Deja Who Dat?

The Daily Hat Trick has, more or less, been retired since late 2014. Changes in life, new opportunities, and new family dynamics have made it prohibitive to produce regular content, though I am very thankful for the roughly four-plus years of regular readers that visited the Hat Trick. While this post is not likely to be read by all but a handful of Facebook friends and Twitter followers (as the search standing of a dormant blog PLUMMETS) a handful of topics have compelled me to come out of hibernation.

Who knows? Perhaps a handful of you still check every once in a while to see if there is new Hat Trick content. The Daily Hat Trick still gets a little more than twenty hits per day (twenty more than the author gives it) and I thank those of you who still check out the oldies!

WHY NOW?

Most recently, the Daily Hat Trick remembered sports figures who passed away in 2016, commented on the 25th anniversary of Magic Johnson's HIV announcement, and the nonstop hot water the the New England Patriots and Tom Brady stayed in because of the "Deflategate" scandal.

About a month ago, I could never have imagined seriously writing on this subject. However, I've stopped laughing at the thought as a fan's optimism. It is worth discussing among serious sports fans: the New Orleans Saints are legitimate Super Bowl contenders in 2017.


SMALL STUMBLE

The Saints started 0-2 with consecutive, and convincing, losses to the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots (two of a small number of other serious contenders to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February). The same old story was playing out: great offense led by a Hall of Fame quarterback in Drew Brees and a mad scientist offensive mastermind on the sideline in Head Coach Sean Payton...a defense that--due to inexperience, bad chemistry, lack of discipline and maybe a lack of talent--could not stop a runny nose, let alone an NFL offense.

Then it started to happen. The defense began getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Rookie cornerback and Saints 2017 first round draft pick Marshon Lattimore's pro talent began to visibly blossom more with each passing week. Injured players returned to--and remained in--the lineup. The offense, already potent, appeared to be more in sync with passing weeks.

An unexpected, must-win, road victory over the favored Carolina Panthers, NFC South champions in two of the last three seasons, kept the Saints on life support. The patient could then breath on his own and was released from the hospital after a shut out win over the Miami Dolphins in London. Utter destruction of an offensively potent Detroit Lions team put the Saints noses above the .500 water level for the first time since 2013. "Maybe they won't suck this year," I thought.

Adrian Peterson doesn't have Sean Payton to scream at, anymore. 2

WHO DAT LEADING THE PACK?

After a stroke of misfortune for the Green Bay Packers--Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone, ending his season--becoming the good fortune of the Saints, who would visit the Packers on the following Sunday, the Saints have looked like, and played like, one of the best teams in the NFL this season.

During nearly every sports team turn-around story, there is a moment in which an observer thinks, "This is a different team...this team is 'for real'." For this blogger, that moment came this past Sunday. The Saints went to visit the Buffalo Bills, a (then) 5-3 team, loaded with defensive talent, which takes the ball away from opponents as well as any team in the league. They utterly demolished the Bills, leading by as many as 44 points the Saints' largest margin of victory away from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome since 1987.

Last Sunday's win made a statement for a number of reasons. The Saints were away from home. Drew Brees threw for fewer than 200 yards and did not throw a touchdown pass; the running game was dominant. The defense only allowed three points until the final two minutes of the game. Buffalo has a winning record. This is the Saints seventh consecutive win, their longest winning streak since 2011 (arguably their best, ever, regular season in the 51-year history of the franchise).

Saints running back Mark Ingram even had time to have a beer with the fans. 1

SUPER TALK IS SUPER SOON

The Saints only won seven games in each of the last three seasons and have already matched that total. The Saints still have seven regular season games remaining, including contests at the Los Angeles Rams (7-2), hosting the Carolina Panthers (7-3), and home-and-away matchups against their archrivals, the defending NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons. They are in a great position, but have ensured nothing at it relates to the postseason. For any of the efforts of the last two months to matter, they have to continue winning, especially within their division.

Still, there is a momentum and an optimism surrounding the Saints that only happens, to this degree, once every few years. This is only the seventh time in the franchise's half-century history in which it has started a season this well through nine games. Super Bowl talk is not far fetched.

Need more proof? Today, I saw the first new Saints Super Bowl song and video that I've seen in several years. Who Dat!

