Let’s go back one year shall we? Remember the off-season of 2011 Eagles fans? Big free agent signings mixed in with the already present talent, being labeled by new comer QB Vince Young as the “Dream Team”, and plenty of fans prepping themselves for Super Bowl dreams and parades, yes before the first snap of the season.

What that all quickly turned into was a team with lost identity, poor fundamental skills, and a team that could not hold a late lead. What we all got in the end was an 8-8 team that missed the playoffs and was seen as the league’s biggest letdown. Young played some at QB, and he was average at best. Kevin Kolb was gone, DeSean Jackson was threatening to leave and we were all in total denial mode as fans. Who didn’t want to see Andy Reid fired (besides me of course)? How was all of this possible? Sad but true, but in the beauty of sports, one season passes and another comes our way.

So this pre-season the Philadelphia Eagles took a new approach. They signed many of the key players to new deals, made a nice trade to bring in a quality MLB in DeMeco Ryans from Houston, and have come in with a humble attitude. They are working on clearing cap space with a dealing of CB Asante Samuel, which will save them over 9 million dollars, while also working last years trade acquisition CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie to take his place and play his comfortable position. Doing thins smart, and looking hard to fix what seemed to be broken last year, and give the fans of Philly what they want.

So here is Draft Day 2012, a time to add some nice new pieces to the puzzle, and fill the holes that hurt the Eagles in 2011. We all know this team has some needs. This team could use more linebackers, a good safety, some defensive line bulk, and some depth on the offensive line. At the same time they could always use some great talent, perhaps some size at WR, or even a QB of the future? Whatever the case, the Eagles have a chance to gain and have 3 of the first 51 picks to do so. So Eagles fans here are some guys I’d like to see them draft, or at least consider. I welcome all my fellow Philly fans to read and comment as to who you may like, or dislike on this list. Come Thursday, April 26th 2012, we will all see it go down!

First Round Possible picks: 15th pick overall

Mark Barron, Strong Safety, Alabama: 6′ 1″, 213 pounds.

The Eagles have faith in free safety Nate Allen, but need to add an all-around athlete in the back to assist. Barron is a good cover safety who has terrific ball-hawking skills. Barron can cover the run well, and pursues the ball carrier better than any safety in the draft. He can avoid blocks and finds his way into tight spaces. He has good speed and open field ability as well. Barron has big game experience from his days in Alabama which is key for the Eagles as this would be a guy they would put right to work from day 1. The Cowboys pick one spot ahead and are believed to love Barron, so the Eagles may have to move to get him, or if he falls here, in my opinion, is the best possible player for them.

Michael Brockers, Defensive Tackle, LSU: 6′ 6″, 322 pounds.

The Eagles seem to love to add lineman on both sides of the ball via the draft, and if they choose the defense, this beast will serve them well. Brockers is strong and quick for his size and pursues the football with excellent precision. Although he did not have big sack numbers in 2011, he is said to have great push and swim moves to break free from blockers and be a force on either the rush or the pass. Brockers has a great passion and plays hard and fierce. For a big guy he gets low and has great leverage which breaks things open. He will need some work to fine tune his skill, but this can be the missing piece of this team’s front 4 for sure. With Mike Patterson still a question mark, this pick becomes essential.

Luke Keuchly, Linebacker, Boston College: 6′ 3″, 242 pounds.

The time has come for this team to true up its linebacking, something that Andy Reid felt in the past to be easy, but the results have never been there. They did make the nice trade to bring in Ryans, and now they can really give it a boost with Keuchly, a tackling machine with excellent pursuit and side to side speed. Luke is a great team player and leader and fierce from the linebacking position. He played more of an inside role in college, but can close in on runners and is decent enough on the pass to play outside in the NFL. He can get stood up by superior offensive lineman, but as a whole, he is a guy that adds fire to a defensive unit. There is some good LBs to be had this year, but this guy could be the best of them. His stock goes up and down, so it is hard to imagine where he will land.

Whitney Mercilus, Linebacker, Illinois: 6′ 4″, 261 pounds.

Yes, by now many Eagles fans are saying “who?” and thinking I have lost my mind, but this guy is a quality athlete, and a pure outside linebacker. Last season he racked up 16 sacks, which is a great stat being as the Eagles love to blitz from all over the field. He plays all out with a high motor and great speed, and has the strength to break through to get to the QB. He is not a great run-stopper, but does cover plenty of ground with long arms and wide body. He explodes at the snap of the ball, although not with sleek technique, but raw force. His arms and body are always moving and he always looks to make a play. This is a guy, who if he pans out, would have Eagles fans leaping out of their seats. He’s an on-field cheerleader and fires up fans and teammates. At 15 he may be a reach, so it remains to be seen if the Eagles will look his way.

Dont’a Hightower, Linebacker, Alabama: 6′ 2″, 265 pounds.

With the Eagles being uncertain of a want for LB or DE, they may want to consider Hightower, who can be both. Unlike Brandon Graham who they drafted a few years ago, this guy has killer instincts and plays ferocious. He can play both the run and the pass and gets after the QB when turned loose. The knock is that his footwork is sloppy, so some wonder if he can handle being an outside linebacker in the NFL. If he can learn to pass cover, he can be a beast of a hitter at LB, and we can sure use that.

Second Round Possible picks: 46th and 51st pick overall

Mike Adams, Tackle, Ohio State: 6′ 7″, 323 pounds.

The loss of Jason Peters this off-season will be tough, and despite making some moves to fill his spots, the Eagles could always use more help up front and this is a great guy to land in the second round. A quality blocker for both the run and the pass, Adams uses long arms and strength to clear out defenders of all sizes. He is an all out blocker who plays it til the whistle on every down. He is tough as any tackle in this draft and a guy who could start every down in a year or 2. He also lead blocks well in the screen pass attack, something the Eagles love to do. His size is huge and he is sleek for it. Not too many knocks on Adams, so you’d have to be happy to land this guy.

Harrison Smith, Safety, Notre Dame: 6′ 2″, 213 pounds.

If the Eagles can’t get, or choose to pass on Mark Barron, then this is the move they have to make in this round. Smith has the fire, leadership and all out motor of a Brian Dawkins, with the power and pop of a Troy Polumalu. He is ferocious, plays all out and can change a game with a powerful pop. He plays both the run and pass very well, and has quality instincts. He is a guy that can be a rally guy for fans and teammates on the field and a good guy off. His only knock is open field tackles, but for the rest he is a total package. A player like this in the second round can be quite a steal, as he may be one of the best overall football players in this draft.

Stephen Hill, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech: 6′ 4″, 215 pounds:

What? A receiver after what we just paid DeSean Jackson, and we still have Jeremy Maclin? In my opinion, absolutely if you can get Hill with one of these picks. Explosive speed, great size and excellent hands, as well as good filed awareness make him the guy the Eagles could use to really open up opposing defenses. He is more of an end zone, big body threat than anyone on the current roster, and is a good morale guy too. I have told anyone that will listen that this guy may be the second best WR in this draft, and a great asset to a team that has skilled players to teach him the ropes. If he is still around, he is a guy I love here.

Dre’ Kirkpatrick, Cornerback, Alabama: 6′ 2″, 186 pounds.

