Here Comes The Evil Empire

The absolute WORST thing about the Super Bowl? The $#@#%& two week break from the AFC & NFC title games until Super Bowl LII. Seriously, is that necessary? It's not. The hype is overwhelming and a waste of time. A week after the conference title games, just play the Super Bowl. Enough, already.

We'll know more about the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that's 0-for-2 in previous appearances, than we could possibly care to know.

So let's see. Here comes the NFL's own Evil Empire, led by Coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. Those of a certain age will remember when the New York Yankees dominated baseball, and were hated for it. Still are, but that's beside the point.

 The Patriots and their success (often with under a cloud; see Deflategate and illegally filming opponent walkthroughs & sideline coaches, for example) clearly makes them the team to hate. And don't get me started on the latest AFC title game. Jacksonville, the least-penalized team during the regular season, gets whistled nine times. Plus the "quick whistle" that took away a defensive TD. Say, was I seeing things or was that referee smiling with the Patriots when they scored the go-ahead TD. And who was the first to shake Brady's hand after the clock ran out? Seemed like another zebra.

This marks the Patriots 8th SB in Brady's 16 years. He's 5-2 in these games. Will winning a 6th solidify him as GOAT? Some say yes, I say no. More opportunities doesn't necessarily mean better. Joe Montana won four Super Bowls in four tries for the San Francisco 49ers.

Green Bay's Bart Starr won five NFL titles, and the first two Super Bowls, for Vince Lombardi in nine seasons. Odds are, had Paul Hornung not sat out the 1963 season (along with Detroit's Alex Karras) for "associating with gamblers", the Packers probably would have won another. That would have been SIX out of SEVEN as league champions.

Granted, Starr played in a different era. Free agency didn't exist, teams stayed together. And quarterbacks weren't called upon to throw on nearly every down and they called their own games.

There are those, hopefully tongue-in-cheek, who have suggested the Lombardi Trophy be renamed for Belichick, should New England win yet again. Total BS.

This marks New England's 10th Super Bowl appearance, most among NFL clubs. At the other end of the spectrum are four teams without a single trip to the title game: Cleveland, Detroit, Houston and Jacksonville. Within the next 3 seasons, I think that number will drop by two: Houston and Jacksonville will make the trip.  And the Eagles will upset the Patriots. You read it here first.

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