All-time ultimate mock draft, pick No. 12

In March of 2008, Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff embarked on an ambitious endeavor … create the NFL’s ultimate all-time mock draft, from pick No. 32 to pick No 1. This project was so ambitious that Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff had to suspend the series at pick No. 13. Now, a year later, with the 2009 NFL Draft quickly approaching, Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff continues this series.

Let’s recap the picks …

No. 32 — Bob St. Clair, OT, Tulsa (1953, San Francisco 49ers)
No. 31 — Tommy McDonald, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (1957, Oklahoma)
No. 30 — Sam Huff, LB, New York Giants (1956, West Virginia)
No. 29 — Fran Tarkenton, QB, Minnesota Vikings (1961, Georgia)
No. 28 — Darrell Green, DB, Washington Redskins (1983, Texas A&I)
No. 27 — Dan Marino, QB, Miami Dolphins (1983, Pittsburgh)
No. 26 — Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens (1996, Miami, Fla.)
No. 25 — Stanley Morgan, WR, New England Patriots (1977, Tennessee)
No. 24 — Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams (2004, Oregon State)
No. 23 — Ozzie Newsome, TE, Cleveland Browns (1978, Alabama)
No. 22 — Ernie Stautner, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers (1950, Boston College)
No. 21 — Randy Moss, WR, Minnesota Vikings (1998, Marshall)
No. 20 — Forrest Gregg, OT, Green Bay Packers (1956, SMU)
No. 19 — Marvin Harrison, WR, Indianapolis Colts (1996, Syracuse)
No. 18 — Paul Krause, S, Washington Redskins (1964, Iowa)
No. 17 — Emmitt Smith, RB, Dallas Cowboys (1990, Florida)
No. 16 — Jerry Rice, WR, San Francisco 49ers (1985, Mississippi Valley State)
No. 15 — Jim Taylor, RB, Green Bay Packers (1958, LSU)
No. 14 — Jim Kelly, QB, Buffalo Bills (1983, Miami, Fla.)
No. 13 — Kellen Winslow, TE, San Diego Chargers (1979, Missouri)

And now, pick No. 12 …

Warren Sapp, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1995, Miami, Fla.)

Some picks in this totally awesome, all-time ultimate NFL mock draft are easy to make. This one, not so much.

This one came down to Sapp and legendary Packers player Herb Adderley. However, the decision came down to this … in any barroom discussion of “who are the greatest cornerbacks of all time?”, do you think Adderley’s name would even come up? Not likely, unless a few Packers fans are in the audience. However, in the same type of barroom discussion, but for the topic of “who are the greatest defensive linemen of all time?”, it’s an almost certainty that Sapp’s name is mentioned prominently.

Maybe it’s because Sapp recently retired.

Maybe it’s because Sapp appeared on Dancing with the Stars, and Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff appears to have an affinity for former NFL players who appear on the show (please see picks No. 16 and No. 17 on this ultimate countdown).

Maybe it’s because Sapp — despite some questionable on-the-field as well as off-the-field antics throughout his career — was really just that good.

In addition to being a major catalyst for the only championship in Tampa Bay Buccaneers team history — Super Bowl XXXVII — Sapp’s 96.5 career sacks are second all-time among defensive tackles (John Randle ranks No. 1 for defensive tackles with 137.5 career sacks).

A year after finishing his NFL playing career, Sapp teamed up with Kym Johnson to finish second on Dancing with the Stars, becoming the third NFL player to finish second on the show (joining Emmitt Smith and Jason Taylor).

(Pic stolen from benliebenberg.wordpress.com)

Pick No. 12 notables:

Shawne Merriman, LB, San Diego Chargers (2005), who led the NFL with a career-high 17 sacks in the 2006 season, during which Merriman served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s steroid policy.

Cade McNown, QB, Chicago Bears (1999), who part of that famed (or, maybe more notorious) quarterback class of 1999, which also included first rounders Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb, Akili Smith and Daunte Culpepper.

Warrick Dunn, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1997), who, unfortunately, just missed out on being a part of the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl XXXVII-winning team.

Alphonso Carreker, DE, Green Bay Packers (1984), whose name Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff really enjoys.

