Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers won the 2011 Associate Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award. Not even a close match.

Aaron Rodgers before receiving the 2011 AP NFL MVP award - Photo credit: Dale Zanine; US Presswire

Drew Brees took the other two votes.

As a Packers fan, I cannot express how happy I am for Aaron Rodgers. Many players had incredible seasons, but I believe Rodgers went above and beyond to show his true worth, culminating with him receiving a standing ovation after Colts quarterback Peyton Manning announced him as the prestigious recipient. Manning is the league’s only four-time MVP.

Rodgers was honored to receive the award and recognized that other players contributed to his success this season. After expressing his gratitude, he acknowledged Manning.

“We’re all really excited to see you back on the field next year,” Rodgers told Manning, whose status with the Colts has been a big question during the organizational changes made in recent weeks.

Rodgers led the Packers with 45 touchdown passes, six interceptions and a 68.3 completion percentage to go 15-1 and win the NFC North. He finished with a league record high 122.5 passer rating. He joins former Packers Brett Favre, Bart Starr, Jim Taylor,. and Paul Hornung as league MVPs.

Congratulations, Mr. Rodgers. We are so proud of you.

We can't wait to see you back in action next year, Mr. Rodgers.

I’m a Packers fan, so I’ve been on both sides of the spectrum. Last season, I could not wait for the Super Bowl to come, the anticipation building each and every day.

This season? I can’t wait for it to be over.

Super Bowl Quarterbacks

The one thing that the down time between the games does provide is time to analyze and break down individual matchups, specifically at quarterback.

This year’s Super Bowl QB matchup, between Tom Brady and Eli Manning and their four combined rings, is a great one. It’s perhaps one of the most highly anticipated QB matchups in Super Bowl history.

Super Bowl quarterbacks Tom Brady and Eli Manning (Charles Krupa, AP)

But where does Eli-Brady XLVI rank all time?

What I’m going to do is rank all 46 quarterback match-ups in the history of the Super Bowl, based on what the stature of each quarterback was entering the game. I’ll look at where each quarterback was at the moment we are in right now, before the game, rather than how they were viewed after it.

The rankings here are based on the build-up to the Super Bowl, not the game itself.  For example, last season Aaron Rodgers was a still-unproven quarterback looking to break out of Brett Favre’s shadow, not the Super Bowl champion, MVP-caliber quarterback he is today. I’ll also put the most stock in previous Super Bowl experience as well as recent individual play. Make sense?  Let’s get started.

(And I won’t rank my hypothetical Aaron Rodgers vs. TJ Yates match-up, although it obviously would have been No. 1.)

Super Bowl QB Matchups: The 8 Greatest

#1 – Super Bowl XIX: Joe Montana (49ers) vs. Dan Marino (Dolphins)

The 15-1 49ers were making their second Super Bowl appearance in four years under Montana,  while Marino had one of the greatest statistical seasons ever, throwing for a then-record 5,084 yards that stood for over 25 years.

This matchup was the ultimate combination of proven Super Bowl success (Montana’s ’81 Super Bowl), superlative statistical success (Marino’s record, just broken this year), rising star power, and quarterback swagger.

First (and only) time Super Bowl quarterback Dan Marino v Super Bowl QB legend Joe Montana

Montana v Marino may not have been the most decorated QB matchup in NFL history going into the game, but it was certainly one of the most intriguing. I say the most intriguing ever.

#2 – Super Bowl XXXII: Brett Favre (Green Bay) vs. John Elway (Denver)

Looking at this match-up in it’s context, it’s just incredible.

Favre was coming off his third MVP season, with 3,867 yards and 35 touchdowns, as well as a Super Bowl victory the previous year. Elway, then 37, was at the tail end of his career, but still was considered one of the premier quarterbacks in the league.

This was the Broncos’ fourth of five Super Bowl appearances under Elway, having lost three in the first decade-plus of his career. It was the MVP gunslinger looking to repeat against the future Hall of Famer, making it great, but only good for second-best.

