makes it, and yet he did. And with Hines Ward-a man I respect immensely-starting to show his age, the stage is set for Holmes.
-Likewise, Larry fitzgerald is a haus. I know thats not breaking news, but his burst after that TD catch was amazing. And props to Warner for seeing the gap in the zone to set it all up.
-If I'm Kurt Warner, I'm retiring today. I know he lost, but if he retires now I think he's a surefire Hall of Famer, and if he spends a couple years languishing he might not be. Let's be honest, these are still the Cards-and I'd be shocked if they even made the playoffs next year. In fact, put me down for it now, Arizona will not make the playoffs next year.
-There was an illegal block in the back on the Harrison 100yd pick-six to Tim Hightower, and props to Ian for pointing that out. I watched it a half dozen times on Tivo, and theres no doubt it was an illegal block on the back. Just sayin'.
-Edgerrin James has ridden this playoff run to a nice little payday. And I expect him to be worthless next year.
-After the game Ben Hamburglar credited his OL, and while that's expected, his escapability is far more important than his shoddy blocking. That man is Staubach-like in his ability to keep a play alive.
0 comments:
Post a Comment