It would be hard to imagine him falling this late, but if he does, Kirkpatrick is a guy ideal for Philly and the defense. He has good size and jumping skill to challenge bigger receivers in the league, and is a crowd friendly, rah-rah guy on the field. He will need to add a tad more bulk in the gym, but can be a force with great arm span, and good coverage skills. Philly will likely trade Asante’ Samuel, and they will have a need for a guy that can cover the slot and crossing patterns, something Kirkpatrick does very well. Also to his credit, he is a quality tackler. He may not be a pressing need, but in the category of best player available he would be that guy with either pick by far.

Peter Konz, Center, Wisconsin: 6′ 5″, 314 pounds.

He is a big, hulking guy that can anchor an offensive line with great instincts and fierce play. He blocks both in the run and the pass really well, and recognizes blitzes very well. Despite his size he has terrific mobility and is very athletic, something they could use in protection of the always moving Michael Vick. He has excellent body frame so he is not bulky and won’t get caught out of place often. His durability has been a concern, but he did manage to start 30 games for a very good Wisconsin squad. Again a position they may not be desperate at, but this is a chance to improve if Konz slips down to 51.

Other picks to be considered:

Zack Brown, Linebacker

Brandon Weeden, Quarterback

David Wilson, Running Back

LaVonte David, Linebacker

Jared Crick, Defensive End

Trumain Johnson, Cornerback

Okay Eagles fans, here is hoping to make a big splash in this draft. Let’s hope that Andy and the brass get us what we need to have a big 2012!

Thoughts? Comments? Feel free to respond here, and thanks as always for reading!

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Donovan McNabb is quickly turning into one of the NFL’s best sound bites. In a matter of just a few months, McNabb has done a fantastic job of tarnishing whatever legacy he had with some of the most absurd comments you will ever read a player say about himself.

Philadelphia Eagles fans have always seen the good and bad of Donovan McNabb. Unfortunately for us, the NFL media painted us as unappreciative, only giving national fans the good, and ignoring the polarizing remarks that McNabb would make to the local media every season. Thanks to Donovan himself, NFL fans all over the nation are now experiencing the Donovan McNabb only Philly fans can truly appreciate.

I have to give credit to the Philadelphia Eagles and Andy Reid. Over the course of McNabb’s tenure with the Eagles, the franchise obviously did a fantastic job of managing McNabb’s public relations. I could only imagine what McNabb would have said if he was not filtered by the club. The more McNabb continues to speak post-Eagles, the more I understand why past teammates have questioned his leadership.

There isn’t a bigger Donovan McNabb anywhere than Donovan McNabb. After asking to be waived by the team when he was notified he was being demoted to the third QB, McNabb proudly claimed that 31 teams would pick him up. Nobody did. McNabb later claimed that the reason the Chicago Bears didn’t go to the Super Bowl was because they never signed him. McNabb also blamed his teammates for his failed career outside of Philadelphia proclaiming that he would play better if he was surrounded by better players. He recently told ESPN that he was the most criticized quarterback in the NFL. I could only imagine what the conversations were like between him and Terrell Owens at the height of their offensive greatness.

The NFL media know an idiot when they see one and they have been hot to give McNabb air time in recent months. Recently, Fox Sports’ Barfly series cashed in on the sound byte mogul and talked to McNabb about whether or not he was an NFL Hall of Fame quarterback. I’ll let you guess what his answer was.

McNabb the ever humble NFL quarterback responded with, “absolutely!” McNabb rationalized this by saying that the NFL Hall of Fame is a numbers game and he has great numbers. McNabb then saw fit to take shots at two current NFL Hall of Fame QBs to make his point. According to McNabb, he had a better career than Jim Kelly and Troy Aikman.

Come again?

Yep, McNabb used Aikman and Kelly as comparisons and said he was more qualified to get into the Hall of Fame than them. Imagine the ego of this guy telling Rich Eisen and Mark Kriegel with certainty that he had a better career than one QB who led his team to three Super Bowl games and one QB who WON three Super Bowls, under two different coaches! I always viewed Aikman as the enemy in his prime but I’ll be the first to tell you that the man was clutch. If winning three Super Bowls doesn’t make you one of the best of all-time, I don’t know what does.

Oh yeah, five NFC championship games! It gets better.

McNabb continued by telling Eisen and Kriegel that leading his team to five NFC title games makes him not only a Hall of Fame QB, but better than Aikman and Kelly’s six Super Bowl games. Because according to McNabb, “the NFC championship game is the real big game.” If I didn’t see it with my own eyes I wouldn’t have believed it. According to old #5, getting to the NFC title game is a bigger accomplishment than playing in the Super Bowl. Mind you he went 1-4 in those NFC title games.

McNabb’s mindless ramblings have quickly turned him from one of the most respected quarterbacks among his peers into an obnoxious, egomaniac. As an Eagles fan I was a McNabb fan for many years. I tried to support him and back him as Philly’s QB. However, once he started pointing fingers, making excuses, and throwing other players under the bus, my opinion of him quickly changed.

My hunch is that so has yours.

Check out the entire interview here – http://msn.foxsports.com/video?videoid=b57c97a9-da4c-40d6-8f1a-c1fda42d5e01&src=v5:share:permalink:

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Wow! That is all I can say after the last week plus in the NFL. The moves, shake-ups, suspensions, trades, and non-trades are making for one of the craziest off-seasons in quite some time. If you don’t lock yourself onto ESPN or NFL Network every second of the day you are sure to miss a lot.

As you all know, all these moves will somehow affect Fantasy Football drafts, good or bad, and you will have to start now to be able to get a grip on it. I’m here to try and catch you up on who is where and what impact it will have come time for the new season to begin. I have for you the NFL Fantasy Stock Market where I will break down new faces in their new places and if it means they will rise or fall.

Get your notebooks ready class as we have a lot to cover here!

Peyton Manning, QB, to the Broncos: It is being called the biggest free agent signing in NFL history, as Manning, one of the best QBs of all time has moved on to the Broncos. We still need to see how well he can play after recovering from neck surgery and missing the entire season last year. Manning is always a good bet when healthy. He spreads the ball around and is always cool in the pocket. Now he needs to get some more weapons, perhaps former Colt TE Dallas Clark? Either way as long as he is in the NFL, Manning is a guy you have to go to.

Stock: Rising

Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, WRs, Broncos: Both are young and talented and both did pretty good, despite what many said about Tim Tebow’s passing skill, or lack of. Both have showed the ability to get scores deep and each possesses nice hands. The key will be for them to learn the timing of Manning, and be able to work within his perfectionist style. There is little doubt that if Manning comes in healthy that these guys go from 14th or 15th rounders up to 7th or 8th at the latest. Of course seeing some practice and pre-season action will help greatly.

Stock: Rising

Tim Tebow, QB, Jets: Traded to the Jets, only to have that trade catch a snag, “Tebow-mania” has had quite a fall out from last season. We all know he has the heart and soul of a true competitor, and can run like any back in the league. However Tebow wants to be a QB, and there just does not seem to be any team ready to make him the starter. He may have to find himself as a gadget player and will have to wait for a possible injury to get a full-time gig under Center again. Until we know where he lands, this is really tough to tell.