Clay Matthews, LB, Cleveland Browns (1978), whose son, Clay Matthews III, hopes to join his father 31 years later as a first-round pick, too. That 1978 draft turned out to be great for the Browns, who also snagged tight end Ozzie Newsome — our all-time mock draft pick at No. 23 — in the first round. Matthews was a four-time Pro Bowler. Newsome is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Herb Adderley, DB, Green Bay Packers (1961), who played on six championship teams (five with the Packers and one with the Cowboys) and in four Super Bowls. Adderley is just one of three players in pro football history to play on six championship teams. Need more props for Adderley? The Hall of Famer is quoted as saying, “I’m the only man with a Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl ring who doesn’t wear it. I’m a Green Bay Packer.” Respect!

Starting 11: That soothingly intoxicating sound

“People ask me what I do in the winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.” -— Rogers Hornsby, Hall-of-Fame base-baller.

The good …

1. The soothingly intoxicating sound of ball hitting mitt — All 30 Major League Baseball teams have reported for duty in destinations in Arizona and Florida (well, players at the pitcher and catcher positions, at least). For those fine folks living in the northern reaches of our great nation suffering through another seemingly endless winter, there may not be a better sight than images of ballplayers on green grass getting ready for Opening Day.

2. Part track meet, part grammar school fitness test — The NFL Scouting Combine, the annual meeting of the top talent entering the draft commences in Indianapolis later this week. Can’t wait to catch live coverage of the three-cone drill on NFL Network!

For the record, only one long snapper — Hawaii’s Jake Ingram — has been invited to participate.

Favorite name for a combine participant? Marshall receiver Darius Passmore.

3. The all-time NFL mock draft … will re-commence in this space some time soon. Be on the lookout. You may want to make this blog one of your bookmarks so you don’t miss out on the fun. Last year, Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff left off at pick No. 13, Kellen Winslow, the senior, not the current Cleveland Browns tight end.

4. Chili — It’s best when it gives you the “my mouth tastes like burning” after effects. Just an observation.

5. Pistachios — Just leveled a bag bought at the Santa Barbara Pistachios stand at the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market. Yummy!

6. President’s Day — So, which U.S. president will you be dressing up as for this year’s holiday?

George Washington?
Abraham Lincoln?
William Howard Taft?
Millard Fillmore?
William Henry Harrison?

The bad …

7. It’s hard to take the World Baseball Classic seriously when … you see headlines like these on its official website:
• Santana will not pitch for Venezuela
• Rowland-Smith won’t pitch in Classic
• Cubs’ Zambrano will pass on Classic
• Balfour skipping World Baseball Classic

Then, there’s this one that provides a glimmer of hope:
• Marlins’ VandenHurk excited about Classic

Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff is excited, too!

8. Manny being missing — Roving newspaper men reporting from Camelback Ranch indicate that Manny Ramirez, baseball homer hitterer, is nowhere to be found.

9. So, you think SoCal traffic is bad … check out this bit of art depicting 12,000 objects in Earth’s orbit. Turns out a couple satellites got into an intergalactic fender bender the other day, and there’s a big to-do about it now.

The ugly …

10. I’m starting to come to the realization that … California Blvd. in Santa Monica is a danger zone for runners. Cars come flying out of alleys, through stop signs and with complete disregard for pedestrians, runners/joggers or anybody else. Nearly got ran over the other day while completing a six-mile morning jaunt through the city. Good thing I’m quick on my feet.

11. Also hate it when … the iPod battery runs out when there’s still miles to go in that morning jaunt through the city.

Starting 11: Farewell Favre

“I have no reason to wonder why you would be so skeptical.” — Brett Favre, during a conference call in which he formally announced his retirement from the NFL.

The good …

1. Brett Favre: This time, Favre is retiring for good. He’s 39 years old, gray-haired and well past his prime. It was never more apparent than this season, when his skills deteriorated significantly down the late-autumn stretch drive as the Jets attempted to secure the AFC East title. It was because of Favre that the Jets — a pathetic 4-12 lot in the 2007 season — were in that position in the first place, and when it all came crashing down in December, it was Favre who took all the blame.

On a personal level, Favre ranks as one of my one and/or two or so all-time favorite athletes (Milwaukee Brewers Hall of Famer Robin Yount would be the other). Favre’s retirement — for good this time (we reckon) — also is an eye-opening, and humbling, dose of reality. His 18-year career, most notably the 16 in Green Bay, spanned my entire adult life. His first season as a Packer was my first in college. Now, 17 years later, Favre is done playing professional football and many Packers fans my age have to be feeling like I do … just a bit older.

