Super Bowl

One high-profile player from the Cardinals’ Super Bowl run definitely is with the program, even though he didn’t play in the Big Game.
He’s Matt Leinart, who cheered his teammates on from the sideline throughout the playoffs.
That attitude will continue, says his agent. Chuck Price.
“This year was a great, growth season for Matt as a person and as a player,” Price said.
“He’s gotten to be a lot better player for the time he spent watching Kurt and understanding the work ethic on and off the field.
“He’s ultracompetitive, but he understands what Kurt has accomplished and what kind of season he had.”
After the competition in training camp and the exhibition season for the starting job, coach Ken Whisenhunt said the competition was close.
“The coaches felt Kurt game the team the best chance to win right now.”
Looking forward, “He feels prepared and committed to be a Cardinal.”
And if the call comes to play, “He’ll be ready.”

They are plays that will forever be etched in the minds of Cardinal fans.
– James Harrison’s rumbling 100-yard interception return for a touchdown with no time left in the first half, turning a potential Cardinal lead into a 17-7 deficit.
– Larry Fitzgerald’s burst of speed that turned a slant pattern into a 64-yard touchdown romp up the middle of the Steeler defense and a 23-20 lead with 2:37 remaining.
– And, of course, Santonio Holmes’ outstretched, tip-toe catch in the back corner of the end zone with 35 seconds left that sealed the deal on Pittsburgh’s 27-23 victory in Super Bowl XLIII.

They were plays for the ages, but where do they rank among the greatest Super Bowl plays of all time? Do you remember:
– David Tyree’s catch last year in which he trapped a pass from Eli Manning against his helmet, helping to preserve a late Giants’ rally?
– Marcus Allen’s 74-yard TD run in Super Bowl XVIII?
– John Riggins’ game-winning 43-yard run in XVII?
– Mike Jones’ last-second tackle of Kevin Dyson at the 1-yard line with no time left, preserving the Rams’ win in XXXIV?
– Lynn Swann’s acrobatic catch in Super Bowl X?
– Adam Vinatieri’s game-winning field goals in XXXVI and XXXVIII?
– Butch Johnson’s tumbling TD grab for Dallas in XII?
– Joe Montana to John Taylor in XXIII?
– John Elway’s “helicopter dive” in which he scrambled for a first down, got hit and did a 360-spin in the air in XXXII?
– Max McGee’s one-handed stab in Super Bowl I?
– Willie Parker’s 75-yard run in XL?

Here’s my all-time top five. Did I leave one out? Would you rank them differently? Post your top five in the comments section of this blog, or just vote online in our Tribune poll.

5) Harrison’s interception return qualifies for my list in part because it was the longest play in Super Bowl history. More importantly, it completely changed the complexion of the game, turning a possible 14-10 Cardinal lead into a 17-7 Pittsburgh advantage. Watching six different Cardinal players get a hand on Harrison as the 6-foot, 242-pound linebacker rumbled down the sideline, leaping over tacklers, was classic. With no time left, it would have meant much less if he didn’t take it the distance. And Fitzgerald nearly had a chance to stop him if he wouldn’t have run into one of his own bench players, Antrel Rolle, on the sideline as he gave chase and finally hit Harrison at the goal line.

4) At the risk of getting Steeler-heavy in these rankings, there’s just no way to leave out the Swann Dive. Lynn Swann actually had three back-breaking receptions in Super Bowl X, including a 64-yard TD in the fourth quarter that helped Pittsburgh beat Dallas 17-14. But the play Swann is most famous for is one that did not even lead to any points. With the Steelers trailing 10-7 and facing third-and-6 from their own 10-yard line in the second quarter, Terry Bradshaw threw a deep pass toward Swann. Cowboys cornerback Mark went up and tipped the pass as both players went for the ball, but Swann maintained his concentration and leaped forward, juggled the ball, then pulled it in as he stretched out horizontally. Swann, had who surprised many by even playing in the game after suffering a severe concussion in the AFC championship, finished with four receptions for 161 yards and became the first wide receiver ever named MVP in a Super Bowl.

3) If end-of-the-game heroics define a great play, it doesn’t get much better than Jones’ game-saving tackle in Super Bowl XXXIV. The Titans were at the Rams’ 10-yard line and trailed 23-16 with 6 seconds left in the game when Steve McNair threw a slant pass to Dyson, who desperately tried to reach the end zone only to be stopped by Jones as time expired. The play simply became known as “The Tackle.” … By the way, Kurt Warner threw for a Super Bowl-record 414 yards in the game and was named MVP.

2) Tyree’s catch last year at University of Phoenix Stadium was one of those “I can’t believe he caught that” kinds of plays. The Giants trailed, 14-10, and faced third-and-5 from their own 44. Manning went back to pass and almost got sacked by Adalius Thomas of the Patriots but somehow broke away, then threw a prayer toward Tyree. The Giant receiver went up for the pass, got hit by Rodney Harrison and grabbed the ball and trapped it against his helmet, somehow hanging on as he hit the ground. The Giants went on to win 17-14 in the greatest upset in NFL history.

