The last time we saw the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl, John Elway (now the team's executive vice president of football operations) was walking into the sunset with his second-straight Super Bowl win. The last time the Seattle Seahawks were in the Super Bowl, they were getting jobbed in one of the worst-officiated Super Bowls ever.
Denver quarterback Peyton Manning's last Super Bowl appearance ended with a Tracy Porter pick-six that gave the New Orleans Saints something longtime fans never thought they would see. Wes Welker—one of Manning's main receivers—saw his last Super Bowl end in a huge dropped pass that helped the New York Giants defeat the New England Patriots.
The only current Seahawks to see a previous big game is Ricardo Lockette (who went through the 2013 Super Bowl week with the 49ers). Seattle has the second-youngest team in the league.
That could mean the moment might prove too big for a Seahawks team with little to no Super Bowl experience. The Broncos have four players who have been to a Super Bowl, including Manning, plus head coach Fox. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has never been to a Super Bowl, but has coached for titles when he was at USC.
Seattle is full of players who love to smack talk, but cornerback Richard Sherman might be the most outspoken. The All-Pro corner created some buzz after the NFC Championship Games with his postgame remarks. I don't believe Sherman deserves the "thug" description he's getting. I have no problem with what he said, and certainly don't feel he owed a public apology.
I thought it was refreshing to see a player speak his mind instead of spewing athlete cliches. Media and fans always say they want players to be more colorful in interviews, but whenever that happens, the media and fans slam that player for speaking his or her mind.
Sherman thinks he is the best corner in the world, and his play is backing it up. If you could actually get an honest answer out of Manning, he would likely tell you the same thing about his play at quarterback.
Weather will be a big storyline at this Super Bowl. Football is meant to be played in the elements, and the sport's biggest game should be no different. Regular season and playoff games are decided in weather. Why can't the Super Bowl?
Kudos to the NFL for selecting New York/New Jersey for this Super Bowl.
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