Stranger than Fiction

This year’s playoffs are filled with storylines.  In his second season as commissioner, Roger Goodell finds himself face to face with one of the most spectacular final four, in recent memory.  There is an age old adage, that “truth can be stranger than fiction”, and in this season, the NFL has proven this to be true.  No matter what the scenario of tomorrow’s games, the potential Super Bowl storylines are endless.

Situation One

Tom Brady enters this game in pursuit of his fourth; yes, I’ll repeat it, fourth Super Bowl ring! The scariest thing to consider is that Brady is approaching the peak of his professional career, and all signs are pointing towards his continued success. In Randy Moss, we have one of the most prolific receivers in NFL history, who will finally have a Super Bowl championship.  Add to that an undefeated season, tying the record set by the 1972 Miami Dolphins, and you have the greatest, most dominant team ever assembled.  Brady will supplant himself in the center of the argument for the greatest QB of all time. Simultaneously, Bill Belichick enters the ranks of the coaching greats, like, Walsh, Knoll and Gibbs. 

• Packers P.O.V

Not only is Brett Favre one year removed from a tearful, exit of a mediocre season. Only think back a few months, to recall the retirement speculation that worried many of the Packer faithful. Favre will return to his third Super Bowl, facing the team that he just so happened to claim his first, and only title against.  Not only would it be the most magical comeback stories in all of sports, but to have the wise old veteran, slay the monster in the closet (the undefeated Patriots), stories of this magnitude couldn’t actually happen, could it?

Situation Two

• Giants P.O.V.

After putting forth a valiant effort during the final game of the NFL regular season, Eli Manning and the Giants find themselves face to face with the invincible.  Imagine Eli Manning bringing home his first Super Bowl title, over the team, that steamrolled its way through every team on its schedule.  Yes, the same Eli Manning that gets slammed in the media consistently.  Yes, the same Eli Manning that gets slandered for his lack of intensity.  Yes, imagine that Eli Manning, not only getting to, but winning his first Super Bowl, five years faster, than his beloved brother Peyton. Add to that, doing it against a team that has historically kept his brother from numerous Super Bowl appearances. Talk about silencing the critics.

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• Patriots P.O.V.

With an undefeated season on the line, the Patriots traveled to East Rutherford, and were forced to play one of there toughest games of the regular season. Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, refused to have his players lie down, and hand over history to the Patriots. Like the evil villain that just won’t die, the Patriots find themselves protecting history, once again, vs. the boys from New York.  What better way to stick the nail in the coffin, than sealing the deal twice, over the coach and team, which dared to challenge history?

Situation Three 

• Chargers P.O.V.

Ever come face to face with someone who turned their back on you, and left you out to dry. Rewind back to the 2004 NFL Draft, as Eli Manning spurned, the Chargers franchise, claiming that he would not sign or play for them, had they drafted him with the #1 pick.  Despite the threats, the Chargers drafted Eli.  After staying strong to his claims, the Chargers traded the rights of Eli Manning to the Giants, in exchange for, you guessed it, Phillip Rivers, the current QB of the Chargers.  In what world would a team be able to destroy the dreams, of the same guy who turned publicly spurned their franchise? If there was ever a way to pull of the ultimate revenge, I couldn’t think of a better storyline. 

• Giants P.O.V.

Ever backed out of something, because you didn’t like the situation.  Take Eli Manning, drafted #1 overall by the San Diego Chargers, but publicly announced, that he would never suit up in a Charger uniform, for fear of a shaky franchise. You know, the type of franchise that would draft a QB, yet sit him two years on the bench, because the starting QB at the time was a perennial Pro-Bowler, current NFL record breaking QB of the New Orleans Saints.  Yes, the type of franchise that would fire a coach after a 14-2 season.  Imagine that, having the opportunity to face that same franchise in the biggest game of your career…… and winning.  I really need to know, who would write such a script.

Situation Four 

• Chargers and Packers P.O.V.

Here you have the soon-to-be greatest rusher of all time, playing against the greatest QB in NFL history.  If there were ever a guy who was deserving of a Super Bowl title, look no further than Ladainian Tomlinson. For those who don’t remember, Tomlinson was drafted by the Chargers, who then passed up the opportunity to select Michael Vick.  We all see who got the better end of that trade.  As Tomlinson has his sights set on every NFL rushing record known to man, Vick is counting down his days in a federal penitentiary. Too many great runners go their entire careers without winning a championship.  It would be a tragedy to not see Tomlinson get his. In contrast, who doesn’t want to see Brett Favre go out on top, no matter who must fall in his quest. For all the reasons previously listed, truth is definately, stranger than fiction.

Note: Hey college football, its amazing what happens when the title is decided on the field, and not by sports writers and computers.