2. No. 4: When the time is right for Favre and the Packers, the famous number will be retired in an appropriate and tasteful manner, because that is how the Packers roll. Check out this statement from the team following Favre’s retirement announcement:

“Congratulations to Brett on a remarkable career. The Packers organization wishes him and his family well. Brett always will hold a special place in Green Bay Packers history, and we remain committed to retiring his number at an appropriate time in the future.”

Total class.

3. MLB Network: This happy, new and fun location on the Time Warner Cable lineup has quickly become a must-visit destination while channel surfing. Here’s a quick, off-the-top-of-our-noggins, top five list of current must-visit channels …

1. MLB Network — Can’t get enough of the Hot Stove League.
2. Fox Soccer Channel — Now that football season is over, it’s time to turn our attention to the other football.
3. CNBC — There should be a sports show in the style of Mad Money’s Jim Cramer.
4. History Channel — Learn stuff, in HD!
5. The Worldwide Leader — Though, miss the days when SportsCenter was all about highlights of games, rather than personalities and talking heads.

4. USA 2:0 Mexico: It was a great way to kickoff the next round of CONCACAF 2010 World Cup qualifying.

Stump

5. Stump: Major treats go to the Sussex spaniel, who became the oldest dog to win Best in Show in the 133-year history of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

6. St. Valentine … took a vow of celibacy. Remember that this Valentine’s Day. Or don’t.

The bad …

7. A-Rod is just one of 104 players … who tested positive during Major League Baseball’s anonymous testing in 2003 whose names could become public anytime and without notice. Yes, the term “anonymous” seems very loose in this case.

8. The leading sports news sources … were scooped again by The Onion.

9. David Beckham … has to return to the Los Angeles Galaxy. Don’t feel too sorry for Becks, since he has a clause in his Major League Soccer contract that will allow him to leave after this coming season. Expect this scenario to play out once again next year.

The ugly …

10. Daytona 500: When the world runs out of gas, does that mean NASCAR will go away?

11. Of course … PETA had to go protest the Westminster. That is a very curious decision, since we’re under the impression — and nothing from watching much of the coverage on TV this week would have suggested otherwise — that the Westminster is supposed to be a celebration for doggies. But, apparantly, PETA just has to be haters.

Debate: Who is the greatest QB in NFL history?

“When I think of Sammy Baugh, it’s not of the things he could do. It’s of the things he couldn’t do … which was nothing.” — Steve Sabol, president of NFL Films.

In the wake of Brett Favre retiring from the game of football (again), the boys and I got together to talk some pigskin.

The topic of discussion was “Who is the greatest quarterback in NFL history?”

Don’t get me wrong … Brett Favre belongs somewhere very near the top of the list (which would also include Joe Montana, John Elway, Johnny Unitas, Otto Graham, Bart Starr, Dan Marino), but I had to make a case for the late, great Sammy Baugh.

Check it out!

Editor’s note: Baugh passed away at the age of 94 in December, and here’s a very well-done video tribute to the NFL legend.

Starting 11: A much-needed break during Pro Bowl hype week

“Ever since I signed for the Galaxy, people have questioned why I have come to America, but every move I’ve made in my career has been about football for me.

“It’s also about being an ambassador for the game here and, hopefully, it is going to encourage other players to come to the States and be part of this because soccer in America can become much bigger.

“That’s why I’m here. I want to be part of the growth of the game in the States.” — David Beckham, after signing a five-year contract worth an estimated $250 million to join the Los Angeles Galaxy in January of 2007.

This is either going to be the first in a long line of pieces of this nature, or it will have a shorter lifespan that David Beckham had in L.A. Let’s get on with our starting lineup …

The good …

1. Pitchers and catchers report next weekend. Coinciding with the opening of the Santa Monica recreational softball season will be real major leaguers reporting for active duty in various locations in Arizona and Florida. Two teams shift their spring training homes from the Grapefruit League to the ever-growing Cactus League … the Indians and Dodgers. Much more on this topic in this space in the weeks to come. This is exciting!

2. NFL Films went to the Super Bowl … and made a wicked-awesome short movie about the game. Watch it, and then watch it again. If you really like it, watch it again, and then check this out. FYI … you won’t regret it!

3. Mock drafts. ‘Tis the season to project where the latest crop of top football talent will land in the first round of the NFL Draft. Let the debate begin on who the Detroit Lions should take with the No. 1 overall pick. Good thing for Michael Crabtree (highlights in video form) that Matt Millen is no longer the team’s GM.