Stock: Plummeting

Drew Brees, QB, Saints: How can you go wrong with a guy with numbers like Brees? Well I’ll tell you. Last season when head coach Sean Payton broke his leg and was forced to coach from the booth, the offense wasn’t quite the same, and Brees admitted it affected him. So now Brees will have to go all year without his coach after he was served a 1 year suspension by the NFL for his part in the Bounty Case. He also lost Guard Carl Nicks and WR Robert Meacham this off-season, and has a little thing like a Franchise Tag hanging over his head. It seems like Drew is having a bad off-season, so I urge you to beware.

Stock: Falling

Brandon Lloyd, WR, Patriots: You want a potential fantasy jackpot? Suddenly you have to love Brandon Lloyd, a WR with great speed, excellent hands and is ready to be the leader of a very good crop of TE’s and WR’s. Lloyd has spent his pro years on some very poor teams, but has always managed to deliver highlight reel catches and big numbers. He is also reuniting with Josh McDaniels who is now the offensive coordinator for the Pats and was his head coach in Denver when Lloyd posted 77 catches for over 1,100 yards. Oh and did I mention a QB named Tom Brady?

Stock: Rising

BenJarvis Green-Ellis, RB, Bengals: A new look for both Green-Ellis and the Bengals here, but this one has me concerned. Bernard Scott is still here waiting for his chance to be the lead back, and Green-Ellis lacked big numbers last year. Cedric Benson did decent in this system last year, but the Bengals with QB Andy Dalton have become a passing team again. Not a great sign for Green-Ellis who is not known for his hands and skills in the passing game. This is one that we will have to see to judge, but I won’t be too excited yet.

Stock: Slipping

Vincent Jackson, WR, Buccaneers: Sometimes all a player needs is a change of scenery. Jackson in the past has shown that he has the skills to be a great WR, but also has shown the ability to quit when unhappy. In Tampa he has a QB in Josh Freeman who has shown us Jekyll and Hyde so far in his career. If we get the guy from 2010, Jackson will be insane, if not he may be sorry for this move, well despite all the money. Tampa has been busy this off-season let’s see if it pays off.

Stock: Soaring

Mike Tolbert, RB, Panthers: Huh? Did he not just leave San Diego for a chance to see more carries? This makes very little sense to me. Not only do they have DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, but from 1 or 2 yards out they also have Cam Newton at QB who likes to run them in too. He may get some action in the passing game, where they lacked as a team in the backfield, but he is not taking over anyone else’s job yet.

Stock: Falling

Robert Griffin the Third, QB, Rookie: After an excellent combine and a good pro day, it is obvious that RG3 will go early in the draft, and has the skills to be the next Cam Newton. Sure it is hard to trust rookie QBs, but if he goes to the Redskins as expected he will be met with new signings Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan. Griffin is looking like a safe bet, if not this year, in the near future. Keeper league alert!

Stock: Sky-rocketing

Alex Smith, QB, 49ers: Turned out to be a pretty good move for Smith to go back to San Francisco as he got a nice big contract and has improving weapons and a good head coach. Smith showed last season that he can run the ball, and guys like TE Vernon Davis, and WR Michael Crabtree got better as the season rolled along. Now he gets to add a veteran star WR in Randy Moss. Has Smith’s career been revived? We will soon find out.

Stock: Rising

Matt Flynn, QB, Seahawks: Possibly the Seahawks believe in deja vous? Last time they went out and got a former Green Bay back up it turned out to be Matt Hasselbeck who had a decent career in Seattle. Now it is Matt Flynns turn, a guy who has started 2 games, but has thrown 9 TDs and just 2 INTs in those starts. Yes he has the advantage of learning behind a great QB like Aaron Rodgers, and the Seahawks have a good run game working and lots of young quick receivers, but is Flynn worth the deal he signed? Heck will he even beat out Tavaris Jackson? We will need a lot of video here.

Stock: Tip Toes Up

Texans Defense: A few key losses here have some wondering. Mario Williams is now in Buffalo, and DeMeco Ryans has been dealt to the Eagles. Yes, they have some nice pieces, but have lost 2 big leaders.

Stock: Free Falling

Arian Foster, RB, Texans: I ask you all to watch closely here. Houston has watched half of last years steady offensive line go elsewhere in free agency, and QB Matt Schaub is coming off of an injury. Foster has all the tools, but he could suffer from losing key pieces. Also we have to mention how good Ben Tate looked last year when given a chance. Now that Foster has his money, will he remain huge?

Stock: Even

Laurent Robinson, WR, Jaguars: Why would any WR make a move from a pass-happy offense like Dallas to go to a place like Jacksonville where WRs career go to die? Well money and a chance to be a number 1 for sure. Robinson after traveling around the league and never really finding a home, had a nice season last year after stepping in for an injured Miles Austin. He may have used that to land a nice pay day, but I’m not too sure that he is the guy the Jags think he is. Also QB Blaine Gabbard has a lot to learn about playing QB in the NFL. This is a head-scratcher.

Stock: Slipping

Peyton Hillis, RB, Chiefs: Another surprising spot for a free agent to land. Sure we need to see how Jamaal Charles‘ knee will be this season, but Hillis needs to find his game again after struggling with injuries in 2011. He is still a big, bruising back, but K.C. loves to spread the ball around and he may find himself unhappy all over again.

Stock: Slipping

Donald Brown, RB, Colts: Joseph Addai and Peyton Manning are gone and so in comes a rookie QB, so is this Browns chance to be the leader? They did bring in Delonne Carter last year who showed flashes, but Brown picked it up late in the season, and might be quick enough and good enough in the passing game to have a nice season. If the Colts stay still at RB in the draft, you may have to consider Brown in the middle rounds.

Stock: Climbing

Trent Richardson, RB, Rookie: We don’t know for certain where he is going to end up, but if he does end up in Cleveland with the Browns you have to like his chances of seeing loads of playing time. The Browns rid themselves of Peyton Hillis so are looking for a new lead back. If they land Richardson, we can be looking at a rookie of the year candidate.

Stock: Rising

Justin Blackmon, WR, Rookie: Once again his landing spot is not known, but a good chance says he ends up in St. Louis, and if that is the case it will be huge for him. Young QB Sam Bradford needs a good target, and many believe Blackmon will be the best rookie WR since Calvin Johnson. He is big and strong and plenty fast with good hands and work ethic. If he does not go to the Rams and ends up with the Browns you may have to think twice.

Stock: Rising

Robert Meacham, WR, Chargers: Philip Rivers is a QB that loves tall, quick WRs and Meacham comes in here with a chance to steal the number 1 spot. Over the last few years this former first-round pick was lost in the shuffle in New Orleans, but here he gets his chance to get more looks and I think he can capitalize. Some out there have little faith in Meacham and believe he has been around long enough to develop bad habits, but I say he is worth a mid-round pick to see what he has.

Stock: Even

DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles: He got his big contract and his team got that disaster of a season out of the way. The Eagles still have a good core, and Jackson can go back to try and be that deep threat he has become famous for. The hype of “Dream Team” is well behind them, role players are being worked in rather than superstars, and many of the team’s top assets have been locked in long term. As long as QB Michael Vick can stay healthy, Jackson should be back, and worthy of our trust.

Stock: Rising

Brandon Marshall, WR, Bears: This could be the best move of the off-season, as long as Marshall faces no suspension time. When he was with Jay Cutler the last time in Denver, he was a constant 100 catch, 1,000 yard and double-digit TD guy, so it should come easy for these 2 being together again. Marshall truly is gifted, but this is his third team in his career, so the time is now for him to focus and succeed.

