Super Bowl Quickies: Day 2 (Madden 25 to Retirement Talk)

Jan 22, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; A general view as stadium workers clean snow from stands during the Super Bowl XLVIII stadium preparations press conference at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Just to give you an idea of how obsessed I am with this whole Super Bowl thingie, I have been looking at the Weather Channel app on my phone – the 10-day forecast –  on a daily basis since, well, since January 24th (do the math). The great news for fans of the Denver Broncos is as we get closer to kickoff on Sunday, the conditions are improving. As recently as a few days ago, it appeared that it would be about 29 degrees with an 80% chance of precipitation and sustained 11 MPH winds. Those are not horrible conditions for Peyton Manning and the Broncos’ high-octane passing game. As I checked the app today, the forecast has improved to a high of 38 degrees, which means probably about 32 degrees at kickoff with a 20% chance of precip and 8 MPH winds. In the vein of the old Colorado rhetorical question, “If God’s not a Broncos fan, then why are sunsets orange?” now we can ask, “If  Mother Nature isn’t a Broncos’ fan, then why do the projected conditions continue to improve?”

THIS JUST IN: The Denver Broncos have won Super Bowl XLVIII 31-28 over the Seattle Seahawks. I know, I know, the real game has not been played yet. However in a time-honored Super Bowl tradition, the game has already been played in the virtual world thanks to EA Sports Madden 25. As it plays out, Matt Prater blasts what appears to be a 55-yard field goal in overtime to bring the Lombardi trophy back to the Mile High City. While I will take a SB Championship by hook or by crook, I am not sure if my heart can take overtime. LAUGH OUT LOUD!!!!

In today’s presser on the Good Ship Lollipop (otherwise know as SS Cornucopia Majesty), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie hinted that if the Broncos win Super Bowl XLVIII that he might retire. Rodgers, 27 years old and in his 6th NFL season, has had arguably his best season as a pro. DRC said that when his career started he had put a 5-year limit how long he would play. For the record, he’s in his 6th season. I am not sure if this a thoughtful and introspective life evaluation or leverage for his next contract. Although DRC didn’t sound that convincing, he did mention that he’s had this conversation with teammates.

"“I talk to them all the time,” he said. “It’s not set in stone. I always tell them. They always think I be joking, but I always just say it might be my last go-round.” quipped, Cromartie."

Next story: On Sunday, the Pro-Bowl took place in Hawaii. Who cares! NEXT!

Finally, Peyton Manning has put to rest any sub-plots of him retiring; which is bad news for the scribes and radio row. The four-letter network (ESPN) made a story out of this when they tried to tie Manning’s 2013 post-season run to that of John Elway‘s in 1998. The biggest difference is that Elway could not do it anymore physically. He was a much more mobile and physical quarterback than Peyton has been during his career. Now there is the matter of the yearly physical that Manning must undergo in March and unless the doctors uncover a serious issue with his neck, we’ll see #18 back in orange and blue. PFM addressed this in yesterday’s press conference.

"“Everybody enjoys the games, everybody’s going to be excited about the Super Bowl. But I think when you still enjoy the preparation, the work part of it, I think you probably still aught to be doing that. I think as soon as I stop enjoying it, and I can’t produce, and I can’t help the team, that’s when I’ll stop playing. If that’s next year, maybe it is, but I certainly want to keep playing.” opined the greatest quarterback to ever play the game."

Well that’s it for today. I’m sure there will be a majestic Cornucopia (see what I did there?) of useless stories that with which to have oodles of fun. Until then, don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things.

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