Hey Johnny Football: Shut up and learn something.

Johnny B. Good (sometimes)

In case you didn't know it, Johnny Manziel lives a blessed, privileged life.  Hell, from where I'm sitting, I think college athletes have it pretty damned good...and this guy is living waaaaaaaaaaay above the average college football player's rent.

I left college with student loans, searching for a job and not having much of a network after I got off campus...and still felt pretty blessed and lucky to have a Purdue diploma.  Conversely, it seems pretty chic for college athletes to continually ask how and why they don't have more than they do...and among entitled college athletes, Manziel seems to be their king.

He's a damned good football player, there's no doubt about that.  He made SEC defenses look slow at times last season...before I heard him open his mouth, I thought he was like Drew Brees...times 100.  Instant impact. Killer instinct. Quick feet. Excellent decision making ability (on the field). Accurate enough to make defenses pay time and again for gambling...and of course, he's a winner.

He's coached by the guy that I wanted to be coaching Purdue a few seasons ago (have I told you guys that?), one of Purdue's favorite sons, Kevin Sumlin. Texas A&M's fanbase was a sleeping giant awaiting to be nudged...and Sumlin and Johnny Football poked the bear and Aggie fans roared to life.

We Purdue fans love Brees because he's such a great representative of Purdue...but before we knew that he'd be an ambassador at the level he's been, we were pretty damned fond of him as a player because of his competitiveness and results.  Brees was the Heisman runner-up...married a verrrrry pretty blonde from our alma mater, went to the NFL, turned two franchises around, won a Super Bowl and has become a darling of the NFL-covering media.  Oh yeah, every time he has the chance to positively mention the metallic beige and black, he does so...and his money also goes where his mouth does as he's given millions to God's country's athletic department.

Johnny Manziel, take heed here, bro: Look at Purdue's favorite son for guidance of how to live...and stop following NBA prima donnas around.

Manziel is regularly seen courtside at big NBA games...even in the NBA finals.  As you know, I'm not much of a fan of the league, BUT, I do know that those seats cost a dime or two...and unless you're a Heisman Trophy winner and/or an extremely rich and connected guy, you're not getting those seats.  Just ask Lil' Wayne a year ago.

So when Manziel isn't sitting in $10,000 seats, he's flashing stacks of green, hanging with women who look like strippers or beauty queens, meeting celebs, having people buy him expensive drinks and pretty much getting comped everywhere he goes.  You can't really fault someone for enjoying the spoils of not only being the BMOC, but the BM in America, really.

I did a five minute research project and found Manziel literally all over America, in dugouts, locker rooms, parties and on TV shows.  I pretty much hate celebrity gossip shows, so much of this was news to me...BUT, all of it seems like an NCAA violation.  There's no subtlety, no gray area really...aOSU players got busted for tattoos due to the fact that they were Buckeyes...I'm pretty sure Manziel isn't buying his own tickets and field passes...or airfare, for that matter. If he were, he'd have racked up about $2 million dollars on the AmEx in this calendar year alone.  And let's be naive for a moment and act like he did it all on his own dime; he could once again take a lesson from Purdue's old #15.

When Brees was on the verge of becoming a millionaire following his Senior season, I saw him at Purdue's Spring game...wearing a button down shirt, baseball cap, khaki shorts and flip flops.  Like Manziel, Brees isn't a physically-imposing guy...so he can blend in pretty well, if he wants to.  But that's clearly not J. Football's m.o.  BUT, imploring people to empathize with the spoils that come with a jet setter's lifestyle falls on completely deaf ears for 99.99% of America, even those in College Station, I'd bet.

Don't ever forget that I love A&M with all of my heart, but please please walk a day in my shoes
— Johnny Manziel (@JManziel2) June 16, 2013

Texas A&M was the team I pulled for last year when not rooting for Purdue simply because of Sumlin's leadership...but now, I'm forced to root heavily against Manziel and company because he's become the Justin Bieber of college football.

Can T A&M take the next step in the coming season and be crowned as national champs? Based on what I'm seeing form their QB, I'd bet no...and I'd also guess that he doesn't care too much. He's gotten his, and continues to do so.

Earlier, I told you how about I thought Manziel was like Brees, but better.  But after looking at the two, something is very clear.  One is a truly better man, the other is a petulant little boy who wants to be treated like a man. For his sake, hopefully Manziel grows up a bit before he gets his wish and leaves College Station...because I'm sure he's taking everything for granted at this point and is destined to join Ryan Leaf, Matt Jones, Jamarcus Russell and others as a "what might have been" players who never reached their full potential due to hubris, poor attitude and work ethic and bad decisions.

