They are the “other team” in a matchup so unappealing that Commissioner Paul Tagliabue used the opening remarks of Friday’s state of the union to sell Sunday’s Super Bowl. That’s an NFL first.
What next? The game being shortened a quarter so Paul, George and Ringo can perform during the telecast’s last hour?
The Other Team has been talked off the front page by Ravens who could have jumped off the pirate ship at one end of Raymond James Stadium. They’re Joe Namath with an eye patch and cutlass between teeth, guaranteeing victory, concussions and maybe even a shutout. They rescued Trent Dilfer after he was thrown overboard by the Buccaneers, but told him if he throws interceptions, he dies. Their goal: Win 2-0.
These gum-flapping birds are slightly superior to the 1985 Bears in only one category: trash-talking arrogance. The Ravens, favored by three, act as if 3-0 would be a blowout.
“There is another team at the Super Bowl …” a straight-faced ESPN announcer segued out of yet another report about the trials of Ray Lewis and the fibrillations caused by the media-blasting rants of Shannon “Am I Ever” Sharpe and coach Brian “I Was a Journalism Major” Billick.
The Other Team has made as much noise and news as a Tampa retirement community. It represents the nation’s media capital but is duller than Des Moines. It has no Namath, LT or Parcells. It gets fifth billing at Sunday’s party-holiday extravaganza behind Lewis’ Ravens, Aerosmith, N’Sync and Sting.
If possible, a team from New York has been overlooked.
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The closer you looked at this year’s quality of NFL play, the further it sank. Several coaches and GMs have privately shaken heads over the diluted 31-team talent and the loss of too many great quarterbacks, from John Elway to Steve Young to Dan Marino. Too many Dick Jaurons have failed to fill the void left by Bill Parcells and Jimmy Johnson.
The “best-ever” Ravens’ defense took chest-beating advantage of this slump.
But six weeks or so ago, in the shadow of the Yankees, Mets and even Jets, what appeared to be a lump of coal in the Jersey marshland turned into a diamond in the rough. A team known for its “Thunder and Lightning” running game–its ho and hum–quietly morphed into a devastating passing attack. The offense began giving field position, leads and confidence to a defense whose front seven is the Ravens without XFL hype.
Before Las Vegas or the Vikings noticed, the Giants turned into the NFL’s best overall team. Here are Ravens in sheep’s clothing. Michael Strahan is the NFL’s most disruptive pass rusher, but he comes off as a friendly bellman with a gap-toothed smile. Jason Sehorn is one of the NFL’s wiliest and most gifted cornerbacks–he’s even called “athletic”– but in affected speech and moussed coif he’s about as intimidating as a male model. Wait. He is a model.
Finally there’s the QB who’ll surely turn back into Kerry Collins or a pumpkin at the stroke of 5:25 p.m. In truth Collins has turned back into the 6-foot-5-inch, 245-pound fifth pick in the draft. Now he’s the big-armed QB who took the expansion Panthers to the Super Bowl threshold minus his drinking binges and the old hitch in his delivery.
Two rehab stints and QB-maker Jim Fassel have done wonders for this 28-year-old. Forget Fassel’s playoff promise of Nov. 22. This team crystallized around Collins. Yet his rise has been overshadowed by stories about his fall. Even his fall couldn’t compete for tabloid attention with Lewis and an unsolved double murder. Collins spoke so openly and endlessly about recovering from alcoholism he became boring.
Don’t look now, Ravens, but Collins is as hot as Kurt Warner was a year ago. His pass protection is the NFL’s best. He’ll throw 40-odd times. He’ll find 6-3 Amani Toomer and 6-5 Joe Jurevicius rising over 5-10 corner Duane Starks. He’ll find “Lightning”–Tiki Barber–pulling away from Lewis.
Don’t look now, Shannon Sharpe, but your angel is wearing Giants blue. In each of three playoff wins Sharpe made thank-you-God receptions. A muffed interception by Denver, a blown coverage by Tennessee and bad angles by Oakland’s safeties resulted in game-turning plays. This time Sharpe’s trap gets shut.
Collins beats Dilfer 24-13. Collins goes from NFL wasteland to Disneyland–from being rejected by the Bears to being embraced by New York.
The Ravens go quietly.