Daily Roundup- Monday, Febuary 2nd

Before I get into the stories, let me say that this was one of the greatest games period. After last year’s game I figured that we would never see another game like that and what do you know, the very next year we get another nail biter, with another Class of 2004 QB leading a game winning drive in the corner of the end zone leaving 35 seconds on the clock.

The game had virtually every single play that you could possibly see and I’ll get into my thoughts in a column I’m doing tonight but, this was a top 5 game of all time despite the referees wanting to ruin the game for us and give the Steelers their 6th Super Bowl, Ben Roethlisberger helped to win that game. But I hear ya Cardinal fans, while there’s plenty to be upset over, there’s plenty to be excited about too.

We first start off our Super Bowl coverage with the aces from KC. Joe Posnanski looks at the Super Bowl MVP, Santonio Holmes wanting to be “the man” and he was. Jason Whitlock looks at the Super Bowl being a pretty good game despite all the extra curricular activity by the referees.

I agree with both of these guys and every national columnist that will have a voice in your newspapers this morning. This was a great game, probably the greatest game in the Super Bowl, although you all know what I feel is the greatest game ever played. The NFL couldn’t have expected this kind of game to happen but I’m sure they are glad it did.


Because it only makes sense, I went to the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder and got the thoughts of a proud poppa, Larry Fitzgerald Sr.

These were his thoughts a few days before the game and I’m sure he’ll have something to say about the game later. He recounts his amazing family story and I’m glad to say that the Fitzgerald name shall be upheld even in defeat.

One thing was Universal however, this game was good and so was its coverage by NBC. (Get it?)

A few stories about Kurt Warner’s magical carpet ride of a season. Tom Pedulla of USA Today wonders if this was his last game. Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post Dispatch mourns for the ending of last night’s game for one of St. Louis’ favorite sons. Art Spander of New York Newsday also talks about the game that got away for Kurt Warner.

I sort of sensed that the retirement question would come up and if Arizona had pulled off the upset, I think it would have been a fair question to ask but I hate it when sportscasters ask players that question immediately following such a heart breaking loss. The look on their face is always the same, they get the question, they look at the interviewer with a look that says “are you EFFING KIDDING ME?” and then they give a cliched response which is always “ I have to think things over” or “I gotta talk to my family.” But this is definitely one of those, this is going to suck for a long time kind of losses that either motivate players or just doom them.


Ben Roethlisberger might have stamped his way into immortality with that game and with that drive. John Romano of the St Petersburg Times thinks that was a drive for the ages. Tim Smith of the New York Daily News says that was a pretty good make up from his first go around in the Super Bowl.

The talk around the nation is Ben this morning as it should be. The number of times he escaped sure fire sacks made me just marvel at this guy’s ability. Like Mike Tomlin said about his Steelers basically described what its like to watch Ben Roethlisberger, it may not be pretty, but it’s the Steeler way. When Kurt Warner scored that touchdown and the graphic came up about the QB comparisons from that day, I just remember thinking, Big Ben is going to hear a lot if he doesn’t make some plays and they don’t win this game. Well, he made some plays and they won the game.


Here’s the best of the rest:
Norman Chad writes a pretty entertaining timeline of his Super Bowl viewing for the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

If he looks familiar, he’s the guy who does the Poker tournaments for ESPN, a pretty funny take on the Super Bowl in a diary form.

John Harris tells everyone to stop making comparisons with Mike Tomlin, he’s done it. He’s done what Ken Whisenhut couldn’t and what Bill Cowher took 15 years to do.
In all fairness John, he was handed a pretty darn good football team from Bill Cowher, so let’s not go overboard, but yeah, Mike Tomlin, that guy’s a keeper.

Woody Paige writes about the Long Run starring James Harrison. Meanwhile New York Times columnist William C. Rhoden warns the days when the cliché defense wins championships may be obsolete.

Well, we were 2 minutes and 37 seconds away from that being true Will. The James Harrison play is definitely one of the five best plays EVER in Super Bowl history and in terms of momentum still come a very close second to the catch.

Free agency begins today and with that, David Haugh looks at a few interesting names.
Look at me Chicago and repeat after me: WE NEED A QB, WE NEED A QB! Also Cardinal fans, I hope you got some Boldin Insurance because he’s as good as gone if you are to believe his pledge to never resign with the Cardinals.



Finally Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle dares to say what many won’t the day after quite possibly the greatest Super Bowl ever: Baseball is better than the NFL! He even gives you ten reasons why!

I think you’re going to lose that battle this morning Rich.