As I referenced, I'm a huge fan of Kevin Sumlin...he'll earn his money this coming season as he attempts to wrangle Manziel's ego and fit his ginormous head into an A&M helmet.

Every Now and Again, the Good Guys Win

I couldn't say no to those eyes either.

It seems the sports world, and the world in general are both filled with tales of unlikeable people having big success...but Purdue legend, and current Saint, Drew Brees is an exception to that rule.  Everyone knows what he's done on and off the field...as well as the fact that the city of New Orleans embraced him as openly as he embraced them.  Now, the Saints franchise will give him a big ole hug, figuratively speaking.

In the very near future, Brees might become the NFL's richest player ever...edging out Peyton Manning's contract from a few months ago. Click here for more info.

Hopefully the Saints will have more than 6 or 7 defensive players on the field this coming season...Even the wizard of NOLA will have a difficult time winning with that depleted D on the other side of the ball.

Anything Drew Brees Related Gets Airtime Here

We got a note from a marketing person at Country Time about an event involving Michael Waltrip and Drew Brees. An excerpt:

Today marks the first day of the "Campaign For A Name," and Drew Brees needs your help!! Drew Brees, would like Countrytime's new Half & Half beverage to be named after him, but he has stiff competition in Michael Waltrip. Check out the video below to learn more about the "Campaign for a Name," there will also be additional videos launching in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out. 

Please share with your readers if you feel they would like to help Brees win it all. In fact, the most active fan will win a chance to meet Drew Brees if he is fact the winner. In the following weeks we expect some others to enter the race as well, and we will keep you updated with any news. 

Normally, we ignore marketing emails -- especially ones as poorly-written as this one -- but given the combination of our admiration of Drew and Boilerdowd's undying love of auto racing, we thought we'd bring this to you. The video, after the jump, is also pretty well done for what it is. And I will say that no matter what he's advertising, Drew is always funny in these things. (The little kid version of Drew with the birthmark is especially funny to me.)

Who Wants to Play Golf With Drew Brees?

Well, for the right price, you and your friends can play in Brees Dream Foundation Golf Outing. Drew's tournament is at Purdue's Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex. (No word on if Drew will drive your cart wearing a jaunty driving cap.)

Actually, the pricing isn't too bad, especially if you can hoodwink your company into "sponsoring" this "charity event" for you. $150 per golfer for either the morning tournament or the afternoon scramble, or $250 to play in both.

And if you are able to get your foursome sponsored...anyone want to bring us as guests? We're housebroken (pretty much) and can play golf (in the loosest definition).

The event includes lunch and a cocktail reception after the days' golf is over, in case you're not yet drunk. Not surprisingly, the live auction for Drew Brees autopgraphed memorabilia will commence following a day of drinking in the sun. ("I'll give you...a million dollars for that pair of game-used skivvies!!"  "Sir, those aren't for sale."  "Fine. TWO million then.")

The event's proceeds go to the Purdue Athletes Life Success Program (PALS).

Trying Too Hard: A Closer Look at the Post Season Award Trophies

In case you haven't done so, you should take a look at the post-season award list that the BT has created. Here are a couple Purdue-centric highlights:

Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year

There's a couple of interesting elements to this. First, the two QBs are arguably the best two Purdue football players ever. Of course, Leroy is acceptable in the conversation as well. But, one didn't pass as much and did everything (from punting to running the ball) and the other is from the most pass-happy offense ever in the history of the league. Both were winners...both are worthy to have their name on an award (that most people will just call the QB of the Year).

Tatum-Woodson DB of the Year

Jack Tatum was a hard-hitting intimidator. Rod Woodson was a big, fast and quick cover corner who was an excellent anticipator on the field. Both were great defensive backs. But, a ton of Purdue fans dislike, if not hate Tatum for the pre-season hit on Darryl Stingley that ended Stingley's career...and eventually his life.

One Award that seems to be a no-brainer would be, of course, the Griese-Dicken Award. These two Purdue quarterbacks would be worthy of their names living on...And I can't think of anyone who wouldn't want such recognition.

I'm still awaiting final word if there will be Akers-DiNardo Coach of the Year Award...we'll keep you updated if anything becomes public knowledge.

Wednesday Gumbo

Worthy

Most of you already know this, but Mr. Handsome, Drew Brees has received SI's Sportsman of the Year Award. As you know, I've had a mancrush on #15/9 since the late 90s (probably like most of you), so I love seeing him get the recognition he deserves. He represents the best of not only Purdue sports, but also the Purdue family. If you've read his book and followed his career, you know this.

