Alright...I'm finally ready to come out of hiding and write something after the Santana mess that went down on Tuesday. Let's quickly discuss Johan and then we'll get to the SB. When the guy that knows more about Major League Baseball than anybody else in the universe, Peter Gammons, describes the packages of prospects as "Eh...", you aren't exactly giddy with excitement. I guess I don't understand the rush to trade him at this point. Wouldn't hanging on to the best pitcher in baseball into spring training and potentially the season just up his trade value as teams that realize they need pitching become increasingly desperate? You don't think the Yankees would've freaked out when they realized they have a pitching staff that has the makings of a .500 season? Now give, the Twins always seem to come out smelling like roses in these deals down the road, so I'll be patient with the guys we received, but that wasn't the Bill Smith regime pulling the strings. Anyways...I have a feeling that Joe Nathan is next as we march towards becoming the youngest team in baseball and gearing up towards the opening of the new ballpark in 2010.
Has anybody heard anything about a football game going on this weekend? Eli Brady and Archie Manning are the quarterbacks, so I'm stoked. The two weeks between the conference championship games is just really overkill for the media. EVERY single angle on every story has been covered, quoted, rehashed, and then discussed endlessly on sports radio. It's a bit much. That being said, I'm actually coming around on my level of excitement for this game. I reserved six barstools at The Loop for the fellas and I, and I'm looking forward to the Miller Lites and the wagers to start flowing. Last year, a buddy Steve and I cashed in $20 bills for $1's like we were heading to the strip club and sat belly up at the bar betting $1 on absolutely EVERYTHING. I really couldn't get enough of it. We were calling out the over/under on where the kickoff return would be while the ball was in the air. We were betting on whether or not they would show Lovie Smith in the next 20 seconds, complete with countdown. So many bets were taking place, and so many bills changing hands in rapid fashion, that I felt like I was a bookie at one of those illegal underground cock fights. Great times.
This is going to be a better game than people give it credit for. The most overrated aspect of this matchup is the fact that New England is 18-0. Now, is that impressive as hell? You bet. Does it really factor into this matchup? Absolutely not. I'm looking at the last 6 weeks of the season right now. That's it. If you don't think that New England was up for that week 17 game against the Giants, with a chance to make history and finish the regular season 16-0, than I can't take you seriously. That was as close to a Super Bowl atmosphere you will ever find in the regular season...including that week 8 Colts/Pats matchup. The game was televised on THREE networks. Eli played the game of his life, the Giants were up to the task, and it was an instant classic. I think that game is a more accurate showing of how these two teams matchup than the 12 point spread that Vegas threw up on the board last week. The Patriots haven't covered a spread since their week 14 victory against Pittsburgh. In fact in weeks 12 & 13, you will remember the two absolute nail-biters the Pats had against Philly and then Baltimore. This isn't the Patriots squad that was putting 50+ points on the board...teams have adjusted. If you double up Randy Moss and force Brady to dink and dunk you to death with Welker, you can keep the score in the 30's and hope for a few breaks. I think the Giants will be able to run the ball against the New England front seven...especially given the fact that most of the Patriot linebackers were all playing college football before you had heard of the Smashing Pumpkins. On the flip side of the ball, I think you'll see a lot more Laurence Maroney than you expect. Bill Belichick knows that the one way he can lose this game is to allow the Giants talented defensive line to create problems for Brady. I think Osi, Tuck, and Strahan are licking their chops at the prospects of number 12 dropping back in the pocket 45 times. Belichick is going to neutralize this by running Maroney, who has had his legs preserved essentially all season.
A huge question mark in this game is which Eli Manning is going to show up? I've been hugely impressed with his progress over the last half of the season, and especially the playoffs, but unlike so many others have done this week, I am not ready to say that he's arrived as an elite quarterback. He can change that with a strong performance on the game's biggest stage this week against what many are calling the best team of all time. Peyton showed me last year that the Manning's aren't made up of chokers, as many would've have previously led you to believe. They can hold their own in the moxie department. Just ask the 2006 Patriots and Bears how Peyton's "choking" worked out for them. Well I think Eli can step up as well on Sunday. He has the running game, the offensive weapons, a solid O-Line, and that chip on his shoulder (that Tiki kindly placed for him) that says "F You, we can win this game, and I'm the guy to lead us."
Look out for a classic:
New England Patriots 31, New York Giants 30
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