Valentine's Day was this week. yippee. The Super Bowl was 2 weeks ago. There were all sorts speculation. Colin Kaepernick is unstoppable. Joe Flacco is elite, at least by his own account. Catchy Phrases: Hey diddle diddle Ray Rice up the middle. But there was something that was discounted. Something that is an intangible. Considering once again this past week was Valentine's Day, I will explain to you where the Super Bowl and Valentine's day intersect.
One does not usually associate Valentine's Day and football. Valentine's Day is rather a romantic, girly holiday. Football is considered a more masculine event. (Although I believe I usually make a case in the more neutral direction ;-) ) Football season in college is over after the first week in January. Super Bowl is played at the beginning of February.
Ponder (no pun intended, well maybe) for a minute the last game Bobby Bowden coached. Many former Bowden players were there to support and cheer him on. Christian Ponder was injured. E. J. Manual was starting. FSU was 6-6 going into the game with the West Virginia Mountaineers 9-3 and Noel Devine (considered to be unstoppable) ranked by the BCS 16th. FSU getting to play in the Gator Bowl was nothing short of a miracle. And, yes I was there. For me, it ranks tied for Number one of great football games I have seen in person (the other 2 are Jacksonville Jaguars: Scobee's 59 yard field Goal, and Mike Thomas Immaculate Deflection). It's Number 1 for several reasons. Mainly because it was Bowden's last game. I had watched Bobby Bowden since I could remember. Number 2, FSU was not supposed to win that game and they did. How is that possible? Heart. Yes, heart is sometimes considered girly. It's not. It can make a grown man cry. It can make a grown man win. I submit those FSU players left EVERYTHING on the field for 1 man: Bobby Bowden.
Fast forward to the 2012 NFL season. Joe Flacco coming into the season, rejected a contract offer for 16 million. RISKY. Cam Cameron, offensive coordinator, was fired after the loss to the Washington Redskins. Numerous reasons cited. My favorite being limited use of Ray Rice. Seriously? Ray Rice is money (except that one season he tanked my fantasy football). Ray Lewis tears his triceps muscle in the Dallas game in October. Tearing the triceps is largely considered a time laden injury. Terrell Suggs has surgery for an Achilles injury in May and returns to play in October. Another time laden injury. Early January, Ray Lewis announces his retirement. He had been on the Ravens team since it's inception. Had a Super Bowl ring. Widely considered one of the best ever at his position (side note: I always giggle a little bit when I think of the Ravens. The Jaguars beat them in a Monday Night Football game in 2011 in what amounted to a field goal game. The score was 12-7. Jaguars beat them with field goals only. *snicker* So tough they got beat with field goals.) I believe Ray Lewis' retirement catapulted the team through the playoffs and to a Super Bowl win. A Super Bowl win during which a 34 minute blackout in half of the Superdome, created a switch in momentum almost costing the game. A Super Bowl win that Jim Harbaugh and Colin Kaepernick, I believe, thought they could not lose. Yeah Joe Flacco was probably gunning for more money and we'll see how much he gets and how successful he is next year, but nothing can stop a team who plays for a coach or another player. You can't stop a team playing with their heart. You can't stop players who leave EVERYTHING on the field.
Speaking of heart, something we did not see last year in professional football was Tim Tebow. As much as I hate to admit it, you simply cannot discount him in any situation. The New York Jets have stopped the Tebow Train. Ultimately sealing their demise and his as well. He is being squelched. Why do I care? Because I guess I'm getting old and soft. Or maybe, I really want to see players play with their HEART.
MDK in the House
We MUST Protect This House
Stay Calm, Wear Black
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