I don't think it's coincidence that he was a major part of the resurgence of Purdue football, then the Chargers' organization and finally, the Saint's organization...and on a greater scope, the city of New Orleans. Thank God there are athletes like Brees that break the stereotype of the selfish athlete...But I'm more grateful that he's a fellow Purdue alum.

Congrats Drew. Congrats SI for getting this right.

VATech BS

For those of you that also visit Gold and Black, you know by now that Neubert and Co. were denied press credentials for tonight's game. So, they, like us, won't be coving it in person.

The reasoning for the Hokie AD denying the credentials was supposedly because of their affiliation with Rivals and the standard message board formant on that site.

Problem is, every major basketball program in the nation (pretty much) has a Rivals site.

I hope Purdue and the rest of the BT return this favor to VaTech next season. This is BS...and not the awesome kind you find daily here at your favorite website.

More Important than Sports

If you visit here regularly, you know we don't cover the women's game very often. But, I am making an exception as this sounds like an amazing story and an out-and-out miracle.

Lady Boilers Forward, Drey Mingo is recovering from Bacterial Meningitis. A week ago, her odds of surviving didn't look great as the way her body was attacked was aggressive. Her condition forced Purdue's women to cancel their trip to Mexico for the Caribbean Challenge...but 8 days ago, basketball was no one's concern within the program. Now, the team and Drey's family are looking at if and when she'll play again...Truly great news.

A Purdue football player (I believe Joe Hagins) contracted Spinal Meningitis back in the late-90s...and it was no where near this severe. But I can remember how the Purdue family rallied around him. To all the students who know Drey, make sure to encourage her when you see her on campus next semester.

Want Another Reason To Like Drew Brees? Okay, Here You Go

Yeah, we're biased. But there's absolutely no denying that Drew Brees is about as good a guy as one could ask for.

Today is Veteran's Day and Drew has a short article in USA Today about how we should still be paying attention to WWII vets. Could not agree more, Drew.

Thanks, vets, for always having our backs.

Hey, Remember Those Contests?

Yeah, remember those contests about the best photos you've taken of Purdue sports-related events and the best stories you had about Purdue athletes?  Well, we haven't forgotten about them. We just have lives outside of BS (hard to believe, I know) and while we do our best to not fall back on that excuse very often, sometimes it's just unavoidable. But rest assured, this doesn't mean we don't love you, our readers. We are, in fact, here for your personal amusement.

The cool part about those contest submissions was that we got tons of great stuff. It's going to be hard to pick just one winner for each, so there may be multiple winners. Because we're all winners here.

Look for posts to begin going up next week, starting with the ones that didn't win (but were still largely awesome) and followed by the winners. As noted, winners get a copy of Drew Brees' book, Coming Back Stronger. For those who already have it, well, you can re-gift it or put it on your coffee table or use it as a doorstop -- you know, like you did with all your other Purdue-related books back in Cary Quad. (Oh, no-he-din'nt!)

Thanks again to all for the submissions. We like it when you submit. To us. (Oooh, that sounds dirty.)

Your Photo or Story Could Win You a Copy of Drew's Book

It's contest time here at BS. We've got copies of Drew Brees' book, Coming Back Stronger just sitting here, ready to be taken, and we want to give them away. Thing is, we need a good reason to give them away. So we're going to have two contests. We will be the judges and our decisions will be final. Unless we change our minds. Like Bobby Brown said, that's our prerogative.

All entries should be sent to BoiledSports@gmail.com. 

Category 1 -- Best Purdue Sports Photo You've Take (or taken credit for)

Do you have a Purdue sports photo that you're particularly proud of? Do you have several? Did your roommate take a really good one that you can locate on their hard drive and submit as your own? Do it. Send it to us. No limit on the number of entries. We'll give away a copy of Drew's book to the winner and, if we have lots of good entries, to the runner-up, too.

Category 2 -- Best Purdue Athlete Story

Tell us a story of your favorite interaction with a Purdue athlete, past or present. Funny, touching, life-changing, whatever. Bonus points for photos. Try to keep the story under 1,000 words because we move our lips when we read.

Arbitrary deadline for all entries will be next Friday, September 3. We'll reveal the winners the following week and your books will be on the way.

The Drew Brees Signing: An On-Site Report

Deputy field reporters Margaret and her friend Natalie volunteered to head to the Drew Brees book signing and to report back to BS with the experience. What follows is their story, after the jump.

Why Drew Brees Wears Number 9

We'll start off your week with a video of the man himself, Drew Brees, revealing why he wears the number 9 and also giving some poignant advice about being ready when your opportunity comes.