1) It’s easy to over-hype the play that is freshest in your mind. But Holmes’ amazing grab near the end of XLIII is my No. 1. Tyree’s catch was more magnificent, as was Swann’s for that matter. But neither of those resulted in a TD… with 35 seconds left in the game… at the end of a 78-yard drive… and their team in desperation mode trailing by three points. Holmes stretching out in the corner of the end zone to make the grab and toe-tap his feet inbounds was incredible. But Ben Roethlisberger’s throw… over three Cardinal defenders… after pump-faking several times trying to find an open receiver… was one of those plays that he just seems to always make.

Final observations while waiting to leave Tampa:
James Harrison made the Super Bowl’s biggest play with his miraculous 100-yard interception return as the clock expired in the first half.
But he lost support for the game’s MVP when he took a cheap shot at the Cardinals Aaron Francisco late in the game.
On the play, the refs ruled that the penalty came after the punt, so the Cardinals didn’t get the ball back in position to go after the game-winning score.
And because the punt was outstanding and because Michael Adams downed the punt at the 2-yard line, the penalty was half the distance to the goal line.
A 1-yard penalty, as it tuned out.
But the guy sitting next to me, somebody who covered the Steelers this season, said, “I’m not voting for him.”
I wouldn’t either. Harrison risked a Super Bowl win just to take a cheap shot?
MAKE THE SWITCH TO DEFENSE
Whisenhunt was disappointed that somehow, some way the Cardinals didn’t get Harrison down on his 100-yard interception return.
“James Harrison made a play. … He’s the defensive player of the year. You have to give him credit.
“The only thing negative, disappointing thing is we didn’t get him down.”
Replays showed tackle Mike Gandy appeared to be the most alert. He charged downfield immediately and nearly caught Harrison.
The opposite description applies to Antrel Rolle.
The Cardinals’ safety, standing on the sideline, was slow to realize what was going on. He inadvertently threw the Steelers’ most effective block on the play by getting in Fitzgerald’s way.
Had Rolle gotten out of the way, the receiver could have gotten to Harrison 5 or 10 yards sooner.
Fitzgerald could have been called for a penalty for running out of bounds, unless he was blocked out of bounds, but no flag was thrown.
HALFTIME TALK
Harrison’s play changed the game from a 10-10 tie or even a shocking 14-10 Cardinals’ lead to a 17-7 Steelers’ lead.
Whisenhunt said his halftime talk went this way:
“We had 30 minutes of football left in our season. We had a chance to do something special. I felt very confident we were going to play well in the second half.”
Fitzgerald said the long halftime helped the Cardinals figure out ways to get their offense rolling.
THE BETTER STORY
Nobody cheers in the press box.
Nobody really says much of anything.
That’s why it’s better to be a fan than a media member at a sports event.
But I got the strong sense that reporters were captivated by the Cardinals’ epic comeback in the fourth quarter.
They wanted the Cardinals to win, I think, just like most people in America and around the world who weren’t Steelers’ fans.
The reason: It would have been a much better story.
BAILING OUT
That the NFL didn’t review Kurt Warner’s fumble with 5 seconds left was shocking.
Maybe it was a fumble, maybe it wasn’t.
But it was a close play. And it’s automatic that close plays are reviewed in the final 2 minutes.
Why would the NFL throw a cloud over one of the league’s greatest games?
The Cardinals would have needed a miracle last play, so it probably didn’t matter.
The league came out with a farcical explanation much later that the replay official agreed with the call. WHAT ELSE WAS THE NFL GOING TO SAY?
But the fact remains the play wasn’t reviewed at the time.
This was the sort of terrible mistake that’s more expected from the NBA or Major League Baseball.

Lasting memories from Super Bowl XLIII:

– Another one for the ages. Remember when Super Bowls were typically boring affairs that never, ever lived up to the hype? Last year’s amazing upset victory by the Giants over the Patriots at University of Phoenix Stadium was hard to top. With four scores in the final 7:33, this one did.
– Darnell Dockett playing big in a big game. From stopping Ben Roethlisberger on the goal line in the first quarter to making two sacks and one tackle for loss in the fourth quarter, he came to play.
– Hines Ward, who had been nursing a sore knee, making his first catch in the first quarter. As he was nearing the sideline, instead of stepping out of bounds and protecting his knee, Ward lowered his shoulder into the defender, as he only he would. No matter who you root for, you have to love watching guys like that play.
– James Harrison’s 100-yard Immaculate Interception at the end of the first half. Six Cardinals got their hands on Harrison but couldn’t bring him down until he hit the goal line. It was the longest play in Super Bowl history and changed the entire complexion of the game. Not even Bruce Springsteen could top that act.
– Great analysis by ESPN on Harrison’s interception return. They noticed that as Larry Fitzgerald was out of bounds and chasing Harrison down from behind, he ran into Antrel Rolle, who was standing too close to the sideline (you’re supposed to stay 5 yards back). Fitzgerald made the tackle at the goal line, but had he not run into Rolle there’s a good chance he prevents that touchdown.
– Fitzgerald, held to 1 catch for 12 yards through the first three quarters, going off in the final period. As he was being stymied by the Steeler defense, you didn’t see Fitzgerald whining at Warner or yelling at his coaches to get him the ball. He acted like a professional and kept working hard. There’s a lesson to be learned here… Are you listening, Anquan Boldin?
– I’m not sure which of Fitzgerald’s two Super Bowl TDs was more impressive. The 1-yard reception on his patented fade route? Ike Taylor was all over Fitz, but that play is almost indefensible because of the way Fitzgerald can go up and get the ball. Or the 64-yard go-ahead touchdown in the closing minutes? Fitzgerald is not supposed to have breakaway speed, but he looked plenty fast when he broke that play up the middle.
– By the way: Fitzgerald’s final postseason numbers: 30 catches for 546 and seven touchdowns. Are you kidding me?!
– Santonio Holmes’ game-winning grab in the corner of the end zone. Simply, it was the best touchdown catch in Super Bowl history.
– Best unscripted moment: Joe Namath bringing the Vince Lombardi Trophy to the podium through the procession of Steeler players, and all of them wanting to reach out and touch the hardware.
– Kurt Warner, Man of the Year. The only thing more fitting, after a 377-yard passing performance, would have been MVP of the Super Bowl. It just wasn’t in the Cards.

