We’re now just a week and two days away from the big game, everyone excited? I didn’t think so. If not for Pittsburgh and it’s huge following, I’d lay money down that this would be the lowest rated Super Bowl ever. Sorry, the Whisenhunt/Roethlisberger/Steelers connection just doesn’t matter outside of Pittsburgh and Bill Cowher’s home.
Onto a few questions that we’ve received this week.
Derek: Rex Ryan announced at his press conference that the New York Jets would be celebrating a Super Bowl victory with President Barack Obama at the White House. What’s your thoughts on this statement?
pf101: Well, a bold prediction like that is sure to get you back page material on the NY Daily News and NY Post, but unless you win (and back it up), it won’t keep you there. But I’m not surprised by it; his father, Buddy Ryan, announced to the NFL world at his Arizona Cardinals press conference in ‘94 that “you’ve got a winner in town.”
Of course, two years and 20 losses later, he was shown the door. So the over confidence/ borderline arrogance doesn’t surprise me one bit in this family.
The problem I had with his conference is that the NFL is no longer a league that gives you five years to reach the pinnacle; it’s all about what have you done for me lately and currently, from a personnel standpoint, he’s got a 39-year old overrated QB (Favre) with not much behind him and a RB (Jones) who’s at the dreaded 30-year old mark. The defensive nucleus is solid, and he can build upon that, but it’s still not close to what he had in Baltimore.
I think he’ll be a good coach, but if you don’t win in NY, the love affair is over quickly. The last guy went from Eric “Mangenius” in year one, to Eric Mangini in year two, to the unemployment line in year three.
Jason: Can Tony Romo be the leader that he says he is going to be?
pf101: Time will tell. Shipping T.O. out of town would go along way towards that becoming a reality. Romo is an immensely talented player who’s developed into a big time QB, but his poor decision to go to Cabo with girlfriend Jessica Simpson during the first round bye week hurt his rep after last year’s divisional round playoff loss and his nonchalant attitude after the 44-6 massacre in Philly didn’t help.
Dallas has too many me-first players. I think Romo has the respect of his teammates – aside from T.O. – and will do a much better job in ‘09 from a leadership standpoint.
Eric: Do you think Kurt Warner belongs in the Hall of Fame?
pf101: I think his rags to riches story belongs in the Hall of Fame, but not necessarily his body of work. He’s done some amazing things throughout his career but the stars have now aligned for him twice and that must be taken into account. He was blessed with Marshall Faulk, Tory Holt and Isaac Bruce in St. Louis and now has Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and a system very much catered to his passing style.
The biggest issue I’d have with Warner in the HOF is the middle of his football career. After losing his job in ‘03 to Marc Bulger, he started seven games in New York before being replaced by rookie Eli Manning. He then signed with Arizona in ‘05, and only got another shot at being the man when QB Matt Leinart showed he was too immature to assume the starting role.
So my answer is no.
That’s it for this week. For any of you who have questions that you’d like to see answered in an upcoming session, e-mail us at profootball101@gmail.com.