After the jump.

Boilermakers Helping Boilermakers

I used that line when I connected one of our readers, Jeff, a proud dad who lives in Indy, with Amanda, a PhD student at Purdue. Jeff wanted a book signed by Sir Brees and Amanda offered to go stand in line at 5:30 AM to get the book signed. Long story short, Jeff was hopeful that Drew would personalize it to his son. However, the rules were no personalization. Amanda used her womanly guile to get the autograph personalized anyway. Everyone goes home happy. Especially Amanda, who is probably taking a nap right now.

She also passed along some photos. More to come.

Sir Brees in WestLaf on Friday

As you may already know, Drew Brees will be in Lafayette and West Lafayette, IN this Friday to promote his new book, Coming Back Stronger. And the tentacles of Boiled Sports will be there -- what, you expected something less?

We're fortunate to have a deputy, Margaret, who is going to be on site and reporting for us. You can find her updates on Twitter @mamargie and she'll also be filing a report for us which we will post here.

In other Drew Brees book-related news, we're in the process of getting our grubby hands on a few copies of his book, which we'll be giving away to you, our loyal and loving readers. We just need to figure out what kind of contest to run....

Drew Brees Book Tour

For those interested in saying hi to Drew and maybe getting a book signed, here is his book tour schedule. He'll be in Lafayette/WestLaf this Friday.

(Incidentally, if you're going to be there, we have people requesting, and willing to pay, for others to get a book signed for them -- hit us up at BoiledSports@gmail.com if you want to help out OR if you want to take pictures and file a report with Boiled Sports. Come on, be our correspondent!)

Being back in WL is just another reason to love Drew. He's mainly touring the gulf coast, but also making stops in San Diego (where he's still loved from his Chargers days) and, of course, he continues to never forget his roots at Purdue. Yes, we love this guy.

The book sounds quite inspirational and Drew discussed it with Tony Dungy before commencing, so you know it's going to have a lot of life lessons. Also, don't forget, this is the guy who was never considered the top prospect, whether it was out of high school, during college or as a pro. He was always considered talented but not the top guy you wanted. 

Well, now he's a Super Bowl champion.

Peyton Manning Was Clipped

It doesn't seem to be getting talked about anywhere, but I noticed it on one of the replays of Tracy Porter's interception on Sunday -- Peyton Manning was the only guy with a chance to tackle him and he was shoved to the ground with a two-handed push to the back from Will Smith. (I know, shocking that an OSU player might do something kind of cheap.

First, the video:



If you're looking for it, it's not hard to see at all. Peyton immediately knows it's a pick and starts making a path to intercept Porter, who spent most of the run changing hands, apparently because he couldn't decide which hand to use to showboat with. (To Mrs. Money's everlasting credit, during the replay she says, "Stop switching hands!" And no, she wasn't referring to me. Pervs.)

So here it is frame by frame.

As Porter cuts back and easily makes the lumbering Peyton overrun his intended destination, Smith puts two hands on Peyton's number 18 and leaaaaannnns....


Peyton is heading face-first towards the turf, with Smith attempting to turn left, instinctively trying to distance himself from Manning, whose fall is usually a telltale sign of a block in the back.


Peyton crashes to the ground like a tree and the party is on.


I noticed this in the CBS replay.... in the background as Porter is celebrating, you can see Peyton get up and begin to half-heartedly throw his arms up as if to ask, "Didn't anyone see that?" But he had to know nobody was going to stop the party.

And that brings me to my point -- while I'm fine with the outcome as I wanted to see a Saints victory, it's sort of crappy that a play that could be used as a textbook definition of clipping went completely uncalled because the officials were, what? Just as overcome by the moment as the rest of us? Simms didn't see it, Nantz didn't see it. Or if they did, they chose not to call the officials out about it.

(Had this happened to Tom Brady, Pats fans everywhere would be organizing a protest of the game and demanding the NFL play it over again.)

How might that have changed the game, though? The Saints then have the ball on their own side of the field and the Indy defense is amped with three minutes left to hold them and get the ball back to Peyton. I know, I know, it's over and believe me, I'm certainly not a Colts apologist -- understand that. I just find this to be an interesting tidbit. While so many people are talking about how Drew Brees signing with the Saints altered their history, it's interesting to think about how much a correct call could have altered this Super Bowl.

Drew Brees' Secret To Success

Sadly, I have to admit that I was on Pampers.com this morning. I do, after all, have a 1 week old baby girl.

