Ranking Super Bowl games is actually quite worthless and infuriating, so I'm not going to go into a top 10 list of the greatest super bowls ever played, considering the first one I ever watched was the Packers and the Patriots in 1997, and I've only ever seen one played before then (old footage of the 1985 Bears' stomping of the Patriots). I will, however, share my thoughts from this game, probably in a couple of posts.
There is absolutely no place or reason for the words "Move over, David Tyree" to come out of anyone's mouth when talking about Harrison's touchdown. SI.com's Don Banks was the first to drop what has already become my most hated phrase of all time in his column right after the game. David Tyree's catch (pictured, below) was the single greatest display of athletic ability I have ever seen. To make that play, in that situation, while being hammered by one of the league's strongest hitters is still mind-boggling to me. What makes the David Tyree play so great, though, besides Eli's ridiculous effort to get out of the pocket himself, was the fact that before the catch, Tyree had four catches for 35 yards ... DURING THE ENTIRE REGULAR SEASON.
Now, I'm not here to slam Harrison, because if you pull off the longest play in Super Bowl history, you're something special. The image of him jumping that route, breaking tackles, and tip-toeing down the sideline for the score will forever be in football, and it truly was remarkable. Let's remind ourselves, though, that Harrison was the defensive player of the year this year. It doesn't take anything away from the play, but it made the idea of it happening plausible at the very least.
Oh, and by the way, speaking of Harrison, in the post-game celebrations, let us not forget about the most despicable play of the game. Everyone completely forgot about it, because the very next play we saw Larry Fitzgerald scampering 50+ yards down the middle of the field for the go-ahead touchdown for Arizona. The reason the Cardinals were that far, though, was the 15 yard personal foul on Harrison. What for? Only punching a guy who tried to block him repeatedly in the back, and then, even though, the play was completely away from him, absolutely leveling the guy as he tried to stand up. Madden may have exaggerated when he said he should have been thrown out, but if he had, I don't think anyone would have argued too much.
On a happier note for Pittsburgh fans, Ben Roethlisberger is truly a one-of-a-kind quarterback. He doesn't have the arm strength of Brady or the scary accuracy of Manning, but it is time that all doubters - including myself - concede the fact that Big Ben (pictured above, hugging MVP Santonio Holmes) has established himself in their class as the third best quarterback of our generation (I consider Brett Favre to be of the Aikman-Young generation. He kind of fits in between somewhere). I still put him third because of his obvious discrepancy in terms of numbers, and I don't think even the most die-hard of all Steelers fans will argue that point. He is above other peers, though, because of his uncanny ability to turn it on when the game is late. I, along with 60% of America, was screaming at the top of my lungs
about how three Cardinals could be standing right next to Holmes, but not one can make a play on the ball, but the fact remains the same that Big Ben found Holmes there and the ball was delivered perfectly. Ben was impressive in the first and fourth quarters. In the second and third, he looked only mediocre, as he is prone to do during games, lulling you into a false sense about the kind of quarterback he really is. I've seen him do it twice against the Ravens already this season, though, and now on the biggest stage of all - the Super Bowl. He is as clutch as they come.
(Photo Credits: allposters.com for Tyree; Getty Images for Roethlisberger)
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