Blake Murphy Sports Writing

Title: Super Bowl Preview Panel
Date: February 2, 2008
Original Source: The On Deck Circle
Synopsis: Rather than flooding the site with Super Bowl articles, me and the other writers rolled our thoughts into one large panel discussion.

Note: This article is a collaborative piece from Blake Murphy, Stu Wilkinson, Alex Pennycook, Sam, Dave Power, Trevor Smith, Deven Hiscock, and Kyle Norton.

This Sunday while I’m deep into a medium pizza and a pound of wings ($20, Double Double Colossus Deal, what it do!) and an intense NBA Jam Session rematch with Stu (last year I defeated him in my rookie contest, this year we will be posting our box-score and a review article), the rest of the world will be watching the SuperBowl. Have you heard of it? Every television station and website (sports or not) has been covering the event non-stop for two weeks and I’ve actually made an active attempt to limit the amount of football coverage on the site to this Super Article. Upon launch of the site, I e-mailed all of our writers (potential or legit) with five questions they had the option to answer as part of an enormous SuperBowl panel. Well, here is my space- and time-saving brainchild come to fruition, with the responses of eight different writers to five burning SuperBowl questions. All the hype you need in just one article.

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Question 1: What does the SuperBowl mean to you?
Blake: That’s an easy one. Four words: Double Double Colossus Deal. And four more words: NBA Jam Session Rematch. And four more final words: Me Crushing Stu, Again.Dave: A day to get together with the fellas and watch the two best teams in football square off, to see what coach has been able to prepare for the other, and which game plan will work best.Stu: Not much if the Steelers aren’t in it.

Sam: Typically, to me the Superbowl merely means pizza, beer, and a football game. The only difference between this and any other football game is that I watch this one with friends. Sure, it’s the championship, but after reading all the commentary and hearing all the bowl-talk, I almost just want to get on with the off-season! (I actually would rather watch the draft than the Superbowl!)

Deven: A chance to gorge on chicken wings and beer while watching the most ridiculous pre-game shows all Sunday afternoon. The SuperBowl in my mind is the most over-hyped sporting event in the world, but I’ll never miss it. The game itself sometimes seems like a side note compared to the halftime show and amount of money spent on American commercials (which we don’t get the privilege of seeing, but that’s another story for another day).

The SuperBowl is the chance for someone (or in this case a team) to step up and live for eternity in SuperBowl history, or infamy. The fact that it is supposed to be the biggest game of the year but is hardly ever ithe best game is one more noticeable aspect of the SuperBowl. We have been blessed with a few memorable finishes in the last decade, but I don’t see that happening this year.

Trevor: The Super Bowl is perhaps the greatest American cultural paradox of all. At once it is both a symbol for all that is brilliant and right about athletics while also serving as a testament to the glutiny and excess of our culture. On the field itself, we see the highest level of a game that epitomizes the Western definition of strength of character, fortitude and determination. Off the field, we see two-weeks worth of hype and decadence that underscores our knack for superabundance and the distortion of our values. Which is to make no mention of the millions of pounds of food consumption, dazzling commercials, and mediocre musical performances that go hand-in-hand with this de facto holiday. The Superbowl defines what it means to be overblown, self-important, and spectacular all at once, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Kyle: I am actually not a very big Super Bowl fan at all because I think the hoopla of it all gets in the way of the football. The quality of game isn’t as good because there is so little flow and we don’t even get the good commercials in Canada. That being said I’m always really pumped for it but I just wish there could be more football and less Tom Petty. The season doesn’t mean much unless you win it all so everything is on the line.

Alex: First thing I think about is all the hype surrounding the game… even though it is almost guaranteed to be a huge disappointment. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case again this year with huge blowout potential for the Pats. Since the game probably won’t be that great the best thing you can do is just sit back, order some food and watch the game with some friends and enjoy.
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Question 2: What is your favorite storyline/subplot of this year’s game?
Alex: Definitely the trend we are seeing of mediocre QB’s making it to the big game. Last year with Rexy it was somewhat believable because the Bears D won them so many games… who actually thought that Eli could carry the Giants through 3 road playoff games to make it to the dance.

Kyle: I don’t think you could imagine a better storyline going into the Super Bowl. This game is the greatest David vs. Goliath match-up of all time. The New England Patriots are potentially the greatest collection of players ever to play football and on the other side of the ball, no NFC Wildcard team has made it into the Super Bowl in 33 years, which the New York Football Giants have done despite a very rocky regular season. The Giants were able to keep it close the last time they played and they could play the role of spoiler like never before.