Imagine my surprise however, when I discovered something my baby and Drew Brees have in common. They both wear diapers! Apparently, Drew's secret to a great season is wearing Pampers Cruisers. He reportedly* said that "I have so much increased flexibility when I wear Cruisers. I used to wear Luvs under Coach Tiller, but when I moved to the NFL they suggested Pampers. They've really helped my game. "

* He never said any such thing.

-Note to self: You should still read BoiledSports even when your baby is in the hospital so that you don't reference something that was talked about 5 days ago.

Coronation

Purdue's favorite son reaches the pinnacle.

Drew Brees grew up in Texas and went 28-0-1 as a high school QB in Austin. But none of the big time Texas schools wanted Drew. He was too small. He'd hurt his knee in high school. He wasn't the right material for them.

Drew went on to Purdue, becoming the favorite player of many of us. He took over Joe Tiller's offense in 1998 and produced, without question, the most exciting moments of the past 40 years of Boilermaker football. He's remained a loyal Boilermaker, still doing ads for local businesses in West Lafayette as well as donating $1.5 million back to the University.

Drew's next stop was with the San Diego Chargers, where (as hard as this is to imagine) there were questions about whether he could make it in the NFL. Eventually, Drew persevered and became successful, leading the Chargers from poor back to respectable. However, they had acquired Phil Rivers and decided when Drew's "franchised" year was up, after the 2005 season, that they would let him walk. And he did. But not before grotesquely wrecking his throwing shoulder in his final play as a Charger, on a meaningless fumble recovery, in a meaningless game...for a team that no longer wanted him anyway.

He gutted out months of rehab in order to be ready for the 2006 season, for whoever took a chance on him.

The only two teams to show interest in him as a free agent were Miami and New Orleans. Miami eventually decided he wasn't worth the risk and went with *cough/laugh* Daunte Culpepper. Drew signed with New Orleans, a team coming off a horrid year after playing their whole 2005 season away from home following Katrina.

In 2006, Drew quietly led the Saints to within one win of the Super Bowl. They took a dip the following two seasons, though Drew most certainly did not, throwing for over 5,000 yards in 2008.

In 2009, the Saints put it all together. But many felt the 5-0 Giants were better than the 4-0 Saints in October. The Saints crushed New York. Many felt the Pats would be a challenge -- the Saints waxed New England. Many felt the Vikings and Brett Favre would take out the Saints, who hadn't played a complete game in a long time. The Saints still found a way. And then, of course, for these past two weeks, all we've heard about is Peyton's second Super Bowl title. It sounded forgone.

As recently as this morning even, the doofuses on ESPN were debating whether or not Drew Brees was an "elite" quarterback. I guess it was up for debate because he hadn't won a Super Bowl. Which is a simply idiotic debate. The guy is one of the absolute best in the league, much the way Dan Fouts and Dan Marino were -- two guys who never won a Super Bowl. Drew needed to do nothing else to prove he was an elite quarterback.

But then, Drew's been overcoming being not giving him the credit he deserves or believing in him fully for a long, long time. Going back to the end of high school, when nobody really recruited him in Texas and he wound up at Purdue. And changed all of our football-viewing lives for the better.

Drew Brees went 32 of 39 tonight in a nearly flawless peformance and beat a Colts team that has looked unbeatable all season. He beat the unflappable Peyton Manning. Before that he beat Kurt Warner and Brett Favre. And now he is a Super Bowl champion and a Super Bowl MVP.

Congrats, Drew. We couldn't be prouder. And since all three of us here at Boiled Sports became papas in the past six weeks, the below photo made us saps love it all even more.

Who dat Boiler? He's Drew Brees...champion.

Good Guy Super Bowl

A lot's been said over these two dragged out weeks where we're all repeatedly reminded how awesome it is to work in sports -- especially if you're not playing the Super Bowl. All athletes and celebs and every single sports radio show in America (except the Handsome Hour) seem to descend upon the host city. I will admit I rather enjoyed the fact that they had marginal-to-crappy weather in Miami most of this week. Serves you all right for rubbing the rest of our noses in it, jerkwads. Also, have fun trying this in Dallas next year. It actually snows in Dallas in Jan/Feb. Have fun with that.

Also, why can't we go back to those few years where there was only one week between the conference title games and the Super Bowl? They did a few times maybe ten or so years ago and I'm guessing it didn't work as well for the sponsors and host city and, well, basically everyone trying to make money off this event. You know who it did work out well for? Fans. You know, the people who, ostensibly, these games are being played for. I loved that. A week off sucks. From preseason games in late July through the NFC/AFC championship games, there is NFL football every single week. And then we just grind it to a halt for two weeks. So stupid and illogical. Of course, they could be like the BCS and take off 5 or 6 weeks and then play the Super Bowl in March, so I guess I should be thankful.