Actually, this is a few years old, but it's new to me.

Video from YouTube.com
1) Image from www.usatoday.com
2) Image from www.totalprosports.com

Illuminating!

After yesterday's Super Bowl, and spectacular halftime show, the topic of today's Chick Pic, singer Beyonce' Knowles should not be a big surprise.

That's a nice dress. 1

Even the outline of Beyonce is hot...literally. 2

That is a nice color on her (is there any color that wouldn't be?). 3

The lady in red look is fitting, too. 4

5

TOUCHDOWN! Beyonce' is a ten who scored six last night! 6

1) Image from http://wedofunny.wordpress.com
2) Image from http://thescottishsun.co.uk
3) Image from www.lynrd.com
4) Image from www.zimbio.com
5) Image from www.flixya.com
6) Image from www.bleacherreport.com

LIGHTS OUT!

Another NFL season is in the books and for the second time in NFL history, the Baltimore Ravens are Super Bowl champions. This game offered a little of everything: big offensive plays, huge defensive efforts, game breaking special teams, a big comeback and a game-deciding fourth down and goal play. As has been the case in recent years, the Super Bowl was super. 

2

DICTATING THE TEMPO

The team scoring first in the Super Bowl has won the Super Bowl most of the time. When a team jumps up by 22 points or more, as the Ravens did, they’ve never lost. The Ravens hit the 49ers with deep passes, stingy red zone defense and forced turnovers in the first half. The 49ers were unable to convert either of their drives deep into Ravens territory and were stonewalled before halftime.

In the pass-friendly NFL, with an explosive and dynamic quarterback like Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers, a 21-6 halftime deficit is not necessarily the kiss of death. The 108 yard kickoff return for a touchdown by the Ravens’ Jacoby Jones to start the second half could have been. With the momentum completely shifted to Baltimore in the third quarter and the Niners on their way out of the game in spirit, though not in body, Colin Kapernick played lights out. But before he played lights out, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome went lights out…literally.

Beyonce' and her halftime performance were hot! The second half could have used some of her illumination. 1

LIGHTING UP THE STADIUM

A problem involving a breaker caused the electricity in the Superdome to fail, causing half of the lights in the stadium to shut off. The power outage caused a delay of roughly 30 minutes in the Super Bowl. To say the stoppage in play could have decided the outcome of the game would be hyperbole. To say that it had no impact would be naïve.

The Ravens had the 49ers on football-life-support. Down 22 points in the second half and having never scored a touchdown in the game, I am not unconvinced that a sense of panic set in among some of the 49ers. The momentum was completely on the side of the Ravens. The half-hour stoppage in play gave the 49ers an unexpected opportunity to settle down, shake off the panic, go back to the drawing board, and restart their second half game plan. It may have helped the Niners; it did not help the Ravens.

The 49ers got into the end zone on their next full possession following the blackout on a 31 yard bomb from Kaepernick to Michael Crabtree. Then, capitalizing on a big punt return by Ted Ginn, Jr., the 49ers quickly got back into the end zone on a run by Frank Gore. Score: 28-20. Ballgame: up for grabs.

The Superdome had some Ravens fans and some 49ers fans, but the power outage in the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVII give a new maning to "a house divided". 3

FURIOUS FOURTH QUARTER

What transpired in the fourth quarter was a back-and-forth chess match that demonstrated why both of these teams were in Super Bowl XLVII in the first place. The Ravens could have melted under the warm glow of the red hot 49ers, as the Ravens were forced back on their heels almost immediately following Gore’s touchdown as Ray Rice lost a fumble just two plays into their ensuing possession. The Ravens stopped the Niners cold, only surrendering a field goal and holding on to a five point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Ravens answered the 49ers field goal. The 49ers rebutted with a swift 5 play, 76 yard touchdown drive capped with a 15 yard scoring run by Kaepernick. A failed two point conversion following the Kaepernick touchdown left the Ravens with a two point lead. After another clutch Justin Tucker field goal by Baltimore, Super Bowl XLVII was set for as exciting a final four minutes as any fan could ask for.

