1. I wasn't the only one who predicted Aaron Rodgers would shine as the MVP of the Super Bowl or that Jordy Nelson would be a real difference-maker...or even that the score would be 31-21 (so I was a few points off). Every once in a while my crystal ball really works well.
2. When Christina Aguilera botched the national anthem, people in the room I was watching it in all kind of exchanged immediate puzzled looks. It appeared that people on hand even knew but she blew past the gaffe with such force and emotion that people in the stadium seemed to forgive and forget quickly. The song is sung or played before every sporting event in this country. I played in an alumni soccer game at my high school and we had the national anthem played prior to kickoff. It is no shock that the song gets botched from time to time...it is inevitable. But when a critically acclaimed singer like Christina makes the error, before the most-watched event on TV, I think it is a big deal. And yet I don't think Troy Aikman or Joe Buck mentioned it at all. Am I way off here or should they have said some something? Did I miss it?
3. I should never be shocked anymore at how much hype our hype-machines can create when they really focus. I mean, holy crap...there was so much build-up and so many added video snippets and introductions. It seemed excessive to me, even given the over-the-top profile that the Super Bowl now claims. It is the premier event in the premier sport in America. The NFL has become this unstoppable force that plows through global economic recessions, international unrest and hopefully even labor strife. I understand that if anything is going to get hyped in 2011, it should be the Super Bowl--especially given the match-up we were provided. But having said all of that...it just seemed like too much.
4. The Steelers could have overcome Ben's two interceptions. The Mendenhall fumble though...that one was the game-killer.
5. The Doritos and Budweiser commercials were pretty good. I tend to appreciate the ludicrous, taking it one step too far kind of style. The Audi commercial with the wealthy old people locked up had some promise as a concept I thought, but I question the wisdom of marketing such a high-priced luxury item to the beer-drinking masses of this country--most of whom can't even afford the more moderately priced vehicles on the other MILLION car commercials we saw last night. When I woke up this morning, my wife told me I kept saying "Detroit is back" in my sleep. Well played, Detroit.
6. The Santana Moss news was kind of the other thing I spent time during the Super Bowl thinking about. We all have heard by now that Adam Shefter reported that Moss would become an unrestricted free agent, assuming the CBA stuff gets worked out. On one hand, losing a player of his caliber for nothing would hurt (you all know I have advocated trading him this offseason if we had the chance). On the other hand, this is yet another result of the Redskins coming out of the uncapped year and the old CBA with relatively clean books. Should the CBA be worked out with enough time to accommodate a decent free agency period, the Redskins should have ample room to operate. I understand the point many of you have made in recent months in response to my suggestion we should move Moss--that we need his talent and experience. My point was just that he is one of the few players with value that we might be able to successfully market to another squad. Either way, that debate seems a bit moot at this point. Please don't think for a second that I would lead or participate in any kind of celebration of Santana's exit. But to some degree, it does feel like it is time to move on. My hope is that Moss lands on a squad that can use him in a Wes Welker kind of role. If he finds that kind of team, he will have a HUGE year and possibly get to the postseason where we can all root for him to get a ring.
Quick-hitters:
Does this mean we are that much more likely to go WR at #10?
Is anyone out there feeling the excitement building around an Anthony Armstrong, Malcolm Kelly, Ryan Torain and Rex Grossman-led offense? I didn't think so.