Anyway, here we (finally) are. Colts versus Saints and, honestly, unless you have some irrational hate for one of these teams, I think the majority of neutral fans (i.e., not a true fan of either) are in the boat I am -- it wouldn't be awful if either team won. Which is a rare place for the Super Bowl to be. Usually I really do or do not want to see a team win. Usually, it's the latter. Unless the Giants are in it, I'm usually rooting against someone. Two years ago was utterly awesome because not only was I rooting for my Giants, but I would have been rooting against the Patriots anyway.

For Boilerdowd, the season before was the ultimate. And now, here we are, with a game that matters probably more to him than me (since as for pro football, he's a Colts guy and a Drew Brees lover fan) but that I cannot wait to watch.

Neither team plays a whole lot of defense, though we've heard a lot of talk about the beating New Orleans put on Brett Favre. And that's fine, but Favre has always taken hits. The guy holds on to the ball and waits for a sandlot play to develop. He often throws at the last second and he also tries to throw a block sometimes. Make no mistake, though, the Saints gave up a lot of yards and points in that NFC title game. The Vikes couldn't stop turning the ball over and yet they still should have won. Crazy.

The Colts are surgical, as everyone talks about ad nauseum regarding Peyton, so I won't rehash it here. Suffice it to say, though, that when Tom Brady had marginal, unknown receivers back in 2006, he lost to the Colts and everyone said they needed to upgrade their receivers for Terrific Tom. The Pats then did that in a major way (Moss, Welker, Gaffney, etc.) and Handsome Tom still hasn't won a Super Bowl since the 2004 season. Manning, on the other hand, takes unknown receivers and turns them into stars. Funny how that works.

The Saints have been riding emotion for a long time now. They played like a machine for the first three months of the season, dispatching quality opponents like the Giants and Pats as though they didn't belong on the same field with the Saints. These weren't "solid wins" or clear victories -- these were destructions. One could argue that the G-men and the Pats were never the same after being de-pantsed by the Saints in New Orleans. The Giants were 5-0 heading to New Orleans, in what was billed as a test for the Saints. Turned out the Giants were pretenders, getting hammered and reeling a 3-8 finish. Ugh.

The Pats entered 7-3, got trounced, and went 3-2 down the stretch, flaming out in the first round of the playoffs.

My point? The Saints were a buzzsaw, absolutely mowing down anyone in their path. And then they sort of lost their way, losing their final three games. I knew this would be a problem, as they then had a bye week and it had been five weeks since they had won a game. You can't overstate how much repetition and mindsets factor into NFL success -- after all, it's one-and-done; you can't have a bad game and go get 'em tomorrow like in a playoff series in other sports.

The Saints got their act together in destroying the Cardinals and then put together a somewhat nervous performance against the Vikes. And here we are.

The Colts, meanwhile, are almost frighteningly methodical in how they flatten teams. No trash talking. No responding to remarks by idiots like the Jets. They, in what is unfortunately rare, let their play do all their talking. They go out there and ground their opponents into dust. How many times were the Colts even seriously challenged this year? I saw them in person here in Houston against the Texans and the Texans looked in control early, building a 23-7 lead, I believe. And then, predictably, the wheels came off because Peyton has something few others have -- complete confidence in his and his team's abilities as well as patience. It doesn't matter how long it takes for him to figure things out -- he will figure them out. The Patriots had outplayed the Colts all night in that November game famous for Bill Belichick's going for it on fourth down. But that call kind of overshadows how Peyton brought the Colts back from a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter. That's incredible and few guys -- if any -- could do that to a Patriots team. The fourth down call never should have been an issue -- Peyton forced it to become one.

Another Colts tidbit that I have heard a few times and find myself completely agreeing with is that they haven't lost a single game they've tried to win. On its face, this sounds like a little kid argument: "Well, I wasn't trying!" But it's not. The Colts lost two games this season. One to the Jets, in which they held a third-quarter lead before the team inexplicably decided to fold the tent for the week and remove key players, such as Manning. And the other in the final week, in a snowy game against the Bills -- a game which I definitely agreed with yanking the starters since the game was truly rendered as meaningless as possible as a result of the previous week's dumb decision. The Colts should have gone for perfection, in my opinion. But they didn't and so now they're pissed and want to crush anyone in their path -- at least that's how I see it. So maybe it was a genius move. We'll never know for sure.