Trevor: Tom Brady’s right ankle. The Golden Boy will definitely be playing every snap come Sunday, but his effectiveness and productivity will be a huge concern. There is the potential that he does not have full strength in his ankle and that he will have finite mobility. With curbed speed, he may not be able to properly step-up in the pocket in the face of the Giants formidable pass-rush and could have significant difficulty moving the ball vertically. Then again, he is Tom F’ing Brady, Mr. Touchdown Record, American Dream, MVP Tom Brady, so I don’t suspect it will effect his play in the end. Having missed three practices last week to rest, Mr. Bündchen looks like he will have full range and strength. Hopefully TMZ.com will have an update on his status before game time.

Sam: See above: I don’t care! However, being a history major, I do want to experience a little history and see the ‘Pats go undefeated. Being a Cowboys fan, I also will find extreme satisfaction in watching the Giants get demolished.

Deven: Obviously the perfect season is the biggest story line, especially since no one ever thought it would happen in this free agent era. The thought that a team is in the SuperBowl with a chance to have a perfect season is still hard to believe, but I think the ’72 Dolphins should be very nervous. If New England wins this year and brings back Randy Moss and company for another year, the question could be when will the Patriots lose again?

Also the whole Tom Brady boot mania, the speculation about his foot was entertaining as well. It was nice to see Pats fans sweat for the first time all year for a little bit.

Stu: Tom Brady’s inevitable run at Phil Simms’ Super Bowl passing efficiency record.

Dave: I dislike the New York Giants but I dislike Peyton Manning much more, and I would love for little Eli to win and rub it in his brother’s face. Yes Peyton has one, but also has a .500 playoff record, and a win for the Giants would give him two more wins over the .500 level.

As well, obviously, to see the Pats go 19-0 and come right into Mercury Morris’ living room and drink some of the champagne he was saving for when they ‘eventually’ lost.

Blake: Whether Tom Brady will be sporting a SuperBowl caliber hair cut. Throughout this perfect season he has juggled a bowl cut under his helmet with highly fashionable ‘controlled messy’ styles off the field. He has likewise juggled sports photo shoots and his ‘just worked out’ bowlcut with modelling photo shoots ‘my girlfriend styles my hair’ styles. The biggest question of the SuperBowl is not the question of perfection, Eli’s looming choke-job, or the unbelievable karma going to asshole Boston sports fans, it’s whether, with a perfect season on the line, Brady will stray from his winning bowl cut to a more marketable sideline look.
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Question 3: You can give a Priceless Pep Talk to one member of each team. What do you say, and to who?
Dave: “Eli, I know they took Seinfield off the air but you need to get past that and play a perfect game for your Giants to win, I WANT A VICTORY” followed by Eli yelling “NO I WANT A VICTORY HUUUUUUUH!”

Deven: On the New York Giants, I talk to Lawerence Tynes. If his team gives him a chance to kick a game winning field goal in regulation in the SuperBowl, he better make it, or never show his face in New York again. Tynes missed two field goals of just 36 and 43 yards in the fourth quarter of the N.F.C. title game. Luckily his defense bailed him out in overtime, intercepting Favre and giving Tynes the shot at redemption. When he snagged a 47 yard boot through the uprights, it was he first postseason field goal by an opposing team over 40 yards in Lamebeau Field history.

I would also pull aside Zak DeOssie (Giants Long snapper) and tell him the same thing I told Tynes, only because his snap for the winning field goal in the fourth quarter was high.

On the New England Patriots I pull aside Donte’ Stallworth and tell him to keep at it even though he has only had five receptions in the playoffs thus far. The SuperBowl is the time for money players to step up and shine and Stallworth is a money player. While being overlooked because of the success of Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Jabar Gaffney, people forget Stallworth is a game breaker. I would tell Stallworth that this is the game where he breaks out against the depleted Giants secondary. With too many options for Brady and not enough defensive backs, Stallworth will be open.

Kyle: A Priceless Pep Talk for Lawrence Tynes.
“Hey there, little guy. Rough game in the conference championships the other week. You know what though, don’t sweat it. You have to play almost 10 plays a game. That must be really grueling. Don’t worry though, next week you will probably only have to kick once at kickoff. The Giants won’t get within field goal range and we KNOW they’re not going to score so you’re safe. Good luck cheerleading on Sunday.”

Blake: I give the talk to Brother Eli: Look little bro, you’re gonna lose this Sunday, and you’re probably gonna choke in the process. Don’t feel bad. I made a career out of choking against the Patriots and it made my eventual SuperBowl payoff that much bigger. Let’s be honest, you’re in the NFC so you’ll have another shot at some point. In the meantime, I found a way to market the Eli face after you blow it on Sunday: lemonade commercials, it’s perfect.