CHESS MATCH

Buoyed by a 33 yard gallop by 49ers running back Frank Gore, the 49ers were seven yards away from pulling off the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. With two 49ers timeouts remaining, it will remain a mystery to me why a star running back like Gore never touched the ball again. The Niners attempted three rushed passes into the end zone for Michael Crabtree, the last of which was on fourth and goal with 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh lobbying for a defensive penalty that would never be called. The Ravens managed the clock so that the 49ers would not run another offensive play and the Ravens became champions.   

  Jim Harbaugh wanted a flag on the incomplete fourth and goal pass. Wish in one hand; crap in the other and see which one fills up first, Jim. 4

FINAL STORYLINES

Bro Bowl I – Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh versus younger brother Jim Harbaugh, Head Coach of the 49ers, went to big brother. Future Hall of Fame Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis joined a very small fraternity of superstar American athletes like John Elway and Michael Jordan who retired after winning a championship. Joe Flacco’s stock rose closer to the top among NFL quarterbacks with his MVP performance. Future Hall of Famer Ed Reed, who will be a free agent in the coming offseason, punctuated his tenure in Baltimore with a championship.

The 49ers came up short but with their roster and their youth, I expect this team to be a perpetual contender for years to come. I expect Kapernick to become exponentially better in the coming years. I expect the 49ers, who have more than ten picks in the 2013 NFL Draft, to acquire even better player personnel next year. This team is going to be a force in the NFC for quite some time.

Brothers Jim and John Harbaugh, opposing coaches in Super Bowl XLVII, embrace at the end. 5

NEXT YEAR

Football fans have four seasons: preseason, regular season, postseason, and next season (or the offseason). Next year is here. More than any other American team sport, football is the closest to a true year round sport. There will be free agent acquisitions, the scouting combine, and the draft to occupy football fans until late April. This will lead into volunteer organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamps followed by training camp. And the cycle begins anew.

Until “next year”, the last live bullets we will have to remember were in yesterday’s dramatic Super Bowl. That final image is of a championship being won. Congratulations to the Baltimore Ravens.

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

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1) Image from www.ibtimes.com
2) Image from www.upi.com
3) Image from www.foxnews.com
4) Image from www.denverpost.com
5) Image from the Associated Press via www.huffingtonpost.com

Must See Sports - First Weekend of February, 2011

Due to some unavoidable obstacles, The Daily Hat Trick could not publish Must See Sports on its usual Thursday spot. Have no fear! The Daily Hat Trick is back in the saddle!


Thursday, February, 3, 2011

Miami Heat at Orlando Magic

Obviously, I am a tad late on this one, but it was all it was cracked up to be. This game is becoming a fierce rivalry and LeBron is pulling his weight in these battles. The Eastern Conference is back, folks.

Heat 104
Magic 100
FINAL

LeBron James: 51 points

Superman and The King: brining the relevance back to the East 1

Friday, February 4, 2011

Dallas Mavericks at Boston Celtics

The Mavs and Celtics battle in this nationally televised match. While not probable, it is a possible preview of the NBA Finals. The Mavericks appear to be back on track after experiencing a slump last month in the absence of forward Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki recently surpassed the 20,000 career points plateau and there is no reason to think he will slow down by tonight.

That said; the Celtics are healthy. They are hot. They are very tough to beat at home. While not a game breaking player, forward Peja Stojakovic is not traveling with the team and is not expected to make his debut with the Mavericks until Monday, at the earliest. When at a disadvantage, a catch and shoot guy on the perimeter could make a difference. Barring poor execution, I do not see Dallas ripping this game away in Bean Town.

Advantage: Celtics


Saturday, February 5, 2011

Los Angeles Lakers at New Orleans Hornets

Yes, I am getting my homer on. I am getting my Hornets on, too, tomorrow night. Yours truly stops at nothing to bring you close to the action and the Hat Trick will be on location for this Western Conference showdown. Alright...I bought tickets and I may as well take some notes and pictures. I fessed up. Happy?

This is a game that both teams need as both teams, strong contenders in the West, have dropped games in the past week that they had within their grasps. The Lakers lost a game to the league-best San Antonio Spurs on an Antonio McDyess put back with 0.3 seconds remaining as time expired. The Hornets dropped games to a then conference-worst Sacramento Kings.

