Final Super Bowl Thoughts (For Real)

Okay, after a day to digest Super Bowl XLIII, I have a few final thoughts on the game, aside from just "Fuck the Steelers."

First, check out how EA did with their Madden simulation of the game. Insanely close on the final score and the stats for Roethlisberger and Holmes.

Second, even with the loss, Kurt Warner may still have punched his ticket to Canton with his performance on Sunday. Even though his Super Bowl record is now 1-2, think about those Super Bowls:

-Super Bowl XXXIV- a record 414 passing yards, game MVP, and one of the most exciting finishes in Super Bowl history (the Titans Kevin Dyson comes 1-yard short of the potential game-tying touchdown as time expires); win.

-Super Bowl XXXVI- a third-best all-time 365 passing yards, a 14-point 4th quarter comeback, and one of the most exciting finishes in Super Bowl history (Adam Vinatieri's game-winning field goal as time expired); loss.

-Super Bowl XLIII- a second-best all-time 377 passing yards, leading a 14-point 4th quarter comeback (16, with the safety), and one of the most exciting finishes in Super Bowl history (Santonio Holmes tip-toe touchdown catch with 0:35 seconds left); loss.

Any list of the top 10 greatest Super Bowls ever includes those 3 games, and yes, I think that matters in Warner's HOF consideration. Warner also has 2 league MVP's (1999 and 2001; could be argued he deserved it this year as well) and the great human interest story (undrafted out of college, bagging groceries, NFL Europe, Arena League, Super Bowl champion). While his team didn't win every Super Bowl he was in, he played big in every one of them. Sure, he had some dark years as a backup, but I think that only adds to his career; former starter and league MVP, reduced to holding a clipboard, regains the starting job and leads his team (a historically bad on, at that) to their first ever Super Bowl.

There's talk that Kurt Warner's played his last game in the NFL. If that's the case, I think he makes it to Canton in 5 years.

Third, even though Ben Roethlisberger is now 2-0 in Super Bowls, I don't think he's looking at an easy ride into footbal immortaility. Yes, two Super Bowl championships is a ridiculous accomplishment, especially at his age, but I think that he never wins another championship (please God, let him not win another championship), he'll always be overshadowed. Think about his Super Bowls, and what do you remember?

-Super Bowl XL- You remember horrible officiating, a long touchdown pass to Hines Ward on a trick play.... thrown by Antwaan Randle El, and a historically bad performace by Roethlisberger. The Steelers won inspite of Ben's pathetic performace (and with the aid of the officials). Hines Ward is your MVP.

-Super Bowl XLIII- You'll remember the James Harrision touchdown, the Arizona comeback, and the Santonio Holmes touchdown, with Holmes as your MVP.

The default Super Bowl MVP is the winning team's quarterback. If there isn't a clear MVP, it goes to him, that's just the way it is. Roethlisberger's started and won two Super Bowls and was MVP in neither of them. The only other quarterback to do that (as far as I can tell) is Bob Griese, and he's got another career milestone on his record to cancel that one out (something about a perfect season). Yes, you could argue that Roethlisberger deserved the MVP award on Sunday, but that fact is he didn't get it, and no one remembers the also-rans in the Super Bowl MVP race.

If his career ended right now (please God, let his career end right now), I think Roethlisberger would be remembered as a guy who got lucky and played above himself because he was surrounded by much greater players. These Steelers teams will be remembered for winning with their defense, and while he did lead them down the field for the winning score, it won't be remember for Roethlisberger methodically moving his team down the field, picking apart the defense and managing the clock, like Montana, Elway, or even Brady. It took a defender falling down on a play and a spectacular catch on the touchdown to make it happen. Its not fair, but I think he'll be seen as a player that was carried by his team, and not the other way around. I don't see him that way (I remember telling Steelers fans back in 2004 that they got the steal of the draft by taking him 11th), but that's how I think history will judge him.

And finally, the similarities between Sunday's game and Super Bowl XXIII, ranked the #1 Super Bowl of all time back in 2006. I've seen a lot of people compare the endings of two games, and even heard Roethlisberger reference it during a post-game interview with ESPN (he said that in the huddle before the final drive, he did not point out John Candy in the stands, which is exactly what Joe Montana had down 20 years prior). Bengals fans remember this one all too well- Cincinnati up 16-13, 3:10 on the clock, and San Francisco pinned on their own 8 yard line. Then Joe Montana became Joe Montana and lead the Niners 92-yards down the field, hitting John Taylor in the endzone with 0:35 seconds left in the game (damn it). For comparision, the Steelers had 2:37 to go 77 yards, and the Holmes touchdown came with 0:34 seconds left. But like a mentioned above, I don't think Super Bowl XLIII will be remembered for that final drive like Super Bowl XXIII was; the final play will be remember, but not the whole drive. Just how it is.

Okay, that's it, I'm done with football for now. Time for March Madness and baseball. When do pitchers and catchers report?