Stock: ( barring a suspension ) Booming!

David Garrard, QB, Dolphins: Yikes! I for one have always liked Garrard. I think he plays smart, with fire and has shown he can be a winner. However, Miami has seen many run out of here, traded Brandon Marshall, could not land Peyton Manning, and have very little in the pass game. Garrard missed all of last season, and his reward is a team in trouble. He is not a guy that gets drafted that’s for sure, but even as far as a free agent fantasy guy, we would have to see a tremendous turn around.

Stock: Bottomless Pit

Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts: All he needed to do was wait it out and he could have been on his way to Denver. Instead Wayne dropped his name on a contract back in Indy, and now will try to fit in with a new rookie QB. Wayne over the years has been one of the very few WR who could be a possesions guy, 3rd down guy, and deep threat, but now it will be hard to know what he can do. He has the skill for sure, but he is aged, and will have a whole new system to learn. Could it be a long year for Reggie?

Stock: Falling

So here are some players to keep an eye on, and we still have plenty more free agents to sign up and make a difference. Next I will take a look at some of the top draft prospects at the skill positions. Who do you want for your team? Comments here are always appreciated!

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Peyton Manning is about to become one of the most coveted free agents in NFL history. The Indianapolis Colt looks like he will be available to 32 teams this season. So like most of my fellow bloggers, I decided to take a stab at the most possible destinations for Manning.

One thing that I think is lost on everyone in this Peyton Manning fantasy G.M. talk is Peyton Manning. Peyton and the Colts will part ways officially today. Manning will then become a free agent. In other words, he has just as much say as in who he will sign with as the teams that seek his services. That is huge!

The reason I point this out is because let’s face it, a lot of teams could use Peyton Manning. However, with so many options, he can be as picky as he wants to be. So why would Manning want to go to an organization with instability, a lack of draft picks, and little talent on offense? He wouldn’t, which is why I think these rumors about Peyton to the New York Jets are ridiculous. Between playing in New York, playing for a team with a bad locker room, and playing for a head coach who as big of a talker as Rex Ryan (see Manning’s past coaches) is, there is no way Peyton would sign with the Jets.

So what I wanted to do is take a look at ten teams, five from each conference, that not only have a need for Peyton, but would be equally desirable for Manning. It is my prediction that if Manning becomes a free agent, one of these teams will snatch him up. So let’s get out of this Peyton to the Jets fantasy and start looking at some real situations that could blow some minds come free agency time.

The AFC Peyton Bowl Contenders

Baltimore Ravens - How ironic would it be to see the former Colt play for the team in Baltimore? It would actually be quite fitting in a historic sense. But the reality is that the Ravens are the leading contender in my opinion to land Peyton. Joe Flacco isn’t bad, but he is nowhere close to Manning’s level. This is a team that has been incredibly close in recent years to reaching the Super Bowl, yet a play or two away from actually returning to the big dance. Peyton would be that difference maker. Plus, the contract situation for the Ravens couldn’t be better with Flacco coming up on the last year of his contract. The Ravens could keep Flacco and allow Peyton time to recover or trade him for picks. The organization is stable, the weapons are there on offense and for a team as close as the Ravens have been, the gamble makes perfect sense.

Denver Broncos - Throw this team in as a major contender while you are at it. Tim Tebow is fun, but he is no Peyton Manning. This is a team run by one of the greatest QBs of all-time, John Elway. How badly do you think Elway would want to see Peyton Manning as a Bronco? I think pretty badly. The stability is there, he’d have a great offensive line, and he’d have an exciting wide receiving corps to boot. I can’t remember the last time the Broncos spent big money on a free agent, but Peyton Manning is a different animal altogether.

Miami Dolphins - The Dolphins certainly haven’t had any lucky drafting a franchise quarterback since Dan Marino, so why not go for the sure thing? The stability could be in question with a new head coach, but Peyton would have an instant franchise wide receiver to throw to, as well as one of the most underrated up-and-coming defenses in the division. Financially I don’t know if the move would make sense for the Dolphins, but you’d certainly have to put them into consideration.

Kansas City Chiefs - They brought a Hall of Fame NFL QB in once at the end of his career, why not twice? The stability here is certainly a question but a healthy Peyton Manning could have a field day with the weapons he’d have with the Chiefs. I think Peyton really enjoys playing in a place like Indianapolis because it isn’t as high profile as a New York or even Miami team. Kansas City would allow him a similar lifestyle, a franchise full of great tradition, and a very beatable division. Unfortunately Cassel’s ridiculous contract makes this a lot less likely to happen than it should be.

Houston Texans - The Texans would certainly be a surprise suitor for Manning but is it really that far-fetched? There is a lot of talent here and while Matt Schaub is a pretty good QB, he hasn’t been able to get the job done. Schaub is entering his contract year so they could trade him, cut him, or keep him and allow Manning to continue rehabbing to make this work. Remember how much Brett Favre wanted to come back and beat the Green Bay Packers? The idea of playing for an immediate contender in the Colts division would have to be appealing to Peyton. It’s a dome, the organization appears relatively stable, and he knows the division. Don’t count these guys out.

The NFC Peyton Bowl Contenders

Philadelphia Eagles - Yes, I list the Eagles as the top team in the NFC to land Peyton. This is obviously a team not afraid to spend in free agency. The Michael Vick contract is tricky but you can’t tell me that the Eagles wouldn’t find someone that would want to trade for Vick. The stability is certainly in question with Andy Reid, but I could see the Eagles giving Reid an extension immediately as a show of good faith to Peyton. He also has the Howard Mudd connection which while not great, is something to consider. I would not be surprised to see this go down, as a matter of a fact I’d be surprised if the Eagles weren’t at least in the top running to land him.

Dallas Cowboys - Talk about a shocker! Yes, the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones is tired of losing. He just mortgaged his entire business on a shiny new stadium which is going to have some empty seats if these losing seasons continue. Jones took some subtle shots at Tony Romo (and not so subtle) for the first time this season, especially after watching Eli lead the New York Giants to the Super Bowl. Jones is a high stakes man and I think he would sell his soul to bring an elite QB like Manning to the Cowboys. Tony Romo has two years left on his deal and trading him probably wouldn’t be too difficult with his numbers. Would Peyton want to come to Dallas? Throwing to Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, handing off to DeMarco Murray, and playing in a dome sounds pretty enticing if you ask me.

San Francisco 49ers - Like the Baltimore Ravens, this was a team very close to going to the Super Bowl. While Alex Smith had one of the greatest postseason games for a QB in NFL history against the New Orleans Saints, I don’t think anyone is ready to anoint him as an elite QB. Smith is a free agent which frees up any QB controversy in San Francisco. Manning would immediately be paired with a franchise tight end (he likes those doesn’t he?) as well as one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. A former Indianapolis Colts QB coaching a former Indianapolis Colts QB? Sounds pretty good doesn’t it 49ers fans?

Arizona Cardinals - Arizona appears to be the early leader for Peyton’s services, yet I am not convinced that they would even make his top five list of desirable teams. The coaching situation is unstable, the franchise just spent some decent change for a QB, the offensive line stinks, and there isn’t a whole lot of talent on offense other than his wide receiver. Most importantly, the Cardinals are a losing organization with very little rich tradition other than a few good years with Kurt Warner. Players go to Arizona for the pay check at the end of their careers, not to win a Super Bowl. It’s a possibility but I think it is a long shot.