Kobe appears frustrated to a point bordering on anger and the Hornets are banged up, with point guard Chris Paul playing on a tweaked ankle and center Emeka Okafor out with a strained oblique muscle. The Black Mamba always seems to, for whatever reason, step his game up and bite the Bees at The Hive, no matter how well or poorly the other nine players are performing on the court.

Advantage: Lakers

I love watching Kobe play in person but I hate how he impacts the final score when I see him in New Orleans. 2

NCAA Men's College Basketball
Kentucky Wildcats (11) at Florida Gators (23)

The Florida Gators are in first place in the SEC East and, at this point in the season, it would be unfair of me to call Florida's standing "smoke and mirrors". But as I look at the record, the schedule, the statistical rankings, and the results, I cannot help but think Florida's bubble is going to burst. They hook up with the division rival Kentucky Wildcats in a late, 9:00 EST start on ESPN.

The Gators earned a quality win at Vanderbilt earlier this week. However, Florida only has one win over an opponent with a winning SEC record (the Bruce Pearl-less Tennessee Volunteers). The Gators are ranked lower than 100 in the NCAA in points, assists, and field goal percentage. Their second leading scorer, guard Kenny Boynton, is shooting 36% from the field.

In contrast, Kentucky is a game and a half back of Florida in the East. The Wildcats have had some questionable losses, dropping games to Ole Miss and Georgia, but it also has had impressive out of conference wins against Washington, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Indiana, and Louisville. "Diaper Dandy" freshman guards Terrance Jones and Brandon Knight are ready for the NBA now and as the calendar inches closer to March, Kentucky coach John Calipari's teams get increasingly focused. I think the Gator's bubble bursts and the Cats get on track.

Advantage: Kentucky

Dear Gators: Good luck keeping up with Jones. Regards, Reality
Dear NBA: Thanks for the 19 year old age requirement. Regards, Kentucky Coach John Calipari 3

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Sunday offers the following host of must-see sporting events:

National Hockey League
Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals

PGA Golf
Final Round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open

Rugby (Scrum)
Rugby Union - Anglo-Welsh Cup

Dragons vs Scarlets at Newport

Rugby between the Dragons and Scarlets is "must see" for Sunday? C'MON, MAN! 4

YEAH RIGHT, BABY!!!

Super Bowl XLV - Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers

5

The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers: to quote NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, "THAT is FOOTBALL!"

Neither of these teams had had the glamorous level of media exposure enjoyed by the New York Jets, New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, or Philadelphia Eagles in 2010. Regardless, I think the football gods got this one right. I think, all factors considered proportionately, the Steelers are the best of the AFC and the Packers are the best of the NFC. That is not always the case with the Super Bowl.

The Daily Hat Trick will go into greater depth of the game itself over the weekend. What I find most intriguing about this Super Bowl is the apparent lack of intrigue. I have heard more about Steelers rookie Pro Bowl center Maurkice Puncey'sRoethlisberger scandal questions do not count), the coaches, the fans, the journey of the teams, or any human interest stories.

The 21st century, 24 hour media knows how to sell. This pattern of coverage tells me that people really are not as interested in the two teams involved as they typically are for a Super Bowl. The Steelers are not sexy. But if you are a true football fan, they are very relevant, whether you like them or not. The Packers are not sexy. But their QB is going to bring the "sexy back" to Titletown that left with Brett Favre. Then again, perhaps it was just "sexual harassment" that left Green Bay with the Ol' Gunslinger?

Yes, I'm reaching, here. But the sands of Favre's time on this blog are slipping as I think he is really retiring this time around. No Favre...no Jenn. Men, you want more Jenn; admit it. Ladies: thank you for tolerating Jenn this season. You can count on your hands the number of times you'll see this young woman again. Okay, maybe your fingers.... Maybe a toe or two.... 6

Las Vegas likes Green Bay, but I think the QB battle is what will tip the nearly even scales. Roethlisberger has been there and done that. A-Rodg is JUST beginning to emerge from the shadow of #4, who we are still discussing even though he and his team have long since been out of this year's Super Bowl picture.

Advantage: Steelers

Say what you want about Big Ben (middle), but THIS hottie can NOT accuse him of doing anything unsolicited! 7 

Other noteworthy events:
Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics

These teams hook up in a nationally televised game on ABC before the Super Bowl. If you tire of the day long pre-game Super Bowl coverage and need actual sports to get you through the day, this may get you by.

