Super Bowl XLIX - A Brief Overview

Another Super Bowl is now officially in the books. Playing with fully inflated balls last night, the Patriots held off Seattle's last ditch attempt for the championship. Pete Carroll's decision to pass from the 1-yard line will go down as the perhaps the worst play-call in Super Bowl history. The look on Richard Sherman's face after the New England interception was priceless. The usually outspoken cornerback was utterly speechless as he watched victory literally being snatched away from the Seahawks in the final minute.

Yep, Sherman's expression says it all.....

I watched the game at the local Greene Turtle. There was a young guy sitting across from us who was wearing a Patriots jersey. Surrounded by mostly Patriot-haters, he took a good amount of verbal abuse during the game. He took it all very well and defended his team throughout. However, when it looked like Seattle was going to win the game, he started to take on the look of a disgruntled postal worker. He blankly stared into space as everyone around him celebrated. Realizing that the guy could be a ticking timebomb, I kept him in my peripheral vision. If he decided hurl a beer mug, I wanted ample time to duck.

Well, when New England intercepted the ball in the end zone, the Pat's fan jumped up like he was hit with a defibrillator. He instantly came out of his trance and loudly reminded everyone that this is New England's fourth Super Bowl title. Yeah, yeah, we can count, buddy. Meanwhile, the rest of the bar was venting with various profanity-laced outbursts. I almost expected to see their beer mugs sailing through the room. But in the end, there were no injuries to report and everyone made it home safely.

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I could almost feel the pain of Seattle fans. It was their game to win but the Seahawks somehow took the alternative. Pete Carroll's decision to pass on the goal-line will be scrutinized and criticized for quite some time. But, let me say this in Carrol's defense. He decided to pick on undrafted rookie cornerback, Malcolm Butler. From what I understand, Butler was working at a Foot Locker last year. Now, he was in the spotlight in front of millions of people. So, in that sense, I can almost understand going at him with a pass play..........On second thought, scratch that. They should have still pounded Marshawn Lynch up the middle! What the hell was Pete Carroll thinking?!?

With this being said, I don't think last night will really change anything in the way of the Patriot's legacy. For the past decade, as much as I hate to admit it, they've been a great team. Last night's victory is just another feather in their cap. Even if Seattle had won last night, New England's elite status wouldn't have really been affected, in my opinion.

And I must add this.....It was reported earlier today that Tom Brady gave his MVP prize (a Chevy truck) to Malcolm Butler. I'm certainly no Tom Brady fan, but this was a class act on his part. Ok, I'm done now...

It's been quite an eventful season in the NFL this year but it's finally over. See you next year......

kw