St. Louis Rams – Like the Texans, this would be a bit of a surprise. Most seem to agree that Sam Bradford has the potential to be one of the elite QBs in the NFL. However, the team is taking on a head coach (who they paid a lot of money too) who didn’t draft him. Fisher played against Manning 2-3 times a year and rarely beat him. Trading Bradford wouldn’t be an issue and the dome situation would be fantastic for Manning. Unfortunately he’d have little on offense and a terrible offensive line. On the other hand, the Rans will have the cash to ante up to at least make them a contender. The Rams are a long shot but a possibility.

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One of the greatest wide receivers of the last generation is coming back. Former NFL wide receiver Randy Moss announced on a Ustream chat today that he will be returning to the NFL and is planning on playing next season.

“Your boy be back for the upcoming season”

The announcement ends one of the shortest retirements since Brett Favre. Moss left the NFL last season after finishing one of the most disappointing stints of his entire career with the Tennessee Titans in 2010-11. Moss played 8 games with the Titans, only started 4, and finished 6 receptions, for 80 yards, and no touchdowns.

Moss’s final season as a whole was probably the most turbulent of his career. Moss played for three teams all season and finished the season with 5 TDs, after playing all sixteen games without a bye week. The 5 touchdowns was the lowest number of TDs in Moss’ 12 seasons as an NFL WR.

Moss had a lot of nice things to say about Myra Kraft during his broadcast. It would not surprise me to see Moss try and politic his way back to the New England Patriots. Moss left the Patriots amidst a ton of rumors about arguments with him and Tom Brady, as well as the coaching staff. In his three seasons prior, he had double digit TDs each season, including 23 in 2007.

It will be interesting to see who takes a shot on Moss next season. One would point to the lack of interest in Terrell Owens and look at that as a statement of teams not willing to put up with the diva attitude of an aging receiver. However, Owens is bringing an injury, numerous reports on TMZ.com, and age with him while Moss has remained out of the spotlight and would be coming back healthy. I think there will be some serious interest in what Moss has left in the tank.

From a fantasy football standpoint, I’d absolutely take a shot on him depending upon where he ends up. He is likely going to be used as a deep threat wherever he goes, which could mean a lot of points if the right situation works out. The upside here is that you will probably be able to get Moss in the later rounds which means there could be some high upside with minimal risk.

If not the Patriots, I could see the Philadelphia Eagles taking a shot on him. A few years back the Eagles were neck and neck in the running to sign Moss with the Patriots, before he chose to return to New England. Andy Reid reportedly had interest in bringing in Plaxico Burress last season and Reid is a guy that will give someone a second chance. The Vick-Moss combination has the chance to be lethal if everyone can keep their head on straight. Of course that is a lot to ask for from a receiver that caused problems on three teams in one season the last time he played in the league.

Get your popcorn ready!

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With Super Bowl XLVI in the books and not much on the NFL plate otherwise, I wanted to take time out to look into some potential things we could see in the 2012 NFL season. On this list you obviously won’t see Tom Brady or Eli Manning, but there could be some other interesting names moving, retiring, or just taking on a different role in 2012.

Now obviously this is an opinion-based story, but also some knowledge of the NFL goes into it. Some of these moves make great sense, some of it well just pure wishful thinking. In other words, don’t sweat it out fans if you see the name of one of your favorite players here. Also if you have anything to add, please feel free to comment at the end of this article. As always, thanks for reading!

Peyton Manning, QB, Colts: He missed the entire 2011 season with a neck injury, but the work ethic of Manning, and pure desire to play will have him back in 2012. Now the burning question is, where? With the Colts owning the number 1 pick in this year’s draft, it is believed they will choose the coveted QB Andrew Luck out of Stanford. The buzz is that the Colts would consider releasing Manning before having to pay him huge dollars and also have Luck sit the bench. So with that being said, if Manning is released, the list of teams after him can be a big one.

So far he has been linked to the Jets, Dolphins, Cardinals and the Redskins. It would make good sense to think that Manning would look to stay in a better climate, and possibly even a dome. Despite the name not coming up as of yet, my firm belief is the Dallas Cowboys.

Owner Jerry Jones would love the draw of a big time QB, and he has a great arsenal of weapons in Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, Laurent Robinson and Jason Witten. What about Tony Romo you may ask? Well let’s face it, he isn’t getting to the playoffs let alone winning division titles or making it to any Super Bowls. The move makes sense on many levels. As for other suitors, the Dolphins would seem the next logical choice, and maybe the Cardinals. The Jets and Redskins are most likely out.

David Garrard, QB, Free Agent: With the shock of his release right before the 2011 season behind him, and his rehab work from surgery going well, Garrard will also be back in 2012, and is the second best option at QB besides Manning. Opting to have surgery this season did cost him some potential good jobs, but it also opens the door for him to be healthier and a starter in 2012. With the list of teams looking, the Dolphins seem a nice fit. They have an improved running game and a big time WR in Brandon Marshall. However, Garrard does not have the same clout as Manning as far as being too picky, so teams like the Redskins are very much in the mix.

Terrell Owens, WR, Free Agent: Another player that missed all of 2011, and at times totally forgotten, yet Owens swears he will be back in the NFL in 2012. Still very much the physical specimen, Owens can fill in nicely with a pass-happy offense. The question is, does he still have enough speed to go up against young corners? Also, can he be a good teammate and keep his mouth quiet? There are certainly teams that could use his service, and he will at least get a look this off-season.

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Jets: There was some talk of L.T. retiring after this season, but nothing has been set in stone yet. However, after his sound off on Showtime Networks “Inside The NFL”, Tomlinson could be looking for a new home. Calling QB Mark Sanchez “pampered” and saying that head coach Rex Ryan spoke to much about opponents each week isn’t going to have him back welcomed with open arms. He can still be serviceable as a 3rd down back with good hands and some power running. A team like Bengals could use a guy like him to catch some passes out of the backfield. Tomlinson would probably want to consider a team with a chance of winning it all, so knowing where he could go is tough at this time.

Chad Ochocinco, WR, Patriots: Here is one guy who probably wishes he missed all of 2011. Not being able to catch passes with Tom Brady at QB is not the best career move, and many teams may be pretty sour on him at this point. His attitude has never been a key asset either, so would any team really want a loud mouth WR with diminished skills? Possibly not, but in pro sports, where many athletes get third and fourth chances, Ochocinco could show up somewhere again next season. In my opinion I’d rather see Chad Johnson return, the name change seems to have ruined his career.

Ray Lewis, MLB, Ravens: He instantly squashed rumors of retiring the day after his teams loss in the AFC Championship game, and so far kicker Billy Cundiff lives on. Lewis is the type of player that may have to be carted off the field with a gruesome injury before he ever openly decides to retire. In reality with all his heart, and ability, are we really ready for life in the NFL without Ray Lewis? He will be in yet another Pro Bowl this season and most surely on the field in 2012, with the Ravens.

Randy Moss, WR, Free Agent: When the 2011 season started, and no team showing any interest in Moss, he decided to retire. After missing an entire season, and most likely not working out, it may be safe to say Moss will stay retired. He did revive his career with some good seasons in New England, and he can hang his hat on that at least.