4. Chiefs finally hired a head coach. On the same day Cardinals O coordinator Todd Haley became the Chiefs’ new coach, Cardinals D coordinator Clancy Pendergast (great name, FWIW) was fired.

5. June 26, 2009. This year presents a very promising summer movie lineup, including the new Transformers movie. Should be an explosive event at the local movieplex. Sorry, just got done watching the trailer. It was cool.

The bad …

6. Went to a sports bar last night, and … people were really amped up for that Lakers-Celtics game. Just wanted to let people know that it’s just a regular-season game, and there’s almost nothing more meaningless in sports than the NBA’s regular season. Respect.

7. It’s raining here in L.A. And that’s a “breaking news” kind of event here.

8. NASCAR season starts this weekend. Wake up, America! Stock car racing’s finest finally — after a lengthy three-week offseason — hit the pavement and will use up excessive amounts of expensive fuel while driving around endlessly in circles for hours on end for the next 50 weeks. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

The ugly …

9. National Signing Day. There has to be no doubt that this is the dumbest day in sports. Some high school kid who happens to be really good at football (but of questionable intelligence) holds a press conference in his school’s cafeteria, sits at a table with a collection of hats representing colleges in front of him. Then, plays with each hat, says something regrettable and chooses a college, which is followed by cheers and then incessant analysis on the ESPN. The thing is, this theater of the absurd is great for TV in a sort of “this is so awful, but just can’t stop watching” way.

10. Becks. With each passing day it appears that Major League Soccer’s most valuable import will stay with AC Milan, where he’s excelling while on loan in the MLS’s offseason. This could be a rough season for the Los Angeles Galaxy, who could also lose Landon Donovan to German Bundesliga side Bayern Munich.

11. Football season is over. Sure, the Pro Bowl is this weekend, but really, a harsh reality has set in … no more happy go fun days.

Why “Starting 11,” you ask? Simple, there are 11 players in the starting lineup in two of Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff’s favorite sports, football and football. That’s it, really.

NFL Europe’s impact on Super Bowl XLIII

It’s the Arizona Cardinals’ ball.

First and goal from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2-yard line with just 18 seconds remaining in the first half.

Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner drops back to pass, immediately faces the vaunted Pittsburgh pass rush, hurries a throw to Anquan Boldin, who is very briefly open before Steelers linebacker James Harrison alertly jumps the pass, makes an interception and scampers 100 yards for a touchdown as time expires on the second quarter.

It was one of the greatest plays in the 43-year history of the Super Bowl.

It also set a record for longest touchdown play in the history of the NFL’s championship game.

It was also a brief moment of glory — and validation — for the now-defunct NFL Europe.

Both ball thrower — Warner — and interceptor — Harrison — played in NFL Europe.

Warner for the Amsterdam Admirals in 1998.

Harrison for the Rhein Fire in 2004.

The NFL pulled the plug on NFL Europe (then called NFL Europa, and formerly known as the NFL Europe League and the World League of American Football) after the 2007 season, citing a switch in focus in its international strategy, which meant more regular-season games played on European soil (the NFL has played one regular-season game in London the past two seasons, despite the fact that when it folded five of the six teams were based in Germany).

Warner helped lead the Admirals to a 7-3 finish in 1998. His backup that season? Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme. A year later, Warner had the dream season of dream seasons, rising from obscurity to lead the St. Louis Rams to their first Super Bowl win, winning league and game MVP honors along the way.

In 2004, Harrison joined a Rhein Fire team that had lost the previous two World Bowls. Unfortunately, that run of success came to an end in Harrison’s only season in Germany, as the Fire fell to 3-7. Things worked out well, however, for Harrison. Just months after completing his season overseas, Harrison was signed for a third time by the Steelers in training camp, where he showed marked improvement, made the team and eventually became NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

But now, the Amsterdam Admirals and Rhein Fire — along with the other teams of NFL Europe that helped harvest many other NFL stars — are just a footnote to football history.

Setting the record straight on Super Bowl XLIII

“We’re going down in history with one of the greatest games ever played in the Super Bowl.” — Steelers WR Santonio Holmes, MVP of Super Bowl XLIII.