For the Patriots, I give the whole team a pep talk at once, without speaking a word. Instead, I just instruct Tom Terrific to look each man in the eyes, and they’ll know what to do.

Stu: Michael Strahan – “So I heard you have a family of illegal immigrants living in between your two front teeth. Well keep your head up big man, because if the Republicans win the White House those Mexicans will be out of your life and a good American family will have a place to live.”

Randy Moss – “Word is you like to smoke weed. You should probably indulge yourself a lot before the game – when are you going to get the chance to play in the Super Bowl high again? Yeah, you’re feeling me.”

Sam: Pats: “The Giant’s? You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Giants: “…Fuck”

Trevor: New England: To Rodney Harrison, “Hey, Rodney, where do I inject the steroids again?”

New York: To Eli Manning, “Hey, Eli. So I hear your bummed about having your older brother overshadow everything you do at your job? I hear ya. Look, I have to be honest, if he weren’t your brother you probably wouldn’t be famous or successful in the first place, so maybe don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, you know what I mean? Realistically, no one that isn’t drunk or high thinks you are going to win this game, so at least no one will be upset at you when its over. Oh, and buy bigger shirts.”

Alex: Definitely Brandon Jacobs. No one on that Patriot D can stop him and if he ran directly into one of those older guys like Seau and Harrison he has the potential to break every bone in their body.
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Question 4: Who is the most important player/person to each team this Sunday, and why?
Sam: The Patriot’s most important player is Asante Samuel. He has to cover Plaxico Burress, who is really the only threat the Giants have. If Samuel can shut down Burress, and maybe rough him up a bit, then the Giants have no chance. At all.

The Giants need Brandon Jacobs to have a huge, massive, monster, GIANT (how many more adjectives can I use?) game. Not only will this limit the possession time that Brady will have to score, but it may also (unlikely) coax the Pats into playing a grind-it-out game. This was the reason the Giants made it this far (they were able to dictate the style of play to their advantage), and if they can do it against the Pats, they have a shot. They need to make this a ground-game.

Alex: Eli Manning will be the most important player for New York. The reason why the Giants have made it this far is because he’s just been playing great football. He’s been making the right reads and not forcing the ball which has allowed their solid running game to take things over.

For the Pats, the key thing for them will be how well their O-line can handle Osi and Strahan. If they can keep Brady protected he’ll be able to pick apart the Giant secondary the entire game. The only shot the Giants have of keeping the game close will be if they can constantly keep pressure on the Pats.

Trevor: New England: Randy “I Play When I Wanna” Moss. The most talented player on the field Sunday will decide whether or not the Patriots pursuit of perfection comes up a game short. Moss has been oddly silent during the playoffs, perhaps as a result of his domestic issues. He proved in Minnesota that he shines in the biggest of games though (to the point that Joe Buck’s head still hasn’t stopped spinning over Moon-Gate) and all it takes is one play for him to flip a game on its head.

New York: Brandon Jacobs. Plain and simple, the Giants need to keep the Patriots offense off the field and that unenviable task will fall directly on Jacobs’ incredibly wide shoulders. If he can take the pressure off of Eli by keeping the Giants out of 3rd-and-long and keep Brady off the field, the Giants have a real chance of keeping the game close. On the flipside, if the G-Men are unable to establish ball control early or if Jacobs wears down, the game could get ugly pretty quickly.

Stu: Tom Brady: Pretty obvious.

Plaxico Burress: A couple ridiculous catches on fades in the end zone could nullify that solid red zone defense we saw from New England in the AFC Championship. Also, if he somehow wins MVP hilarity would ensue.

Blake: New England Patriots: Wes Welker. Just ask Dave and Al, he is by far the greatest wide receiver, slot receiver, white player, white person,and human being of all time. Seriously though, the Giants defense is decent so Kevin Faulk and Wes Welker will play a big role in the passing game with screens and short routes.

New York Giants: Plaxico Burress. Even though Asante Samuel is a tough match-up, the Giants are actually the best team in the NFC when Plex is playing at 100%. Unfortunately, he only tried for four regular season games and then last week’s game, but on the SuperBowl stage I think he’ll show up to play. If not, I hope Eli has thick skin.