Donovan McNabb, QB, Free Agent: The skills are pretty much gone as he showed during a rough half-season in Minnesota in 2011. After being released by the Vikings, teams like the Texans and the Bears who were desperate for a veteran QB, did not go after McNabb, which shows how little interest there is in him. Unless the plan for him is to be a back-up and carry a clipboard, we may not see McNabb in 2012.

DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles: After not getting his new contract last season, and also being benched by his team at points during the season many feel his time in Philly is over. Jackson is still an explosive play-maker and has great speed and good hands. The problem lies within his small frame, and he his not the ultimate possession receiver. Jackson is full out homerun hitting or not much at all, and that does not get a lot of teams excited about paying him 10+ million dollars per year. His skills and style is best set for Philly, but it remains to be seen what they will do about a deal.

Stevie Johnson, WR, Bills: Over the course of 1 season he went from being an up-and-coming big game WR, to a trouble-making, bad taste celebrating cancer to a struggling Bills team. Costing his team penalties for tasteless impressions of Jets WR’s Santonio Holes and Plaxico Burress, then showing up late for team meetings, and mouthing off have easily made him a target. The Bills are a team that needs to move forward, and Johnson’s mouth is quickly out-playing his skill, but he does have enough talent to draw some trade interest.

Shawne Merriman, LB, Bills: After leaving San Diego, and fearing for his career about to be over, Merriman caught on with the Bills, only to suffer another season-ending injury. In his time he was truly a force at LB, but now with these injuries continuing to slow him down, he seems more of a shell of himself. If the Bills do not bring him back, it will be difficult for him to find a team who will take a chance for any kind of real money or serious playing time.

Drew Brees, QB, Saints: We are all very confident that he will get the contract he is searching for, in fact the Saints should already be drawing it up.He has become the face of a team and a city, and has become one of the true elite QBs in the NFL. He also brought a Super Bowl to New Orleans, and that will earn him plenty of love for years to come. The chance of him being elsewhere in 2012 is about the same as me being the next QB in New Orleans.

Jon Gruden, Analyst, ESPN: With every off-season comes the name of the popular Gruden. The former Super Bowl winning coach has spent the last few seasons as a color analyst for ESPN’s Monday Night Football, and just signed a long-term, big-money deal to stay with the network. Here is the one point that has many curious though: He can opt out of the ESPN deal, and there is a very lusty job open in Indianapolis with the Colts. The chance to coach the young QB Andrew Luck, veteran WR Reggie Wayne, and that beautiful dome can be attractive to many, no matter how much Gruden seems to like the booth. If this job is not for Gruden, than we can expect to hear the Bill Cowher chants next.

Carlos Rogers, CB, 49ers: After a great 2011 season all around for the 49ers, it is expected that they will try hard to keep Rogers. He finally showed the form that had him as a high draft choice, and will be in the Pro Bowl this season. He has showed interest in returning to San Fran, but just how much will he cost?

Vince Young, QB, Eagles: Sure his pre-season hype of calling the Eagles the “Dream Team” made them a true target and they came up short this past season, but Young can still play in this league. His ability to run and manage a game could be serviceable to a team looking for a jump-start at QB. The Redskins and Dolphins both seem like good chances for him to play, unless they go with the other options available.

Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals: One of the games very best can still produce, but is he ready for a change of scene? Fitz went over 1,000 yards again this season, but his catches have dropped, and during the season expressed frustration with the Cardinals situation at QB. If they were to somehow get Peyton Manning, we would have to say 100 percent that he would stay, but outside of that, we can’t be too sure. The Cardinals would make it really tough for a team to grab him, and he would not come cheap, but crazier things have happen. Hey, Carson Palmer retired himself into a new gig, and Fitz could always do the same.

The City Of Los Angeles: Well we know for sure they will not have a team in 2012, but when will they? Does the passing of Al Davis spark a possible move of the Raiders back out of Oakland? Not likely. Los Angeles is a media Mecca, and to think of them being out of the NFL sounds crazy, but so far we have all survived just fine. As of now we are not hearing about anymore NFL expansion, so only a team relocating can bring LA back, if anyone at all is interested.

Earl Bennett’s orange cleats: The hoopla he tried to create with wearing these awful things were nothing more than a fine-fest for him. Yes, his work with QB Jay Cutler is breathing some life into his play, but there is no need for crazy colored shoes to try and make a statement. Let’s win some games and make noise in the playoffs before we try fashion statements shall we Bears?

Well here are just some of the stories we can look forward to in 2012. For now let’s get ready for the Pro Bowl and of course the Super Bowl. We can save all this other speculation for the off-season.

If you’d like to hear anything else from me on topics or ideas I can be reached at phillyphan1971@yahoo.com

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The Super Bowl XLVI champion New York Giants haven’t even landed yet with the Lombardi trophy and the Super Bowl XLVII odds are already posted. Keep in mind that at this time last year you could have gotten the Giants with 18-1 Super Bowl XLVI odds! So the time is now to place your Super Bowl 47 bets.

Pregame.com is one of dozens of betting sites that have posted Super Bowl 47 odds. I love seeing the early Super Bowl odds a year ahead of time. I don’t care what anyone tells you, there is no science to this stuff at all. I think it all just rests on overall public opinion because nobody has a clue as to what any of the 32 NFL teams will look like at the start of the next season.

The Green Bay Packers top the list off as the early Vegas Super Bowl XLVII favorite. The Packers top the list with 5 to 1 odds. I am not a gambling man, but I think you could get similar odds on the Packers midway through next season. The Packers are an interesting pick. They did get beat at home in the NFC divisional round, plus the team could be without their tight end, as well as several coordinators. It’s a safe pick, but I don’t know if I am ready to crown the Packers as the Super Bowl 47 favorite just yet.

The New Orleans Saints are opening with 6 to 1 odds, making them the second favorite to win the big game. I love the Saints but that is a gutsy pick considering that the team could (probably won’t) have a new quarterback in 2012. Steve Spagnola certainly gives the defense a boost which in my opinion, would make them an even bigger favorite at this point than the Packers to win it all.

This year’s runner-up, the New England Patriots open up with 8 to 1 odds as the favorite from the AFC to win the championship. I don’t think that is a bad bet at all. The Patriots are always in the hunt, and you probably won’t get better odds barring an injury once the season opens up.

A handful of teams are tied at the number four spot. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and the Philadelphia Eagles all open up at 12 to 1 odds. At 12 to 1 odds, I think all are a very good bets, especially the Steelers and Eagles. The Eagles are better than what their record indicated this year and are bound to improve in the 2012-13 season. The Steelers are looking to change things up on offense which could be good or bad, but an aging Baltimore defense does scare me going into next season.

I am more inclined to go with one of the long shots. Why should I bother placing a bet a year early on 8 to 1 odds, when I can cash in next year on a 20 to 1 team? There are six teams with 20 to 1 odds, all in my opinion which have a decent shot of getting to the big game in 2013.

The San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, and the Super Bowl XLVI champs all open up with 20 to 1 odds. Right there you have four teams that made it to the playoffs this year, including the winner all getting 20 to 1 odds! The Lions are a steal at 20 to 1. Taking into account that the 49ers and Cowboys both will probably be in the Peyton Manning hunt, you could have 20 to 1 odds going into next season with two solid teams who each got a major upgrade at QB!