Boston is at home. They are almost impossible to beat there. Orlando appears to be a half step behind the elite of the Eastern Conference, in light of its recent home loss and surrender of 51 points to LeBron James and the Heat. Superman will need to be super to walk out of the TD Garden with a win.

Advantage: Celtics

NCAA Men's College Basketball
Ohio State Buckeyes (1) at Minnesota Golden Gophers

This is a big matchup in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes try to remain unbeaten in the house of a talented, but struggling Minnesota team, badly in need of a conference win. Good luck slowing down freshman forward Jared Sullinger (18 PPG 10 RPG) on his way to the Big Ten title (and the NBA). The game is nationally televised on ESPN at 2pm EST.

Advantage: Ohio State


Monday, February 7, 2011

NCAA Men's College Basketball
Missouri Tigers (15) vs Kansas Jayhawks (2)

Big battle in the Big XII. Kansas (2nd in Big XII) brings the "Morris Brothers" show, Marcus Morris (17 PPG 7 RPG) and Markieff Morris (13 PPG 9 RPG) back home to Lawrence to take on a Missouri team whose standing in the Big XII (7th place) is slipping quickly. Missouri is a good team in a tough conference and, prior to Wednesday, could rebut, to its critics, that it has several quality wins, in and out of conference, only losses were against tough competition. However, a loss to Oklahoma State (2-5 in the conference prior to Wednesday's game) not only put Missouri further back in the Big XII race, but, paired with a loss to Kansas on Monday, may jeopardize its Top 25 ranking and possible seeding in the Big Dance next month.

Advantage: Kansas

1) Image from theglobeandmail.com
2) Image from nationalgeographic.com
3) Image from sec.floridatoday.com
4) Image from rugbymeansdiamond.blogspot.com
5) Image from sportsosphere.com
6) Image from maximonline.com
7) Image from drunkathlete.com

And Then There Were Two

Good Monday morning, Hat Trick readers! Today, I have a comprehensive, Xs and Os break down of some big matchups in the National Hockey League. We are going to cover a little Australian Open this morning (in which Americans have been ridden out on a rail). Also, we will touch on some Euro league soccer.

Anyone for tennis? 1

PSYCHE!

Obviously, football is not the only thing, but it is everything right now. The conference championship games were unusual, but entertaining. When the dust finally settled, as many, myself included, expected, the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers survived and advanced to play in Super Bowl XLV in North Texas in two weeks.

Both victors bent, but did not break after jumping out to comfortable, multi-score, early leads. The Green Bay Packers did not reinvent the wheel. They played their game and did not make mistakes. Eventually, even the best defenses, including that of the Bears, will leave a small window of opportunity and Aaron Rodgers and the Packers were able to squeeze through when the opportunities presented themselves. Offense gets a “C”; defense gets a “B”; coaching gets an “A” for the Packers. Defensive tackle BJ Raji gets a 7.5 for his end zone jiggle.

Teach me how to "Raji"...teach-teach me how to "Raji"! 2

This game was unusual on a number of fronts. The road team, a sixth seed, was favored in this game. In spite of the cold weather, I was surprised to see that there were only 14 points scored between both teams in the first three quarters of play. However, the most unusual outcome of this game is that the biggest story of the 2010 NFC Championship Game had nothing to do with anyone on the winning team.

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was ineffective for much of the entire day. In the third quarter, Cutler was removed from the game and replaced by Todd Collins. Cutler suffered an unspecified knee injury at some point prior to his removal. Cutler was seen on the sidelines walking, without crutches, triggering a multitude of critical remarks from current and former players and the media. An image of fans burning Jay Cutler’s jersey, after the game, was broadcast on television. Good thing he did not announce he was taking his talents to South Beach. They may have burned his house down!