Now that Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff has gotten a chance to break down the game film from Super Bowl XLIII, it’s time to put in a final word for the readers on some knee-jerk reactions to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ scintillating triumph over the very-game, yet ultimately overmatched, Arizona Cardinals.

Myth: This is the greatest Super Bowl ever played.

First, and foremost, let’s say this … Super Bowl XLIII is one of the greatest Super Bowls ever played, and certainly deserves to be a part of any “what was the greatest Super Bowl ever?” discussion. It was competitive. It had a scrappy underdog against an overwhelming favorite. And that scrappy underdog rallied from 13 points down to take a lead late and threaten to pull off the historic upset. The game featured huge, game-changing plays. The game featured a deciding touchdown in its final minute. What was not to like?

However, let’s set the record straight here, Super Bowl XLII was still better. Super Bowl XLIII may have been a more exciting game. But, Super Bowls have to be held to different standards than your typical football game. Let’s break down the reasons why SB XLII was better than SB XLIII …

1. The officials were too much a part of SB XLIII. It ruined the rhythm of the game, and there were too many questionable calls, including a most unsatisfactory final play.
2. SB XLII also featured a decided underdog against a heavy favorite. However, this heavy favorite entered the game undefeated and was not only playing for a perfect 19-0 season, but also the title of the greatest team in NFL history. The stakes were much higher going in, even if the prize when the clock struck 0:00 was the same.
3. Because of that aforementioned tidbit, SB XLII profoundly affected more than just the fanbases of the teams playing on the field. Fans of the Miami Dolphins — whose team went 17-0 in 1972 for the NFL’s only undefeated season in the Super Bowl era — had to also be emotionally involved in the outcome.
4. Boston and New York fans don’t like each other. For many Giants fans, who are also fans of the Yankees, the Bronx Bombers’ embarrassing collapse in the 2004 American League Championship Series was still a painful memory, and preventing the Patriots’ perfect season had to be sweet revenge. The fanbases of the Cardinals and Steelers have nothing to feud about, other than the fact that Steelers fans appeared to infest sports bars in the greater Phoenix area during Super Bowl XLIII.

Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff also still ranks Super Bowl XXXVI (Patriots over Rams) ahead of this year’s game, too. A late-second game-winning field goal by Adam Vinatieri lifted the Patriots over the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf,” an achievement that at the time was utterly ridiculous to suggest.

Myth: James Harrison’s 100-yard interception return for a touchdown was a better play than David Tyree’s catch in Super Bowl XLII.

Both of these plays are very nearly equally as improbable. Harrison’s record-setting touchdown came as time expired on the first half of Super Bowl XLIII, and was also a potential 14-point swing in the favor of his Steelers. Tyree’s catch took Herculian efforts by both the receiver and quarterback Eli Manning to pull off. It turned out that Harrison’s play was a major deciding factor in the outcome of the game. This is close to a push, but Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff still gives a slight edge to Tyree’s catch. It happened with the game on the line in a must-score situation and set up the game-winning score in the Giants’ upset of the Patriots.

Myth: The Steelers have an NFL-record six titles.

Actually heard this one on SportsCenter this morning and nearly choked on the ol’ morning coffee. The six Super Bowl titles is an NFL record, now one better than the totals for the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. The Green Bay Packers hold the record for most NFL championships won with 12 (the Bears — 9 — and Giants — 7 — also rank ahead of the Steelers on that all-time list). And, before Steelers fans get all bent out of shape over the Packers winning a good portion of those titles before the Super Bowl era, remember, the Steelers were founded in 1933. The Packers won nine of those titles while the Steelers have been a part of the NFL.

Myth: The Steelers have the greatest pro football fans in all the land.

There are fanbases for a handful of other NFL teams that could also lay claim to that title … Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers come to mind immediately.

Much has been made of Steelers Nation dominating the stands at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium for Super Bowl XLIII. Steelers fans did the same when the team faced the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.

Let’s be honest here. If the Steelers played, say, the Packers in the Super Bowl, do you really think Steelers fans would have a numerical edge in the stands over the fanbase of the green and gold? That’s tough to say.

On another note, the fans of the Browns remain just as fiercely loyal and dedicated to their team as those of the Steelers. All this despite the fact that the team has yet to appear in a Super Bowl and hasn’t won an NFL championship in 44 years. If the success of these two teams had been reversed, it’s likely Browns fans would be at the top of the list and Steelers Nation isn’t even in the discussion. 

