Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Deep Thoughts on the NFL

By Kevin Ferra

* Maybe it is me. I was born in August of 1980. Earlier that year, the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers were completing their fourth Super Bowl title in six years. They were the elite team in the NFL and you would assume that over the next quarter century they would at least win the Super Bowl one more time. You know what they say about assumptions, right? The Steelers have not won the title since, and lost in their only showing, losing Super bowl XXX to the Dallas Cowboys in January of 1996. I ask that any Steelers fan born in 1980 really take a look in the mirror. If you are the jinx, please come forward.

* Message to Plaxico Burress: are you a big-time receiver or not? You have shown flashes, but when the Ben throws you a lob in the end zone, you have to come down with the ball. You are six-foot and a billion inches! You were covered by a 5-10 Defensive back, it's the AFC championship game, that touchdown would have put the Steelers within one score with the entire fourth quarter to go. You dropped it, and Bill Cowher elected for a field goal instead. GAME OVER. Good luck in Baltimore.

* I do not blame this game on Coach Cowher, but going for the field goal with 4th-and-goal down by 14 points in the fourth quarter was questionable to say the least. Bill, you are at home, momentum is huge, and a touchdown there and it's a game again. Considering the Patriots stopped the Steelers earlier on 4th-and-1, I could see why he chose to do this, but I say go big or go home. The Steelers went home.

* The city of Pittsburgh is a great place filled with great people. Our passion for football is endless. I know first hand, as I live in the D.C. area, but commute back to work every game at Heinz field as an usher. It consumes my entire fall schedule and this year has been amazing, but after the latest AFC championship loss, I am not sure if I can do it again. Leaving the stadium on Sunday night was like being at a funeral. By Monday, it was a ghost town. Keep your head held high, Steelers fans; we lost two games all year, both to teams we also beat during the year. After the jinx steps forward, I think we'll be just fine.

* Big Ben is 22-years-old! Don't forget that. Three interceptions in an AFC championship game might make you angry, but Ben is young and I think he'll have another shot at a title, so be easy on the guy.

* On a flip note, can you imagine being a Philadelphia Eagles fan right now? THE RELIEF! What a major hurdle your team got over. At least for the next two weeks you should be on cloud nine. You have an even bigger game ahead. Not only do you guys get a shot at taking down the defending Super Bowl champions, you get to do it in the Super Bowl! With or without T.O., the Eagles have proved to be a worthy opponent. I will be rooting for you in the big game, help western Pennsylvania out and take down the Pats. Patriots fans, beware, you will have to conquer all of the Keystone state to be considered a dynasty. Philly, defend the state, please!

* Speaking of dynasties, the Patriots are on the brink of doing just that in an era where that is unheard of. A win against the Eagles puts Tom Brady into the Hall of Fame and the Pats as a dynasty.

* So which is it, dynasty for the Patriots or destiny for the Eagles? I, for one, believe in destiny.

* So here it goes, never thought I'd be writing this: E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!