LeBron: "Good! Gooood! People aren't talking about me! Goood! They're burning Cutler's house down? Goood! People aren't talking about me. 4

Bears linebacker and defensive captain Brian Urlacher vociferously defended Cutler and Cutler’s toughness. For me, frankly, that is all I need to see. I find it ridiculous that a bunch of talking heads in the media, many of whom never played organized football at any level, have the gall to call into question the heart of one of the NFL’s better quarterbacks, a quarterback who has been sacked nearly 100 times in the past two seasons and only missed one game during his tenure with the Bears. I am disappointed that so many of Cutler’s fellow NFL player comrades called the quarterback’s heart and toughness into question without speaking to the man and having any idea what the type and extent of Cutler’s injury was. I am buying what Cutler is selling until I see lemons.



Is it just me, or does anyone else think Lovie Smith looks a little like James Evans from "Good Times"?
Lovie: "DAMN! DAMN! DAMN!"

 In the American Football Conference, the stars of sports media in the 2010 season, the New York Jets, led by their coach, the round mound of soundbites, Rex Ryan, traveled to Heinz Field to face the AFC North champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh was favored, but, out of the gates, the game appeared to be a rout, with the Steelers scoring the first 24 points of the game. The Jets battled back and had several opportunities to tie the score or take the lead, with the Jets defense holding the Steelers scoreless after the Steelers’ initial outburst of first half points.

The New York Jets, Coach Ryan, and quarterback Mark Sanchez demonstrated, to me, that they are still not ready for prime time. The Jets are a very talented team with, who I believe is, the best “player’s coach” in the NFL. However, the Jets, early in the game, appeared to lack the type of focus demonstrated in the divisional round game at the New England Patriots.

JETS Suck! Suck! Suck! Shirt (Extra Extra Large)

I think that Pittsburgh, candidly, is a better team than New England, pound for pound, in spite of the regular season records. I understand why the Jets were fueled by intense emotion before and after the Patriots game, given the recent histories surrounding those two franchises. What I do not understand is how a coach as talented as Ryan could allow his team to play in a championship game on the road, against a tougher opponent in the Steelers, with so little focus. The Jets clearly did not suffer from a failure to prepare, as they clearly “snapped out of ‘it’” (whatever “it” was) after halftime. An unprepared team cannot snap out of anything because they would be ill-equipped to face their opponent.

 I guess he'll need a snack, and a new headset.

(Video from YouTube)

The Jets are not ready for prime time. On third and goal from inside the Steelers three yard line with a chance to cut the lead to seven points, instead of trusting the strengths of the team (the offensive line and the running game), the Jets elected to pass, nearly resulting in an interception. Sanchez had the options of checking down at the line of scrimmage, tucking the ball and attempting to run into the end zone, looking for another read, or simply throwing the ball away. In spite of playing impressively in the playoffs in his short career, I cannot help but think that a more experienced quarterback, such as his Steelers counterpart, Ben Roethlisberger, would have made a more sound decision and come away with six points after such a drive. The Jets are not ready for prime time.

Two QBs: One on the rise and one at the peek. 5

This leaves us with the two teams that have weathered the storm better than any other teams in their respective conferences. I think the playoff process got this Super Bowl correct and the two best teams to represent the NFC and AFC are playing in the big game. One team has a young coach, 38 year old Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin, who is achieving well beyond his years, shooting for his second Super Bowl championship in his fourth year as an NFL head coach. One team has an elite quarterback, in Roethlisberger, who, in spite of his well publicized personal shortcomings, knows how to win and will rely on his toughness to get his team over the hurdle, if necessary.

The other team has an emerging young quarterback, possibly playing the position, at the moment, at a higher level than anyone else. It has a group of experienced veteran receivers, particularly Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, who do not, literally nor figuratively, drop the ball. It has a cast of athletic defensive players that appear to have completely gelled as a unit and are as deceptive in presentation and crisp in execution as any defense in the NFL.

This should be a fantastic matchup. The Super Bowl is America’s signature entertainment event, and television ratings overwhelmingly support that claim. Super Bowls with bad, one sided matchups are still bonanzas for television networks and advertisers. This contest contains enough storylines, personal stories of achievement, and sub-plots to fill a series of novels. I will withhold my personal prediction of the winner (which is worth no more than the paper on which one can print it) until next week, after more of the background scouting and analysis has been presented by the media. But, to quote a memorable playoff personality, Jets linebacker Bart Scott, “CAN’T WAIT!!!”