Myth: Super Bowls are boring games.

Actually heard that said a couple times in the week leading up to Super Bowl XLIII from very casual observers of the game of football and had to break down this topic. If last year’s epic didn’t already set the record straight, Super Bowl XLIII hammered home the point that Super Bowls are must-see sporting events, and not a diversion from the new commercials that get aired between the action. Once upon a time, getting a competitive Super Bowl game was a lot to ask. Now, it’s pretty close to a yearly occurrence. Going back to the Packers’ win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI — that’s a span of 13 Super Bowls — eight of those games could be in the discussion for “greatest Super Bowl games” (Take a quick glance at the games for proof). Saying that the Super Bowl is only entertaining because of the commercials is absurd, especially since these promos will be aired ad nauseum for the next few months, if not longer.

Myth: That trailer for the new Transformers movie was wicked awesome!

Yes, it was! An aircraft carrier blows up. Starscream looks really, really mad. Optimus Prime’s face get busted up. There’s a robot slapping away helicopters as if they are pesky flies. Megan Fox! And, and, what was that explosiongasmic giant rolling robot that completely and utterly devastated a highway?

OK, now that Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff has sorted through the aftermath of Super Bowl XLIII, let’s see how it, and its moments, rank among those from the 42 previous Super Bowls by updating Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff’s best of the Super Bowls list …

Ben Liebenberg / NFL.com

Best games:
1) SB XLII: Giants 17, Patriots 14
2) SB XXXVI: Patriots 20, Rams 17
3) SB XLIII: Steelers 27, Cardinals 23
4) SB XXV: Giants 20, Bills 19
5) SB XXXIV: Rams 23, Titans 16

Best upsets:
1) SB III: Jets 16, Colts 7
2) SB XLII: Giants 17, Patriots 14
3) SB XXXVI: Patriots 20, Rams 17
4) SB XXXII: Broncos 31, Packers 24
5) SB IV: Chiefs 23, Vikings 7

Greatest Super Bowl blowouts:
1) SB XXIV: 49ers 55, Broncos 10
2) SB XXVII: Cowboys 52, Bills 17
3) SB XXIX: 49ers 49, Chargers 26
4) SB XX: Bears 46, Patriots 10
5) SB XXXVII: Buccaneers 48, Raiders 21

Best player performance:
1) SB XXIX: Steve Young — 325 pass yards, 6 TD
2) SB XXIV: Joe Montana — 297 pass yards, 5 TD
3) SB XVIII: Marcus Allen — 191 rush yards, 2 TD
4) SB XIII: Terry Bradshaw — 318 pass yards, 4 TD
5) (tie) SB XXII: Doug Williams — 340 pass yards, 4 TD;
(tie) SB X: Lynn Swann — 4 catches, 161 yards, TD;
(tie) SB XXI: Phil Simms — 22-for-25, 268 yds, 3 TD

Most impressive Super Bowl defensive performance:
1) SB XXXV: Ravens 34, N.Y. Giants 7
2) SB XXXVII: Buccaneers 48, Raiders 21
3) SB XX: Bears 46, Patriots 10
4) SB VI: Cowboys 24, Dolphins 3
5) (tie) SB XXXVI: Patriots 20, Rams 17;
(tie) SB XLII: Giants 17, Patriots 14

Best Super Bowl partier/performer:
1) SB I: Max McGee
2) SB XX: Jim McMahon
3) SB XV: entire Oakland Raiders roster
4) SB XXXI: Brett Favre
5) SB III: Joe Namath

Best signature (NFL Films) moment:
1) SB XLII: Eli Manning somehow escapes the Patriots’ pass rush to complete an improbable pass to David Tyree, who holds the ball firmly against his helmet while being taken down by the Patriots’ Rodney Harrison
2) SB XLIII: James Harrison picks off Kurt Warner on the goal line and goes a Super Bowl-record 100 yards for a touchdown as time expires in the first half.
3) SB XI: Willie Brown returns INT 75 yards for TD to clinch Raiders’ win
4) SB XVIII: Marcus Allen reverses field for 74-yard TD run against Redskins in SB XVIII
5) SB III: “Broadway” Joe Namath runs off the field pointing finger to sky after making his “guarantee” come true