Some random thoughts on Super Bowl XLIII before I head to the airport for my flight home:

1. A bevy of national columnists are calling the game the greatest Super Bowl in history. I’d have to think long and hard about that one - in our excitement we tend to have long-term memory loss - but it was one for the ages.

The fourth quarter alone was incredible with its dramatic shifts and big plays. James Harrison’s 100-yard interception return before halftime will be played on a continuous loop by NFL Films. Larry Fitzgerald’s catch and run. Santonio Holmes’ tippy-toes touchdown.

Amazing. Absolutely amazing.

2. I think Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley is going to regret waiting until the fourth quarter to use the no-huddle. The no-huddle has lifted Arizona out of the offensive doldrums several times this season, and it did again in the fourth quarter Sunday. But why not go to it in the third quarter, when the offense was stuck in the mud?

3. Speaking of Haley, he appears to be the leading candidate for the Kansas City Chiefs coaching job. If he does leave, it will be interesting to see if coach Ken Whisenhunt hires from within, goes outside the organization or decides to call the plays himself, as he did his first year as coach.

4. Does Kurt Warner’s performance stamp his ticket for the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Good question. He came within 157 seconds of lifting a second franchise to a Super Bowl victory, and he became the first QB to throw for 300 yards in three Super Bowl games. But I still think don’t think he’s a lock based on his stretch from 2003 to 2007, when he was anything but a Hall of Fame quarterback.

5. Defensive end Antonio Smith, an unrestricted free agent, made himself a lot of money this postseason. He was a force again Sunday, particularly in the first half.

Well, I’m pretty much out of words. It’s been an incredible week here in Tampa. It didn’t end the way the Cardinals wanted, but they did themselves proud.

Now, it’s back to the Valley. I just hope the Suns don’t trade Amare Stoudemire Tuesday. It’s my day off.

Kurt Warner won the coveted Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, the only league award that combines on-field excellence with community work.
“I am humbled the Lord has given me such an amazing life to impact others,” Warner said.
“Of all the awards given to NFL athletes…(this) is the one that stand out above the rest to me because of what it represents.
“When people look back at my career, I want them to see a fierce competitor but more importantly, I want to be remembered for my consistency of character and the legacy I hope to leave.”
Other finalists were Minnesota’s Matt Birk and Philadelphia’s Brian Dawkins.
The selection panel was comprised of commissioner Roger Goodell, former commissioner Paul Taglibue, Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz, Peter King of Sports Illustrated and football greats Jack Kemp and Frank Gifford, Connie Payton and last year’s winner, Jason Taylor.

As expected, Kurt Warner has won the Walter Payton man of the year award, the only league-sponsored event that combines community work with on-field excellence.

It’s mostly cloudy and 66 degrees in Tampa with a slight breeze. The game should be played in the mid-60s to start and finish in the mid-50s…
I’d be surprised if Kurt Warner doesn’t win the Walter Payton man of the year award.

It’s interesting to watch the demeanor of the two teams as they warm up. The Cardinals are all business as they go through their stretching routine. Several of the Steelers, on the other hand, are dancing and smiling. Could Pittsburgh be taking Arizona lightly?

One matchup that we haven’t talked much about this week but will be crucial: Can Cardinals center Lyle Sendelin handle Steelers’ nose tackle Casey Hampton, who goes about 350? If Hampton can control the middle, the Cardinals’ running game will suffer. Plus, if he gets a push up the middle, Kurt Warner will be forced to move around in the pocket, and he’s not the same quarterback when he’s on the move.

Maybe the presence of Bruce Springsteen will bring the Cardinals an edge
Longtime Valley residents should remember that Springsteen caught on first in the Valley, before anywhere else outside of New Jersey.
A local radio station, the Mesa-based KDKB, promoted him. He caught on at a series of concerts in the mid-1970s at Celebrity Theater, and then — just when the rest of the country was starting to take notice — at Gammage when his “Born to Run” album was released…
Ken Whisenhunt and Ben Roethisberger just hugged on the field.