Even as the respective player position and team ranks (D / O) figure this SB52 title tussle to be alot closer than gamblers and sabrhead kids predict, it always comes down to the quarterbacks. In Super Bowl 52 that’s TomBrady v. NickFoles. It feels like a no-brainer, but keep your thinking cap on.
Tom’s mantle is laden with NFL accolades. Nick Foles, not so many. But the glitter of gold is sometimes hidden in the recesses, waiting to be mined.
This is Foles 2nd go-round with Philly. His first (2012-14) was a rollercoaster. Baptism by fire in his debut (1-5), in year two he was nearly MVP-caliber (8-2 / 27t-2i). But in his third Eagles season, while quarterback capable (6-2 / 13t-10i), he failed to meet owner and the junior-media expectations, skewed as they were.
Shipped off to the Rams for 2015 (4-7), then KC for another way-stop as Smith’s back-up (1-0), we, and maybe Nick himself, are not really sure WHAT to expect on a rather short 2018 PS run which started on a bye (WC), then a 5-pt. win over the A-Birds (Dvn’l) and the romp over a clueless Vikings club.
And with sore ribs, Foles will be one, unlucky, hard, targeted hit away from handing the reins over to rookie back-up, Redskins 2016 draftee and former Hoosier signal-caller, 6’6” Nate Sudfeld out of Modesto, California.
The Bible tale on the prodigal son and his high-profile return is well known (Luke Ch.15: 11–32). Jesus is said to’ve recounted it to his followers. Ultimately, pride is subjugated, forgiveness given and atonement made. All of which has nothing to do with Foles, except the returning home part. Titles necessarily afford the writer an artistic license with a broad interpretation of its wording.
But remember what that lad from Tremadog (UK) said (Lawrence of Arabia): “Nothing is written.” If Eagles head coach Doug Pederson hoists the Lombardi come Sunday nite in Minneapolis, resurrecting Philadelphia’s NFL championship legacy (60), it won’t be a GREAT surprise.
As long as there are turnovers in football, ANYTHING can happen.
Player notes: Rob Gronkowski has been cleared by the Medicals for contact but the human body has a mind and schedule of its own. Don’t expect big things from party animal in SB52. And Eagles’ RB Jay Ajayi (5.8ypc) is reported ankle hobbled and available but, like Gronk, can’t be expected to be impactful.
Empire Builders and Destroyers of Dreams
All roads lead to Rome. You might’ve heard that one before.
Now, put that ancient Italian-directional-turned-proverb into NFL18 terms: ‘All roads (to Titledom) lead to (Gestalt of Greater Boston and their Patriots).’
You like history? Good.
The ‘all roads’ line came into being as the Great City evolved over centuries time into the hub of planet Earth’s first mega-Empire (241BC – 395AD).
A centralized, metropolis where commerce and civilization constantly converge, Boston came to be known as Hub City for New England and thereabouts.
Beantown was hub of early colonial America north of Maryland until Philadelphia displaced it in population in the mid-1700s. Curiously, its first moniker shares another common call with that former Empire across the Atlantic: The capital of Massachusetts was originally known as Trimountaine, in reference to its three ancient peaks, while the Roman gestalt really began to take off with its First (60BC) and then Second (43BC) Triumvirates.
Making the switch from a Republic into an Imperial (dictator) state, its course was greatly shaped by a set of Triumvirates and the two men who toppled their respective power-shares: The first saw JuliusCaesar muscle Pompey & Crassus out (60BC), the second had Octavian (Augustus) flex MarkAntony and Lepidus into oblivion on way to the Empire‘s zenith of greatestness.
All those histrionics lead up to this pithy remark: Hail the New England Patriots’ Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft! Okay.
Never in the history of Stateside sportdom has a tightly-woven triad of money (owner), brain (coach) & brawn (player) so effectively organized and implemented an operation of success over such a long period of time and with so little apparent friction as have these three personalities.
— — —
You might say the Philadelphia Eagles wily running-back LeGarrette Blount is having the last laugh. And “that ain’t no joke (“TT” / Reno 911).”
The Eagles 2017 backfield addition had been Mr. Reliable for the Pats for 3+ seasons, rushing for over 1000 yards and 18 League-leading TDs in 2016 and helped NewEngland to two Super titles. For the E-Birds this regular season, he ran for 766y on a spiffy 4.4 average. All of it has helped him fashion one of the most inspirational football comeback stories in recent memory.
Just a few years back things looked bleak for Blount.
A sophomore at Oregon in 2009, his Ducks dropped their opener at Boise State, dashing national title hopes. As the two clubs began to part, LeG was taunted by Broncos’ Byron Haut with great zeal, triggering a grazing blow by Blount in return. In opposite of the time-honored playground standard that holds, ‘He who starts the fight bears at minimum equal blame,’ Blount was instead made scapegoat, given lengthy suspension and saw his Heisman aspirations vanish.
The Buccaneers drafted the Madison, Florida native in 2010 (2R-37) and LeGarrette responded by making the cherished 1000 yard club. But by year three he saw his role and production greatly decrease. In 2013, Tampa sent him to the Patriots who, even on a spiffy 5.0 ypc, sent him to Pittsburgh (2014) only to return to Foxborough that same year to contribute 3-TDs to New England’s playoff run and SB49 win over Seattle. Two years later, Blount rushed for 100+ in last season’s successful playoff run (SB51).
Sometimes le life can turn terrific.
Super Bowl 52 Cherry Pick
Eagles v. Patriots (MN): 2.4 NBC 6:30pE (+): NewEngland
Record: 83 – 62 (7 – 3)
StevenKeys
NFL HunchLine
Photo credit: NFL-symbol, wikiproject, 2011; N.Foles, 12.23.12, wc.cca, T-Sgt.C.Walker, Dover-USAF; B.Belichick, R.Kraft, J.Kerry, 4.25.15, White-House, wc, USDoS; Cherries, Hispalois, 7.2.12, wc, Caceres, Spain; J.Otto, TCG, 1970
Posted: 2.3.18 @ 4:35pE; Copyright © 2018
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