CAN'T WAIT! 6

1,4) Image from huffingtonpost.com
2,3) Image from espn.com
5) Image from Yahoo! Sports
6) Image from frontburner.dmagazine.com

The Kicker is the Most Important Person on the Field

Every NFL team has at least one. Some invest an additional roster spot and have two. Many, throughout the history of the game, were foreign born. Some speak little or no English, or speak with a thick accent. It may possibly be the least glamorous position on a football team, with many that play the position often referred to as "not 'real' football players".

The position, of course, is placekicker. In a league with absolutely no job security, the placekicker has the absolute least. Other players' jobs may be in jeopardy after a pattern of deteriorating performance over several weeks, at the worst, after a really bad game. A placekicker can go from hero to goat, and from employed to unemployed, in a few seconds on one play.

This past Sunday, Garrett Hartley of the New Orleans Saints may have experienced the bottom of a placekicker's roller coaster ride. Hartley, as many recall, was a hero in the Saints 2009 season playoff run, en route to a Super Bowl XLIV Championship. Hartley was 5 for 5 in the playoffs, including the game winning field goal in overtime that sent the Saints to their first super Bowl ever. Hartley would go on, two weeks later to set a Super Bowl record for most field goals over 40 yards made in the game. 1

Hero

Oh what a difference a season makes. Three weeks into the 2010 season, Hartley has missed three kicks, two of which were under 35 yards, a chip shot in the NFL by any reasonable measure, in my opinion. The latest underachievement being a badly hooked 29 yard field goal attempt in overtime against the division rival Atlanta Falcons, which would have given the Saints sole possession of first place in the NFC South. 2

Goat

Hartley's job is now in jeopardy. According to multiple media reports, the Saints brought in several kickers to work out this week, including long time Saints kicker and 22 year NFL veteran (46 year old) John Carney. Carney signed with the team on Tuesday. Whether or not the Saints will continue to keep Hartley on the roster, in addition to a new kicker (utilized, perhaps, for shorter field goals and point after touchdown attempts), in the long term is unknown. But one thing is clear, to me. He may be unknown. He may not be a "real" football player. He may get the least glamor and glory of any player on an NFL roster. But for the few plays he is actually in the game, be it 2 plays, 5 plays or 10 plays, the kicker is the most important person on the field.

How is a scrawny, undersized, barely any facemask having, hardly ever coming into contact with an opponent KICKER ever the most important ANYTHING? Because when the kicker is on the field, he steers the outcome of the game. Such was the case yesterday in New Orleans. I believe it is safe to say that most observers of that game, regardless of rooting interest, would agree that the Falcons outplayed the Saints in regulation. Yet, in spite of the Falcons victory-worthy effort on the road and the Saints worst performance of the 2010 season, Hartley and Hartley alone (assuming a properly executed snap and placement) could undo all of Atlanta's good work and redeem his team of its many faults, during the game, with one swing of his leg.

Of course Hartley missed. The Falcons regrouped. They marched down the field on a time consuming drive, and veteran kicker Matt Bryant drilled a not-so-automatic 45 yard field goal to give his team the huge victory. 3

John Carney is: The Cleanup Man

This is simply one example, among many, on one team of the invaluable services a consistent placekicker can offer a football team. The Saints were also the longtime team of Morten Andersen, the all time leading scorer in NFL history. Andersen made countless kicks to give the Saints the lead, often in the final two minutes of a game. One or two game winning kicks in a season can potentially make the difference between making or missing the playoffs, winning or losing a division, or securing the coveted home field advantage in the playoffs. 4

Morten "Mr. Automatic" Andersen, 2009 saints Hall of Fame inductee 

The Saints have to observe and evaluate its most frequent scoring position very carefully in the coming weeks. The team won the Super Bowl, in part, due to clutch placekicking in the 2009 playoffs. A truly dominant team should not be in a position to have a game rely on making or missing a kick.

In the NFL however, there is little opportunity for dominance among the best of the best players alive. Professional football is a game decided by inches, not feet. When the margin is extremely close, as it often is (especially in playoff games involving two of the league's better teams) and the lead hinges on a field goal attempt, there is no more single important player on the field than the man who will succeed or fail to put the points on the board.

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2) Image from atlantafalcons.com 
3) Image from nola.com 
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