If you want to continue playing the Peyton game, the Washington Redskins have 65/1 odds on Bodog.com and 100/1 odds on Pregame.com. The Indianapolis Colts will get you a whopping 50/1 odds on Bodog.com. What if Peyton stays? What if Andrew Luck is as good as advertised? The Arizona Cardinals at 30/1, Miami Dolphins at 35/1 and Denver Broncos at 50/1 are also teams that could land Manning.

The Chicago Bears are an interesting bet at 30/1 odds. This is not a bad team and they were arguably on their way to making a strong playoff run before Jay Cutler and Matt Forte got hurt. The team will get an upgrade with Mike Martz out as offensive coordinator and could do some serious damage next year if everyone stays healthy and Forte returns.

Finally, If you are feeling real jumpy, you could always jump on a pair of 100/1 lines on Bodog.com. The Cleveland Browns, St. Louis Rams, and Jacksonville Jaguars are each getting 100/1 odds. While I’d never pick the Jags to win the Super Bowl, it may not be a terrible bet. Hey, maybe that defense with one of the best running backs in the game gets hot in December and January? Is it worth placing a few bucks down to get 100/1 odds? If I were in Vegas, I may consider it.

Take these odds for what they are worth, which isn’t a whole lot in the grand scheme of things but you never know? If you played the 49ers with 40/1 odds this time last year, you were looking pretty good right before halftime of the NFC title game. At 18-1 odds last year, there are some Giants fans enjoying the big win with a few extra bucks in their pockets today.

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It seems hard to believe that this will be the 46th time that the NFL will be bringing us a Super Bowl. 45 other games have been played and through the years we’ve seen a lot of stuff to make us salivate and wonder, “What can possibly top that?”

In the spirit of the big game coming up this Sunday between the AFC’s New England Patriots and the NFC’s New York Giants, I have decided to take us all down memory lane and look back at my top 10 best Super Bowls and look back at some other stuff that makes Super Sunday great.

Yes friends step right up and bring your Doritos, your buffalo wings, subs, and all the other great foods we like to feast on during the big game to the table. Don’t forget to bring lots of beer, and other beverages. Yes so much makes this event great, and most of America will all have some kind of favorite story. From Aerosmith and Britney Spears rocking to “Walk This Way” to Justin Timberlake exposing Janet Jackson’s breast in the infamous “Wardrobe Malfunction” scandal.

Don’t forget about the best of commercials, with birds forming an army to try and splatter a freshly cleaned car with “bird poo”, all the great beer commercials, and who could forget the gorgeous “Go-Daddy” girl, and the beautiful Ally Landry doing acrobatic stunts while eating puffed Doritos, forcing every man in America to laundro-mats near and far. Not to mention great half-time shows away from the game, like Howard Sterns’ half-time raunchy fest, MTV’s Celebrity Death Match, and the first ever Lingerie Bowl, which has now led to the Lingerie Football League.

Okay enough about all that, it’s time for the best of the best that led us up to here. For all of you who follow me regularly, you will remember my top Thanksgiving day games, which got rave reviews, and for that I thank you. I’m pretty sure this list will spark debates, but hey its “my” personal top 10. This is why we offer a comment section, so you can feel free to express your views. Okay so here we are starting at my number 10:

Super Bowl XIII, January 21, 1979, The Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida – Pittsburgh Steelers 35, Dallas Cowboys 31

Two of the very best teams of the 70′s met in a rematch of the Steelers victory a few years before. The Steelers came into the game having won back to back bowls a few years ago and boasted that amazing “Steel Curtain” defense. Terry Bradshaw was the games MVP throwing for 318 yards and a record 4 touchdowns. Bradshaw’s effort spoiled a good outing by Cowboy QB Roger Staubach who tallied 3 TDs. The Steelers big 2 receivers, Lynn Swann and John Stallworth each went over 100 yards receiving, with Stallworth collecting 2 TDs, and 1 for Swann. After the Steelers scored twice in a 22 second span to start the 4th quarter, Dallas had closed out with 2 scores in the final 2 minutes. However an onside kick attempt failed, locking up the win for the Steelers. It had been the highest scoring game of its time, as Super Bowls past were mostly lower scoring affairs, or lop-sided blow outs. It marked Pittsburgh’s fourth victory in the last 6 Super Bowls.

Super Bowl XXXII, January 25th, 1998, Qualcomm Stadium San Diego, California – Denver Broncos 31, Green Bay Packers 24

Two of the games most heroic, and reckless sharp shooting QB’s, Brett Favre and John Elway met on center stage in a battle of 2 very different teams. The Packers were Super Bowl winners the previous year and boasted a high flying passing attack with a stellar defense, while the Broncos were a smash-mouth, ground game offense with a decent defense. The Broncos were able to control the pace of the game led by game MVP, running back Terrel Davis, who rushed for 157 yards and 3 TDs, which is a record for running backs. They were able to out-do Favres good day of 256 yards and 2TDs. Davis’ final TD was a 2 yard walk with 1:46 left in the game after the Broncos were able to consume most of the clock in the 2nd half. Elway only contributed 125 passing yards and rushed for 1 TD, but it was enough on this day, as he managed a perfect offensive attack.

Super Bowl XXXIX, February 6th, 2005, Alltel Stadium Jacksonville, Florida – New England Patriots 24, Philadelphia Eagles 21

After three straight spoiled attempts in NFC Championship games, Andy Reid finally got his team to the big game where they would face the defending champs from New England. Despite striking first the Eagles could not contain Tom Brady and game MVP Deion Branch enough to pull a win out. The Pats defense collected 4 Eagles turnovers, and spoiled the return of Terrell Owens, who came back from an ankle injury to collect 9 catches for 122 yards. Donovan McNabb did manage 357 yards and 3 TDs for the Eagles, but will more be remembered for an alleged “vomiting” incident during the 4th quarter. Brady finished with 236 yards and 2 TDs, and Branch had 11 catches for 133 yards. The Eagles managed to score with 3 minutes left, then stopped the Pats on the next series, but could only muster 3 plays after that from their own 4 yard line.

Super Bowl III, January 12th, 1969, The Orange Bowl Miami, Florida – New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7

We all know by now that a cocky young QB named Joe Namath came out on the Thursday before the game and boldly predicted that the Jets would upset the Colts. What we did not expect was how well the Jets would control the game. Star QB Johnny Unitas did not start for the Colts do to an injury and the Jets defense was able to intercept QB Earl Morrel 3 times. The Jets also did big things in the running game and controlled the pace throughout. Namath was the MVP, throwing for 208 yards. The Colts coming in had dominated all year losing just once in 16 games. The win was the first for the AFL, now known as the AFC, and a win that put Namath on the map. Meanwhile a weakend Unitas played the 4th quarter and managed a TD pass.

Super Bowl XXXVI, February 3rd, 2002, The Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana – New England Patriots 20, St. Louis Rams 17

The Patriots came into this game riding high behind the arm of a young unproven kid named Tom Brady, who took over earlier in the season for the much famed QB Drew Bledsoe, who was lost to an injury. The Rams brought in their “greatest show on turf” offense,led by Kurt Warner, who came from nowhere to lead them to victory just 2 years earlier. It was the first time we would see the masterful defensive mind of Bill Belichick truly befuddle a high scoring offense. The Rams could muster just 267 total yards and turned the ball over 3 times, while MVP Brady worked his magic and the Pats collected 427 yards of offense while committing no turnovers. The game was capped with Brady leading the Pats down field and placing Adam Vinatieri in position for a 48 yard field goal as time expired,marking the first time in history a Super Bowl was decided on the last play. The win began the great legacy of Brady, who was the MVP, Vinatieri who became known as “Mr Clutch” and Belichick, and ended the reign of the mighty Rams. The vision of a stunned Brady, hands on head and shaking his head as if to say “I can’t believe it” is still an iconic piece shown in many Super Bowl history videos.