Kyle: The New England Patriots live and die by Tom Brady but I would say that a large factor of his success has been his offensive line. Pro Bowler Matt Light will have the task of stopping the relentless rush attack of Osi Umenyiora and Kawika Mitchell coming off the right side. If Light can stop the Giants rushers from breaking through and give his quarterback time, Brady should be able to pick apart the Giants secondary.

In the other locker room, I think the tandem of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw need to step up big time. The Giants need to use the clock to their advantage and grind out scoring drives. It’s too much to ask for of Eli Manning to shoulder the offensive burden against the Patriots’ staunch defense. If Jackson can rumble through the middle for some significant yardage, the Pats defense will have to bring another man in the box therefore opening up the secondary.

Deven: The most important player for the New York Giants is Osi Umenyoira. If the Giants are going to have any chance, they are going to need pressure on Tom Brady from the defensive line. If the Giants want to drop back everyone in coverage and hope to stop Brady, Umenyiora will have to get up close and personal with number 12 in blue. Jacksonville took that approach in the Divisional round and held Brady in check for the first half. When the defensive line got tired in the second half, Brady had all day to pick apart the zone defense, which he did with ease.

Rodney Harrison is the key to the game for the New England Patriots. His job will be to get into the face of Eli Manning and the Giants running backs. You constantly see his 6’1, 220 pound frame somehow come flying, unblocked into the backfield for a sack, tackle for loss, or quarterback hurry. If the Giants can control Harrison and force him to become a cover strong safety it will give Manning more time. The key for the Giants is to establish the run to enable more play-action fakes, and Harrison will have to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Dave: New England – Wes Welker: they are going to take away the deep threat of Randy like every team has so far in the playoffs, so he needs to be ready to take those underneath catches for ten yards and make Brady’s job much easier.

New York – Defensive line: the pressure has to be put on Brady, if he has time to have a coffee like normal, he will eat the Giants secondary apart.
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Question 5: Who will win the game? What will be the score? SuperBowl MVP?
Deven: New England wins the Super Bowl 38-20, with Wes Welker named the SuperBowl MVP.

Alex: I LIKE THE GIANTS… to cover the spread, but that’s about it. The Pats will win 31-21 and Brady will win MVP.

Blake: Tom Brady fans win. Three or four hours of sideline shots of Tom, plus the obvious hours of pre-game and post-game footage, there is just no better way to spend a Sunday than Twelve Hours of Tom. I’m almost certain if the Pats win we’ll be seeing Tom Brady TV-HD in the next six months, and it will out-subscribe the Playboy Channel. I know which one I’ll order.

On the forreal though, Pats take it in a game that’s closer than most think: Pats 27-17, Kevin Faulk is MVP.

Dave: New England 38 New York 27, and Wes Welker will be the MVP with 13 receptions for 130 yards and 2 TD’s. Book it!

Sam: The Patriots will win the game and Asante Samuel will get MVP. He will intercept two passes as Manning plays catch-up, taking one back for a TD. Brady should get MVP because he’ll throw about 4 TDs, but the NFL likes to spread the wealth.

…is it draft time yet???

Stu: Pats 45 – Giants 17. MVP: Tom Brady.

Kyle: I’m rooting for history in this one. I think the Patriots will just be too much for the Giants. It’s been a great run but this New England team simply has too many weapons and too many ways to hurt you. I don’t think we’re going to see a blowout but the Giants will fall behind early and have to play catch-up, which is going to result in turnovers and then points for the Patriots. Tom Brady will be hoisting the Lombardi trophy and the Super Bowl MVP award after the Patriots defeat the Giants by a score of 34 – 19.

Trevor: (In President Bill Pullman’s Voice) There are times in history where Goliaths run into the Davids of this world, those that find just the right amount of skill, opportunity, and luck to take down the strongest of opponents. Times where invincible units are overcome as much by circumstance as by the inextinguishable heart of their rival. Times when the world as one remembers that truly anything is possible to he whom is willing to try.

Sunday will not be ones of those times. Pats trample the G-Men 35-13 as Brady secures his third Super Bowl MVP.
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So there you have it. We collected the superior sports knowledge of eight different writers here on the site and provided you with a condensed version of two weeks of hype and a season’s worth of knowledge. Now you are ready for all of this to be regurgitated in an incorrect manner delivered at a 3rd-grade speaking level via annoying outdoor voices for several hours on Sunday. Do yourself a favor: grab some food and some friends, give this article a re-read, and drink/eat/talk your face off.

Note: This article is a collaborative piece from Blake Murphy, Stu Wilkinson, Alex Pennycook, Samuel Cassady, Dave Power, Trevor Smith, Deven Hiscock, and Kyle Norton.