Super Bowl XLI - Colts 29, Bears 17

Certainly not the most memorable Super Bowl I ever saw, but also not the worst. The Colts win their first Super Bowl since they beat the Cowboys in SB V, and the Bears demonstrate why the NFC was wide open for anyone who would step up just a bit.

The NFC proved from September to February that they are now clearly the inferior conference, and that doesn’t show very many signs of changing anytime real soon.

Meanwhile, Tony Dungy continued to show that good guys can win, too. In this day and age when we seem to have nothing but grumpy (Parcells), grumpy (Belichick), and grumpy (Gruden) coaches win, Dungy broke the nice-guy barrier while breaking a few other barriers, too.

Here are a couple notes and thoughts about Super Bowl XLI:

• I expect a few people will complain about the weather. Count me out of that group. I thought it was awesome to have rain the whole night, and anytime the elements will get involved in a game like this is fine with me. Did it adversely affect the outcome? I suppose it might have. Nevertheless, count me among the friends of it all.

• Peyton Manning is a good person. I really have no business rooting against him. He is a model citizen. He is a class act. I can’t explain my dislike. So, for one day in time, allow me to say it is good to see him do his thing and get his ring. Now, perhaps there will be someone who wants him to endorse their products. Seriously, though, good for him.

• One thing I did not really understand was Chicago and Lovie Smith being so careful with its game plan. On both sides of the ball it seemed like they were worried about not getting blown away rather than winning. I felt they stayed in too deep of pass coverage the entire game, allowing Peyton to pick them apart with mostly underneath stuff. Then on offense, they never allowed Rex to go after the corners of Indy until it was in the 2nd half and the Bears were behind. But, up 14-6, it sure seemed like the time to start to soften up the Colts D, but they kept pounding the ball and punting the ball.

• Devin Hester is amazing. Simply amazing.

• Which NFL Network commercial was better? The one with David Beckham or the one making fun of Favre? Both were brilliant. Very good stuff from my favorite Television network. It is weird. We should all hate the NFL Network because it is run by the league. It is like state-sponsored media. It is all propaganda, right? And yet, through it all, I love the NFL Network. I am kind of ashamed of myself, but I am not telling you a lie. Love it.

• I swear I knew Joseph Addai was going to be great. That is why I took him so high in the fantasy football draft back in August. Trouble is, the Ronnie Brown/ Willis McGahee/Joseph Addai never got off the ground. And that says nothing about what Daunte Culpepper did for me. Anyway, Addai was solid tonight. My team this year was horrendous.

• Go ahead and sue me: but, Phil Simms and Jim Nantz don’t bother me at all. But, you had to love Nantz’s weather predictions. A bit off, Jim.

• Any Cowboys fans nervous after seeing Ron Rivera’s crew not able to get off
the field on all of those 3rd downs? I know the Colts are good, but the occasional punt might have won the game for the Bears.

• I have to admit. A commercial involving Oprah made me giggle. But, all-in-all, a pretty lame night of ads in the Super Bowl. Wait a minute, they are playing the godaddy.com ad again.

• Not sure the monsoon happens in Florida, but it was raining like the scene in the Last Boyscout when the dude pulled the gun while running down the field. I don’t think that movie was based on the true story, but the rain was very Hollywood-like tonight.

• The Bears have to be kicking themselves that they played that badly, and were dominated that solidly, and yet through the game they only needed one play to take the lead. It never happened, but when you are outgained 370-96 with 3 minutes left in the 3rd Quarter, you have to like your chances down only 22-14. Then, they cut it to 5, but never got closer.

• Cedric Benson will want another chance at the Super Bowl. 2 carries for -1 yard and a fumble will not be the way he wants to remember his Super Bowl experience.

• 38:04 time of possession for the Colts does a pretty good job of
demonstrating how well they dominated the ball. They really could have won by 28 if they cashed in on their chances.

• The last 5 #1 seeds to make the Super Bowl from the NFC have lost. Bears, Seahawks, Eagles, Rams and Giants.

• 4 rings in 6 years for Adam Vinatieri. It appears he has a pretty good knack for playing in the post-season.

• Is it possible, that somewhere in Arizona, resting on his pile of money, that Edgerrin James is having second thoughts about making the money grab to go to play for the Cardinals? Money is nice, but rings are nicer.

• Tony Dungy joins Mike Ditka and Tom Flores (who was forgotten by me on Friday’s edition of Super Bowl Trivia on BaD Radio) as the only 3 guys to win a Super Bowl as a player and a head coach.

• Prince rocks. And to pull off the Foo Fighters “Best of You” was brilliant. Seriously, the gay bandana was cancelled out by the first song. By the end he was running up the score. If he ever comes to town, I am so there.

• Not to say that there is any question who the MVP was, but isn’t this one of those years where the MVP was more of a default award? Peyton was ok, but if there was anyone else who played great, you would have an argument. But, when no one else dominates, it is always safe to go with the winning QB.

• Kelvin Hayden is the trivia name from Super Bowl XLI. He never had an
interception until Sunday night, and then ran that one back for the Touchdown that really put the game in the Colts pocket. Every Super Bowl produces a backup player who becomes a hero. Here is Mr. Hayden.

• Dominic Rhodes made Wichita Falls, Texas, proud tonight. Midwestern State has actually produced something more than fire ants.

• In all four Super Bowls played in Dolphins/Joe Robbie Stadium the losing team has had a kickoff return for a TD. Bengals ('89) - Stanford Jennings; Chargers ('95) - Andre Coleman; Falcons ('99) - Tim Dwight; Bears ('07) - Devon Hester

• So, is there a chance that one year from today Rex Grossman is still the starting QB of the Chicago Bears? There is no way they can go on like this. Could you imagine a competent QB playing for that Bears team? I applaud Lovie’s loyalty, but Rex’s two interceptions yesterday were horrible throws (you hope they just slipped) and the way they try to hide him and protect him is just silly. Sorry, but the guy is not good enough to play for a team that has no other real weaknesses. I feel for the guy, but he just can’t play at this level.

• Is there anything better than the fly-over? Every player who moments earlier were looking stoic and nervous instantly smiled like 7-year old boys. We all love fast airplanes.

• The 2007 season started this morning. Are you ready?


Don Pierson on Manning’s myth-busting performance …

David Haugh on Grossman’s horrible throw that cost the Bears the night …

The Great Jerry Green, who has been to every Super Bowl says game was stuck in the mud …

NY Times: 2 coaches, 2 friends, but 1 trophy …

Barry Horn looks back at the Broadcast …


Bring back Bud Bowl