Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff
Thoughts to tide you over till the next installment in the NFL's version of Red Sox-Yankees:
-In this age of pro football parity, it's truly remarkable how many times the road to the Super Bowl has gone through New England and Indianapolis. In fact, you might as well add Pittsburgh and San Diego to the mix, because those four teams have dominated the AFC playoffs for the better part of a decade.
The two most dominant stars in this drama continue to be Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, the yin and yang of the NFL, if you will. While Ben Roethlisberger has interjected himself and his Steelers into the "quarterback/team of the decade" discussion, the sheer number of important games between the Patriots QB and his Colts counterpart has taken this rivalry a step above all others.
It seems every time Brady and Manning square off, the game either decides a Super Bowl berth or home field playoff advantage. This Sunday might be no exception.
-Is anyone else out there as sick and tired as I am of NFL receivers whining for pass interference calls after almost every incompletion? It's a wonder these guys don't suffer whiplash with the way they snap their neck around in the direction of the nearest ref as soon as the ball hits the turf, followed up by the flag tossing gesture with their hands.
Seriously guys...SHUT UP and let the officials do the officiating.
-There'll be a lot of talk this hot stove season about the Red Sox trading for either Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez or Mariners ace pitcher Felix Hernandez.
Don't get your hopes up. As former Sox GM Dan Duquette pointed out the other day, why would San Diego and Seattle trade already established stars who they still control financially for the foreseeable future?
-By the way, Duquette's son Dana is the starting QB for Acton-Boxboro's football squad. The senior has tossed 9-TD passes in 2009 in a Bill Maver offense that's generally very conservative.
Maver, by the way, will take his second crack at career victory #200 this Friday night when the Colonials host Newton South.
-Did you catch the video of New Mexico girls soccer player Elizabeth Lambert, video that made all the national morning news shows, never mind SportsCenter?
In a performance that would have made the Fabulous Moolah proud, Lambert tripped, kicked, elbowed and punched opposing players from Brigham Young University. She also violently yanked one poor girl to the ground by her pony tail.
A female hasn't left behind such a trail of destruction against a sports team since Toni Braxton went through the Jason Kidd-Jim Jackson-Jamal Mashburn Dallas Mavericks!
-Finally, a big shout out to Ms. Skrekas' 5th graders at the Stoklosa Middle School in Lowell for welcoming yours truly into the classroom last week. Good luck kids. And keep up the good work!
Teddy,
See that stat on Big Ben last night on MNF? He is one game behind Brady for most wins in the first six years of his career.....presumably he will pass him before the season is over. He is in his sixth season.
Middlesex League Bryan
Oh, I hear ya Bryan. I don't think people around here, and even nationally, realize how good Roethlisberger really is. And I know this is blasphemous in these parts, but if Roethlisberger wins his 3rd Super Bowl this year, the argument over who is the best QB of the decade will see Manning and Brady move over to include Big Ben in the discussion.
As for why Manning-Brady (Colts-Pats) is the best rivalry, I think it's because the Steelers don't have as much history with the Colts, and the Pitt-NE rivalry is a couple of BIG games shy of matching Indy-NE. Of course, that could change in the next couple of years.
This rivalry is big because they seem to play every regular season as well as quite a few matchups in the playoffs and the one time Peyton broke through to win the SB they went through the Pats to get there. Also, I don't think any game between the two has been a disappointment - both teams are always good in all 3 phases of the game and come after each other with all they've got yet they seem to always play a fairly clean game against each other - unlike anyone vs Pittsburgh.
I don't think the Steelers this year can beat either the Colts or Pats on the road in the playoffs. I think the Pats can beat either the Colts or Steelers on the road (or at home, of course). I think the Colts would also struggle away from home. So, this one is huge for NE. Get a win and maybe you can contend with Colts for possible home field if you meet them later on and, hopefully, remain ahead of Pitt so you can gain home field over them.
I think Ben is good but I think he's also been blessed with a good running game his whole career which has saved a lot of wear and tear on him. I think QB of the decade would have to have Brady as #1, Manning as #2, and Big Ben as #3 - even a SB win for the Steelers this year shouldn't change that.