Man. It's been a long time since I've done this.
An entire football season in fact. Crazy.
But, I think after another terrific Super Bowl, the time has come for me to resurface again with this. Lots to get to as another football season, thankfully for me because my two teams were absolutely horrible, has come to an end.
But what a way to end it.
Super Bowl LII: Philadelphia Eagles, underdogs the whole way through vs the New England Patriots. The Dynasty. Five time champs. The best quarterback to ever play the game.
If you'd have told me that Brady would throw for 500 yards I'd have told you there's no way Philadelphia would be walking away with the trophy.
But walk away with the trophy they did. Because Nick Foles, who at one point was out of football after several various stops, gave it one more chance not long ago and eventually got a ring.
He earned it too. He played the game of his life. The Patriots could not stop the Philadelphia Eagles offense and Nick Foles' passing attack.
Even when the Patriots (predictably) took the lead 33-32 in the fourth quarter, the Eagles did not fold as Atlanta did a year ago when the Patriots came back on them. That next drive after the Patriots took the lead was clutch; a seven minute drive that drained almost all of the clock.
Yes, Brady had one more shot after that, but the Eagles defense finally did what I felt they had to do in the most critical moment of the game; get to him and apply pressure. That's what caused the turnover that was the biggest nail in the coffin to the Patriots on Sunday.
A few other things I took out of that Super Bowl:
1. I don't know if it was jitters or what, but the kicking game for both teams early in the Super Bowl was really ragged. A couple of extra points missed, a chipshot field goal missed by New England, etc.
2. Philadelphia has three very good running backs which is a huge advantage. Obviously the quarterback is the most important position but depth at running back is key too. Philly has three good ones in Blount, Ajayi and former Wisconsin Badger Corey Clement. One of them is going to free agency...Blount. My guess is he will not be back in Philly next year, they can afford to lose him. Ajayi still has one year on his deal and Clement still has a couple.
3. I still wonder how Patriots receivers get so wide open. Every game.
4. Gronkowski of the Patriots is still the most impossible receiver or tight end to cover in football. That guy is a matchup nightmare.
5. As great as that moment was for Foles, I sense that he could be used as trade bait. He has the choice to option out of his contract after next season and Carson Wentz is still the guy in Philadelphia, playoff run aside. He can be used as bait to get a key guy on defense.
With that said, my way-too-early top 5 for 2018:
1. New England - No folks, the Patriot Death Star isn't going anywhere. Yes, they lost their top two coordinators, but it's still Brady and Belichick. The dynasty is close to being over but it isn't over yet. They will be the team to beat once again barring injury.
2. New Orleans - The Saints are very good and could very easily have been in at least the NFC title game this year. Weapons all over the field; Brees, Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara (who is an impressive, explosive young player), Michael Thomas, Willie Snead.
And they have a defense now too.
Their division isn't very good either. Tampa Bay hasn't lived up to what I thought they would, Carolina is ruining Cam Newton, and Atlanta is on the downside. The Saints will win 12 or 13 next year barring injury IMHO.
3. Philadelphia - Maybe they won't go back to back but this is the beginning of a great run for Philadelphia. Carson Wentz has many years ahead of him, two great running backs, very good front four. They will definitely be back in the playoffs a year from now with a shot to repeat.
4. Jacksonville - The arrival of Tom Coughlin to the Jaguars front office changed everything about that team. The expectations, the attitude, etc. They have the talent to win a lot of games and now they act like it. They have a ferocious defense and Fournette and I think with a weak AFC South in front of them they will be right back in contention again.
5. Dallas - This is the out on a limb pick.
I don't even like the Cowboys, but they definitely would have been in the playoffs had Goodell not screwed with Jerry Jones and Elliott. Now Zeke has that behind him and can focus on football. If Elliott plays all 17 and Dallas can shore the defense up somewhat they will definitely be in the playoffs and can make a deep run.
To a bit of college football now. Alabama won the title once again, basically business as usual for them. The second time that Alabama did not win its conference, yet walked out with the big trophy. Funny thing is, the Alabama team of 2016-17 was probably better than this one but lost because of one player. Yet, this year's team walked out with a trophy.
Also the third straight time that Alabama and Clemson met in the playoffs this year, and all three times the winner of that game won the title. And if those two programs keep on the same trajectories, it'll probably happen again in 2019.
On the other side of that national title game, I know a lot of people will be high on Georgia once again with Smart running the show, but I don't think they'll get that good a look again personally. Their SEC West crossovers are LSU and Auburn, and the East will get better. Florida will be better with Mullen, South Carolina is improved with Muschamp running the show, Tennessee you know will have to be better.
One last quick thought on college football especially for any Aggies that may run across this: You vastly overpaid for Fisher. 10 years guaranteed and 75 million. Bad move. By comparison, Nebraska's Scott Frost contract (35 million over 7 years) is a total bargain. There's no way I'd give any coach 10 guaranteed years with that much money.
I said this after the Ags gave Fisher that contract and I'll say it again: If I was Kirk Ferentz at Iowa I'd have walked into Gary Barta's (athletic director) office and told him, "You're paying me 5 million to go 7-5 every year and look what Jimbo Fisher is getting. I want a raise."
And my guess is he'd get it too.
I'll get back more into college football with recruiting signing day coming up tomorrow, will probably have a recap later this week.
Until next time....