My (rambling) point is this.... we think the Colts are going to wind up the champs this weekend. As mentioned on the Handsome Hour, our loyalties are divided. Boilerdowd is a Colts fan who likes Drew Brees more than the supple, young, impressionable lads he "guided" as a counselor in the Purdue dorms -- and he's come to the conclusion that he wants the Colts to win. He also threw in the girl-like (no offense ladies) comment that he wants to see Drew do well, too. So, basically, he's like a mom who wants all the kids to get a trophy at the end of the soccer season. Yay!

Me, I'm pulling for the Saints all the way. I've been the Superdome to see Drew play, I (like many of you) watched him play in Ross-Ade and I really like pretty much everything about this Saints team. Again, this is not to disparage the Colts, who for the most part do everything the classy, right way (aside from going for perfect seasons, at which they are poor). And again as mentioned, if the Colts were to win, I'd be fine with Peyton having a second Super Bowl and would honestly hope he wins a few more to cement his status as the best QB ever -- because he really is.

The BS pick, as though you care:

Colts 38, Saints 35

Joe Tiller, Game Changer?

Was this man partially responsible for changing the game?

This is a bit off the current topics of the season, but since it's Super Bowl week, I thought it might be appropriate. I was listening to the radio today and every radio show in America is being done from "radio row" at the Super Bowl and Tiki Barber was on. He was discussing the current state of the game and, of course, the upcoming game this weekend. And a point he made really resonated with me and made me wonder if it was possible that Joe Tiller had some hand in changing the way the game of football is played....nationwide.

Tiki was discussing the Super Bowl combatants and he commented on how Indy's rushing offense is 29th in the league -- and how that doesn't matter at all, because of how surgical Peyton Manning is. Fair point. He went on to talk about how the position of running back is quickly becoming less relevant to the point where he expects it to soon be less relevant than ever. This is because everyone runs some variation of the spread offense and bubble screens and quick outs and slants -- when done precisely -- are just as effective as a first down run play that used to be the bread-and-butter of every offense out there. You always ran on first down unless you were some wild-ass, Bill Walsh offense. And he was considered kind of kooky when he first ran it in the NFL.

So yes, the West Coast offense existed -- and succeeded -- for a number years, starting with those '80s Forty-Niners teams. But it's safe to say everyone else mainly relied on the tried and true method of success (and the "conventional wisdom" of many football lifers): run on first down, run on second down, maybe pass on third down. Oh, and the quarterback spent almost all of his time under center. The shotgun was a gimmick, sort of, and something that good defenses felt they could use to their advantage because it was almost always a sign of a sure passing down.

Then something funny happened over the past ten years or so. Spread offenses took over. They say football is a "copycat" sport (see the ridiculous proliferation of the dumb-ass, 1940s Wildcat offense) and so as spread offenses began to succeed more, more teams began to institute them. This spread (no pun intended) like wildfire, burning through the college ranks and down to high school, to the point where the guy currently referred to as maybe the best college football player ever can't get comfortable taking a snap from center. Crazy.

Joe Tiller came to Purdue in 1997 and immediately implemented a spread offense, infamously called "basketball on grass," a term that is still used by know-nothing commentators today, even when Purdue is running more plays on the ground than in the air. But think back -- Cowboy Joe's system in 1997 was a lot more revolutionary than it would be in 2010. Now, everybody runs a version of the spread. In 1997, approximately zero Big Ten teams ran such an offense. For years (up until his retirement, in fact), Tiller was cited as the reason that the Big Ten's offensive statistics and approach changed. Tiller began passing on first down and frequently "using the pass to set up the pass." We all loved it, of course, because it completely baffled Big Ten defenses (remember, that 1997 team was coming off a 3-8 1996 and didn't even really have the personnel for such an offense) and allowed the Boilers to race to a 9-win season. It was amazing.

Before long, more offenses in the Big Ten opened it up, as did many offenses around the country at that time. Just prior to that, what kinds of teams won national titles in college football? Teams like Nebraska, running the effing OPTION. Now what kinds of teams win it? Teams like Florida and Alabama and USC. Sure, they're not all overly pass-happy teams, but the threat of their passing attack is one of the keys to making them successful. Nebraska used to win titles with quarterbacks who had no business even being referred to as quarterbacks.

Whereas winning Super Bowls at the NFL level used to be done with running game and crushing defense, the St. Louis Rams of '99-'01 showed that you could be very successful (and win a Super Bowl) by passing the sh-t out of the ball and playing defense once in a while. The Rams did what nobody had ever been able to do -- outscore everyone.

So the question I ask you is this: Did Joe Tiller play some significant role in changing the way the game is played? Clearly, I'm not silly enough to think he was the cause, but is it fair to say that what he brought to the Big Ten helped make the pass-happy, spread approach more mainstream?