Super Bowl XXXVIII, February 1st, 2004, Reliant Stadium Houston, Texas – New England Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 29

Seen by many as a potential mismatch, Panthers head coach John Fox brought in his unlikely cast of winners led by Jake Delhomme, a former Saints back up and Louisiana guy. Delhomme was very Brady-like in his outing recording 322 yards and 3 TD’s, while game MVP Brady threw for 354 yards and 3 TD’s. The Panthers fought it tooth and nail and gave the now mighty Patriots more then they could handle. Delhomme connected on bombs of 55 and 85 yards to keep his team in the game. However the downfall came after the Panthers last score. Delhomme had thrown a 14 yard TD pass to receiver Ricky Proehl to tie the game up, but kicker John Kasay sent the following kick off out of bounds, giving it to New England at the 40 yard line. Brady just needed 3 plays to set up Adam Vinatieri for his 2nd consecutive Super Bowl winning kick with just 4 seconds left. It would be the 2nd of 3 Super Bowls for the Patriots.

Super Bowl XXV, January 22nd, 1991, Joe Robbie Stadium Miami, Florida – New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19

A fully loaded Bills team with loads of talent came in to face a banged up Giants team who was playing without star QB Phil Simms. What happened was back up Jeff Hostetler playing an excellent game of management and game MVP Ottis Anderson working his battering ram running style into a Super Bowl record 41 minutes of time possession and controlled the game through out. Anderson ended with 102 yards and a TD, and Hostetler also had a TD. Thurman Thomas was the main guy for the Bills as he collected 190 yards of total offense. The Bills did get a last chance to win this game however, despite only seeing the ball for 7 minutes in the second half. After Giants kicker Matt Bahr gave the Giants a 20-19 lead, the Bills marched the ball downfield and got kicker Scott Norwood into position for a game winning 47 yard field goal. The rest, well quite simple, a historic miss known as “wide right” that haunts the fans of Buffalo and Norwood to this day. It was the Giants 2nd Super Bowl win in 5 years, and the beginning of a run that would see the Bills make 4 straight Super Bowls only to lose them all.

Super Bowl XLIII, February 1st, 2009, Raymond James Stadium Tampa, Florida – Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23

Last years game became an instant classic. Many had felt that the Cardinals, seen as much the lesser team, would be blown out of the building by the mighty Steelers led by coach Mike Tomlin and a very ferocious defense. What they got instead was a great game filled with great plays and lots of offensive fireworks. It marked the coming out party of Cardinals superstar receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who collected 9 catches for 131 yards and 2 TDs. One of those being a long gain in which Fitzgerald was seen infamously watching the jumbo-tron to see the location of Steelers defenders behind him. The second was thought by many as the game winner with a minute remaining. Of course we all remember QB Ben Roethlisberger leading that final drive and game MVP Santonio Holmes becoming a miracle worker as well. Another big highlight was linebacker James Harrison scoring the longest TD in history taking a Cardinals turnover 99 yards right as the first half ended. The game however will always be remembered for Holmes and his skin of his toes 10 yard TD catch in the very back corner of the end zone with just 35 seconds left to play. It was the 2nd straight year a Super Bowl had been decided by a corner end zone catch with 35 seconds left and gave the Steelers the franchises 6th Super Bowl win, most in the league today.

Super Bowl XXIII, January 22, 1989, Joe Robbie Stadium Miami, Florida – San Francisco 49ers 20, Cincinnati Bengals 16

In a rematch of a game played some 7 Super Bowls before, the Bengals were out to stop the legendary Joe Montana and take revenge for a loss years back. The 49ers escaped the previous meeting with a 26-21 win, and many of the experts saw this as a better Niners team. The Bengals managed to stay tight through the whole game and at the half it was just 3-3, the lowest half-time score in Super Bowl history. The Bengals started the 3rd quarter with a 93 yard kick return TD by Stanley Pritchard, only to see Montana strike back and connect with the games MVP Jerry Rice to tie it up. Rice had ended the day with 11 catches for a Super Bowl record 215 yards and a TD. The Bengals were able to get the next 2 scores on field goals and held a 16-13 lead with just under 3 minutes left. 3 minutes? Perhaps they never heard of Mr. Montana. The 49ers got the football back on their own 4 yard line, then Montana went to work. He gently dissected the Bengals secondary, picking it apart and doing brilliant time management as well as a perfect display of field leadership. In what is my rendition of “the drive”, Montana completed the comeback with a 10 yard TD pass to John Taylor with just 34 seconds remaining and sealing another Super Bowl for the 49ers, making them the first NFC team to win 3 Super Bowls.

Super Bowl XXXIV, January 30th, 2000, Georgia Dome Atlanta, Georgia – St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16

A new century was upon us and a new era of football had come forth. In the pre-season the Rams had lost starting QB Trent Green, and with tears in his eyes at a press conference soon after, head coach Dick Vermeil had announced that an untested and unknown QB by the name of Kurt Warner would try and get them through this season. Warner had been an Arena football player, cut from several NFL teams and was working at a grocery store before the season. Through some miracle, the Rams had discovered the legendary “Greatest Show On Turf” led by Warner and loaded with talents like Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce and Marshall Faulk. “The Show’ jumped out early and held a 16-0 halftime lead over the Titans, led by QB Steve McNair. The Titans were out gained 280 to 98 in the first half but managed to keep it close. Over the next quarter the Titans managed to climb back in it, and became the first team in Super Bowl history to overcome a 16-0 deficit. McNair’s passing was near flawless as he completed 22 out of 26 passes for 214 yards, and RB Eddie George got the score tied at 16 with a 1 yard TD rush. Warner, not to be denied led the Rams down field on the next series and managed to drive them to a TD and got them on top 23-16. McNair and his team then took their turn on the field. McNair, playing with a fearless demeanor connected on passes of 23 and 16 yards, working his team down the field. After getting inside the 10 yard line, McNair failed on his next 2 attempts. His last effort seemed to be a Super Bowl miracle, as he danced around pass rushers and found receiver Kevin Dyson opened on a slant. Dyson caught the ball at the 7 yard line and broke for pay dirt, only to be met by Rams linebacker Mike Jones. After being hit Dyson stretched with all his might and reached for the goal line, only to have the ball stop 1 yard short and they watched time expire. Clearly the best finish in Super Bowl history, the Rams won their first and only of that era and the Titans can only wonder what may have been, ending just 1 yard short.

So what do we expect this year? Well 2 great QBs with 2 great offenses and good ball hawking defenses. It’s tough to know if we will have a top 10 game on our hands, but one can always dream. Hey if not, can we please have a replay of Ally Landry at the laundro-mat? “Hey, pass the Doritos”

If you’d like to hear anything else from me on topics or ideas I can be reached at phillyphan1971@yahoo.com.

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