Friday, January 30, 2009
The Super Bowl is depressing.
Strip away the parties, the advertisements and the halftime show and it’s really just the official end of football season. The arrival of the off-season of the greatest sport in the world deserves no such celebration.
The two weeks in between conference championship games and the Super Bowl only add to the misery. It’s a time to listen to overplayed storylines and realize the weekends spent glued to the couch for 24 hours are over until September.
The only positive that results is an opportunity to reflect on the season gone by. Which is exactly what the Morning Brew intends to do today. Here’s a quick glance at how the season went for the four NFL rookies from Kansas.
Aqib Talib (Cornerback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) — A future star? Talib did nothing to suggest otherwise in his first season in pewter. As a nickelback — the fifth defensive back in certain formations — Talib recorded four interceptions and 27 tackles. Talib could earn a starting spot as soon as next season because teams are starting to challenge current starter Phillip Buchanon and 33-year-old Ronde Barber, the other starter, isn’t as quick as he once was.
Anthony Collins (Tackle, Cincinnati Bengals) — Collins started the last six games of the season at left tackle after Levi Jones injured his right ankle. Collins had a rough first start against the Super Bowl-bound Steelers as the Bengals fell 27-10. But Collins recovered to help the Bengals win three in a row to end the season. Cincinnati rushed for its most yards all season in its final two contests — and a lot of the yards came running behind Collins.
Derek Fine (Tight End, Buffalo Bills) — Fine had the most surprising season out of all the former Jayhawks. Expected to play only on special teams, Fine cracked the tight end rotation by the end of the season and caught 10 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown. Fine has developed a rapport with coach Dick Jauron and should play a more significant role next season.
Marcus Henry (Wide Receiver, New York Jets) — Well, it can’t be all good news for Kansas. Henry didn’t appear in any games this season, but spent time on the Jets’ practice squad. Maybe Henry was just what quarterback Brett Favre needed to save New York’s season from slipping away.
SUPER BOWL PREDICTION
Pittsburgh 23, Arizona 17.
When two elite football teams meet for a championship, the juggernaut defense beats the unstoppable offense.
It happens at every level. The college equivalent is easy. Ask Oklahoma how much its streak of five straight 60-point games mattered against Florida three weeks ago.
— — Edited by Sam Speer
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