Best clutch play:
1) SB XLII: Manning’s pass to Tyree set up the game-winning touchdown
2) SB XXXIV: Mike Jones tackles Kevin Dyson one yard short of potential game-tying touchdown as time expires
3) SB XXXVI: Adam Vinatieri wins Super Bowl with 48-yard field goal on game’s final play
4) SB XXXVIII: Adam Vinatieri wins Super Bowl with 41-yard field goal with :04 left
5) SB XXIII: Joe Montana hits John Taylor for game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XXIII with 34 seconds left (NOTE: not No. 1 because there were still 34 ticks left)

Biggest choke play:
1) SB XIII: Jackie Smith drops certain TD pass on 3rd down, Dallas forced to kick field goal in 35-31 loss
2) SB XXV: Scott Norwood misses potential game-winning 47-yard field goal on game’s final play
3) SB XXX: Neil O’Donnell throws second INT to Larry Brown in game’s final minutes, sealing Steelers’ loss
4) SB V: Craig Morton tosses interception to the Colts’ Mike Curtis in the final moments, which sets up Jim O’Brien’s game-winning kick
5) SB XXXVIII: After Carolina tied the game at 29-29 with just over a minute left, Panthers kicker John Kasay sent the ensuing kickoff out of bounds to give Tom Brady & the Patriots field position at the 40-yard line for game-winning drive

Best blooper:
1) SB VII: Garo Yepremian’s attempted pass that turned into a Redskins touchdown
2) SB XXVII: Don Beebe chases down Leon Lett and forces a fumble-turned-touchback after Lett struts and holds ball out to celebrate a score prematurely
3) SB XX: 300-plus pound DL William “The Refrigerator” Perry plunges 1 yard for TD in Bears win
4) SB I: Officials re-kick opening kickoff of second half after NBC missed initial kick during sideline interview with Bob Hope
5) SB XXVIII: Thurman Thomas misses first few plays because teammate accidentally grabs his helmet on sideline

Ben Liebenberg / NFL.com

Best halftime show:
1) U2 at Super Bowl XXXVI
2) Re-creation of the Battle of New Orleans at Super Bowl IV
3) Tom Petty at Super Bowl XLII
4) Bruce Springsteen at Super Bowl XLIII
5) 3-D show at Super Bowl XXIII

Best Super Bowl postscripts:
1) After Joe Namath and the New York Jets’ stunning upset of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III the Super Bowl takes on a whole new meaning, eventually becoming the biggest annual sporting event in the nation and a de facto American holiday
2) Days after winning Super Bowl II, Vince Lombardi steps down as Packers head coach. After winning five championships in seven years, it will take another 29 years for the Packers to return to the Super Bowl
3) Following a 30-13 triumph over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVIII, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his head coach Jimmy Johnson have a falling out. The two parted ways and Johnson was replaced by Barry Switzer
4) Legendary Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway retires after his team wins Super Bowl XXXIII
5) (tie) After winning Super Bowl XXV, Bill Parcells steps down as New York Giants head coach and is replaced by Ray Handley. The next season, the Giants fail to make the playoffs. Parcells does the same to the New England Patriots after taking that team to Super Bowl XXXI, and leaves to coach the New York Jets saying, “If you have to cook the food, they should at least let you shop for the groceries.”

Best Super Bowl quotes:
1) SB III: Joe Namath three days before the game, “We’re going to win Sunday. I guarantee you.”
2) SB I: Vince Lombardi after Packers beat Chiefs 35-10, “I don’t think Kansas City compares with the best teams in the NFL. Dallas is a better team. There. That’s what you wanted me to say, isn’t it?”
3) SB XXIII: Cris Collinsworth to Bengals teammate before Joe Montana’s game-winning drive for 49ers, after teammate began prematurely celebrating, “Don’t you see who’s at quarterback out there?”
4) SB XIII: Cowboys linebacker Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson, “Terry Bradshaw couldn’t spell ‘cat’ if you spotted him the ‘C’ and the ‘A.’”
5) SB XXII: Reporter to Redskins quarterback Doug Williams, “How long have you been a black quarterback?”

Best venues:
1) Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
2) Jack Murphy/Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif.
3) Reliant Stadium, Houston
4) Joe Robbie/Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Fla.
5) Orange Bowl, Miami, Fla.

Best host cities:
1) New Orleans
2) San Diego
3) Miami
4) Los Angeles
5) Tampa

Top five cities we’d like to see host Super Bowls, but know it will likely never happen:
1) Chicago
2) Green Bay
3) Seattle
4) Cleveland
5) Denver