David Tyree is the real hero in this game. That jump ball catch, on 3rd and 5 with less than 1:15, to go, thrown by a scrambling for his life Eli Manning and caught on his head with Rodney Harrison draped all over him was one of the best moments in Super Bowl history. That play set up, what proved to be, the winning touchdown of the game just four players later with the Giants beating the Patriots 17-14. That says nothing of him catching the first touchdown pass of the game for the Giants and giving them a 10-7 lead. He played one great game but that catch will be remembered with some of the all time great plays of Super Bowls.
The video of it (while it’s up) is below, but here’s the quotes from some Giants and Patriots players, one coach and a brother that sums the catch all up:
“David Tyree, that’s all you have to say.” It was just a great catch by David Tyree. I found a way to get loose and just really threw it up. He made an unbelievable catch and saved the game.” – Eli Manning “Unbelievable, in Friday’s practice, he was dropping everything.” - Amani Toomer “I don’t know that there’s ever been a bigger play in the Super Bowl than that play.” – Tom Coughlin “He made a hell of a play.” – Asante Samuel “Eli’s pass to Tyree, I think, was one of the greatest plays of all time. You always see Swann’s catch.” Peyton Manning
Saturday, the expected happened. The Patriots toppled the Jaguars in a hard fought (Joe Gibbs term) battle in Foxboro. Most everyone expected that their opponent in the conference championship game would be the Colts who should’ve had no problem with the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. Most everyone was wrong when the Chargers, who lost LT in the 2nd quarter and Phillip Rivers later in the game, snuck away with a win at Indy with some solid defense and huge contributions from back-up players.
Also on Saturday, the expected happened when the Green Bay Packers dismantled the Seattle Seahawks in classic Green Bay weather, a heavy snow and plenty of cold and wind. Most everyone expected that their opponent in the conference championship game would the the Dallas Cowboys who should’ve had no problem with the New York Giants on Sunday. TO was playing, it is a home game, no problem right? Wrong, Eli Manning (of all people) had a great game with no mistakes and the defense stepped up in the 2nd half, disrupting Tony Romo greatly, and allowing only a field goal for Dallas in the 3rd quarter. New York beats Dallas, Romo is 0-2 as a quarterback in the playoffs and T.O. cries after the game:
The unexpected should always be expected in the NFL. All Norv Turner haters, myself included, are scared to find out that a Norv Turner team made it to the conference championship. In addition to this development, most Eli Manning haters are frightened that he is in a conference championship game, especially with Tom Coughlin as his head coach. Tiki Barber must be crying in his dockers pants right now that he retired because his former team, and the next season they are a game away from the Super Bowl. All of this of course means there is a tear in the fabric of the universe somewhere and we are all certainly about to die. You should be afraid. Yes, Armageddon is upon us people but first, we have 1 more round of playoffs to go before the Super Bowl.
San Diego at New England and New York at Green Bay…this doesn’t leave much drama I don’t think. With weather being a huge factor, it has got to be Green Bay vs New England, dont you think? You know this guy wants to show the kid how its done.
If you want to, you apparently can talk to Larry Holmes for the low low price of $19.95. Hollywood is Calling offers up “celebrity” birthday phone calls and amongst its formidable roster of “C” list celebrities you can get Larry Holmes, Lazer from American Gladiators, Lou Ferrigno, and a few WWE ex-stars like The Ragin’ Cajun , Raven, and Rick Drasin to call you and wish you a live Happy Birthday greeting.
How Jose Canseco, the entire rest of the cast of American Gladiators, Jeff George, Ryan Leaf, Mike Tyson, OJ Simpson, Peyton Manning (does he ever miss out on a money making opportunity?), Oliver McCall, Joe Theisman, or any other disgraced, out of work, or money whoring athlete hasn’t jumped all over this is beyond me. Surely they all have the time to make a little extra cash for whatever stardom (or infamy) they have left.
I even know for a fact that these are well worth the money for the unexpected birthday phone call. Trapper John once hooked me up with an unforgettable and nearly unintelligible birthday phone call from Rerun of What’s Happening! fame…that was one of the greatest and most hilarious birthday surprises I have ever had.
Amazingly, they didn’t even pay me for this bit of minor publicity or for attempting to help them fill their rosters with more athletes. I just really want to one day get Peyton Manning to call up someone and just yell “CUT! THAT! MEAT! Oh and happy birthday”. I’d pay 20 bucks for that.