Well, the 29th-best rushing team in the NFL is playing against Joe Tiller's first big recruit and the man who ran his offense better than anyone.

Both Saints and Vikings Get What They Deserve

"Who had no interceptions or gray stubble and is going to the Super Bowl? This guy."

What did you think was going to happen, Vikings fans?

Yesterday's NFL conference title games could not have gone better, at least for me (and, really, isn't that what's important?). The Jets were finally beaten (seriously, they didn't even belong in the playoffs), the Saints -- led by our favorite guy -- made their first Super Bowl, and Brett Favre reached into the hearts of every Vikings fan out there and tore their hearts from their bodies. Simply awesome. I dine on your tears, Vikings fans. They are my sustenance.

Now, I really have nothing against Vikings fans. Actually, I don't really know any. But any time you welcome in the guy you fricking hated for 16 years and lots of you begin wearing that guy's jersey... well, you're asking for karma to kick you in the nuts. Idiot Minny fans are getting exactly what any sentient person with a functioning brain knew they were getting when they signed up for a season of Brett Favre: some exciting plays, countless features on the guy, gray stubble, stupid commercials, probably more wins that Tavaris Jackson gets you....oh, and a crushing, devastating, backbreaking interception at the absolute worst possible time.

I don't care that he had only seven INTs this year. That is indeed damn impressive. I admit I was shocked he stuck to their gameplan. Part of the reason he was so good this year was that he had some amazing weapons and actually let them work as they should. But when those weapons began misfiring and spilling footballs all over the Superdome turf? Well, Favre did what Favre always does -- tried to "make something happen." And he did. For the Saints.

The Saints, meanwhile, did their best to give this one away, being outgained by 200+ yards and by Reggie Bush deciding to not call a fair catch when he was about to be mowed down by a Minnesota special teamer. Bushy fumbled and then it took Adrian Peterson's fumbleitis to give it right back. Seriously, what the hell was that all about? How often does a team turn the ball over a half-dozen times and still be able to make a claim they should have won? The Saints not having a clue as to how to fall on the ball is a part of that. Seriously, the Vikes might have had eight turnovers if the Saints had run a fumble recovery drill at all this season.

As some of you know, I was manning the BS Twitter feed and Seth Meyers of SNL made some smart-ass remark late in the game about how he figured the Saints were re-thinking their defensive game plan of blitzing the hell out of Favre since they had no sacks to that point. Um, they had caused six fumbles and two picks. So, uh, yeah, Seth, their defense was doing something right. Oh and they beat Favre into a bruised mess. Stick to late-night comedy. Oh, wait, you don't do that well, either.

We'll have more wandering thoughts at the Super Bowl approaches, but for now, let me get back to some examples of the idiots I was discussing up above.

The Idiot Brigade

--Deion Sanders tried to defend the move last night on NFL Network. Ah, no, Deion. No, sir. Even Michael Irvin knew it was a terrible move and Irvin's probably on heroin.

--Peter King made it clear to everyone that he thought the "high-low" hit on Favre should have been flagged. Okay. What does that have to do with how bad Favre sucks when it comes to late-game decisions? King also said not to blame Childress for this loss, then proceeded to name a bunch of boneheaded decisions Childress made. The full evisceration of King's column is done here. I especially like how King complains again about the overtime rules of the NFL and how it didn't give poor Farvey "a chance." Uhh, Peter, he had his chance, at the end of regulation. If he does basically anything else other than what he did, the Vikes are probably going to the Super Bowl. Way to see the big picture.

--This guy and his kid (I guess) encapsulate being a Vikes fan this year: Probably not really being 100% on board but trying to talk yourself into it, including with a Favre jersey. I could watch this clip over and over:



--This idiot, who won't shave his beard until the Vikings win the Super Bowl. You sir, are a moron. And that's not even the worst part of the story. No, the worst part is how he grudgingly allowed his mangy, disgusting beard to be trimmed for his granddaughter's wedding, but wanted "Favre" stitched on the back of his suit. This kind of a-hole makes me even MORE glad, if that's possible, that the Vikes lost in such crushing fashion.

--Favre, himself. I love that he claimed during the postgame press conference that he hadn't even seen the INT yet, so he doesn't know exactly what happened. Watch this video and tell me how he "didn't see it yet"?



Okay, that was just an excuse to enjoy the Favreplosion again. Seriously, nothing better encapsulates his career than that -- getting his team to big games, but almost always pooping the bed once he gets there. In fact, all but once.

Delicious.