Countdown to the Super Bowl: 9 days

We’re just nine days from the Super Bowl. Single digits, everybody! Are you excited yet?

And when you think of No. 9, it’s hard not to recall one of the most outrageous personalities to win a Super Bowl, former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon. The punky QB — as he described himself in the Bears’ Super Bowl Shuffle video — was always at odds with authority, be it the honor code at BYU, coach Mike Ditka or even Commissioners Pete Rozelle and Paul Tagliabue.

For more, go to the NFL.com Super Bowl Blog.

Who was the biggest goat?

There were a lot of goats on Goat Sunday. Kyle Williams couldn't get out of the way of a ball, nor could he hold on to it. Billy Cundiff shanked a 32-yard field goal. Lee Evans dropped a touchdown pass which would have won the game for Raven.

But what about Ed Hochuli? He continues to baffle me. I mean, he got in trouble at Denver a few years ago when he blew the whistle too early. Now he's pulling stuff like that again calling Ahmad Bradshaw down because his forward progress had been stopped? Just stop it. We talk about it in the latest podcast.

DDFP: Episode 49

Laying down some Twitter rules

I don't follow a lot of NFL players on Twitter because, well, most of them come off like dopes. I would have to check, but I believe I have rid myself of the last one. One I would consider is Arian Foster. With that in mind, I do give some love to Foster in my latest blog post on NFL.com.

Photobombing and other Twitter rules for the Pro Bowl.

Countdown to the Super Bowl: 10 days

We’re 10 days from the Super Bowl and here is your question of the day: What is the greatest catch in Super Bowl history?

You could say John Taylor‘s catch against the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII (check out yesterday’s countdown). That certainly is a good one. David Tyree‘s one-handed grab against the Patriots certainly has to be in the discussion — especially for those of you who have never seen Lynn Swann‘s circus grab in Super Bowl X.

There are no wrong answers, but only one correct answer and you can read about it at my NFL.com Super Bowl Blog.

Although, I guess the photo is giving it away. Maybe it's all a ruse!

My question through all of this, if the call had gone the other way, would the referees have overturned the call? Just goes to show the calls always go the Steelers' way.

Countdown to the Super Bowl: 11 days

We are now 11 days from the Super Bowl. And one can’t help but think back to the 11-play, 92-yard game-winning drive orchestrated by Joe Montana in Super Bowl XXIII.

With the ball on their 8-yard line and just minutes remaining, Joe Cool calmly walked into the huddle, paused momentarily to gaze into the crowd, and casually said to his teammates, “Hey, isn’t that John Candy sitting over there?”


The Bengals never stood a chance.

You can read the rest at our NFL.com Super Bowl Blog.

Oh, and I hate Joe Montana. Really, he made my life miserable during the 1980s. Even more than those broads who refused to have anything to do with me.

Where will Peyton Manning land?

This was going to be a special edition of the Adam Rank Gridiron Podcast for Kids, but Arian Foster flaked on us. So I'm posting it here.

If you’ve been reading the news, Peyton Manning is moping about the culture change in Indianapolis. Coaches are getting fired. And it looks like he’s going to be out the door. And why not, the Colts are going to take Andrew Luck who’s a turnkey quarterback. Luck needs to start from the first day.

So here are the six best fits for Manning:

6. New York Jets
But Peyton Manning in New York would be about as fitting as Justin Bieber in a CBGB shirt. Although that hipster dufus would try to do that because those shirts are probably selling at your local 'hot topic.'

5. Seattle Seahawks
I might be dreaming. Forget win forever Pete Carroll, how about winning right now.

4. Dallas Cowboys
Let's be honest, Tony Romo (no many how many starlets he dates) doesn't have the big-name appeal needed for Dallas. Deal him to the Jets.

3. Washington Redskins
How many times has Dan Snyder overpaid for a guy well past his prime?

2. Miami Dolphins
Manning is about as hip as a Jimmy Buffett concert. And it's no coincidence Buffett is a minority owner of the Dolphins.

1. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona is where all of the snowbirds to retire. Oh yeah, and that Larry Fitzgerald guy.

Countdown to the Super Bowl: 12 days

We now are only 12 days from the Super Bowl. Want your son to grow up to be a Super Bowl champion? Then make him wear No. 12 — easily the most iconic jersey number in Super Bowl history.

And fittingly, we honor those men who wore it. (For more, continue on to NFL.com)