 #3 – Super Bowl XIII: Terry Bradshaw (Steelers) vs. Roger Staubach (Cowboys)

Bradshaw not only had two Super Bowl wins on his resume, but he also had an MVP season in 1978. To win his third Super Bowl, Bradshaw would have to lead the Steelers past two-time Super Bowl winner Roger Staubach and the defending champion Cowboys, who had just rolled over the Rams 28-0 in the NFC championship game.

Very close to being a top-two game, and lost out by the slimmest of margins.

#4 – Super Bowl XXIV: Joe Montana (49ers) vs. John Elway (Broncos)

Montana already had three Super Bowl wins on his resume, while Elway was finally looking to break through in the win column after losing his first two.

Montana won the MVP that season as the Niners went 14-2; Elway threw for 385 yards against Cleveland in the AFC Championship to lead Denver to its third Super Bowl in four years.

The result was a lopsided San Fran win (55-10) but the quarterback match-up heading into the game was among the best ever.

#5 – Super Bowl I: Bart Starr (Packers) vs. Len Dawson (Chiefs)

It may have been just the first championship game pitting the AFL champion against the NFL champion, but it by no means the beginning of Starr’s and Dawson’s careers. Dawson was the top rated passer in the AFL that season as well as the 1962 AFL MVP, while Starr had led the Packers to three of the previous five NFL championships.

Both went on to be Hall of Famers, and having the first Super Bowl feature such great talent helped pave the way for the growth of the NFL.

#6 – Super Bowl X: Terry Bradshaw (Steelers) vs. Roger Staubach (Cowboys)

Both quarterbacks were Super Bowl champions at this point, but their rematch three years later was a bit more anticipated. Aren’t they always?

#7 – Super Bowl XXVII: Troy Aikman (Cowboys) vs. Jim Kelly (Bills)

This matchup was a repeat of the year before, and it was Kelly’s fourth straight Super Bowl appearance, while Aikman had earned Super Bowl MVP honors the season before.

The question was whether or not Dallas would be able to repeat, as Aikman had played phenomenally in the NFC Championship game against San Francisco but had left the game with a concussion. Kelly was clearly playing at a high level, as Buffalo had gone 12-4 that season, but the question remained whether he would finally be able to win the big one.

#8 – Super Bowl XLVI: Tom Brady (Patriots) vs. Eli Manning (Giants)

This is where I think this year’s Super Bowl quarterback matchup ranks.

There are obviously plenty of people talking about it, especially since it’s the rematch of Super Bowl 42. It is Brady’s chance to cement himself as one of the top-3 quarterbacks of all time, while a win for Eli could push him into permanent elite conversation.

All-Time Super Bowl Quarterback Matchups Poll

Let’s take a quick poll break. The top 8 pretty much has it all: both of the Staubach-Bradshaw matchups, one each of the Aikman-Kelly and Brady-Manning matchups, as well as legends like Montana, Marino, Favre, Elway, Starr, and Dawson.

You’ve seen my top 8. Which one do you think should be #1?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Super Bowl QB Matchups: The Best Of The Rest

#9 – Super Bowl VIII: Bob Griese (Dolphins) vs. Fran Tarkenton (Vikings)

Griese led Miami, in the year after he led the Dolphins to a perfect season, to a third straight Super Bowl appearance, the first team to accomplish such a feat. Minnesota was perhaps better known for the “Purple People Eaters” on defense, they did feature Fran Tarkenton, a future Hall-of-Famer in his own right.

#10 – Super Bowl XXIII: Joe Montana (49ers) vs. Boomer Esiason (Bengals)

While Montana had the 49ers in the Super Bowl for the third time in eight seasons, it was Esiason who was the league MVP in 1988. The game was good too, with Montana leading San Fran on the “Joe Cool” drive to win the game.

#11 – Super Bowl XI: Ken Stabler (Raiders) vs. Fran Tarkenton (Vikings)

Tarkenton was the headliner of this matchup, who at age 36 had led the Vikings to their third Super Bowl in four years. But Stabler led Oakland to a 15-1 record entering the game, and The Snake had also won the MVP just two years prior, in 1974.

#12 – Super Bowl XLIII: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers) vs. Kurt Warner (Cardinals)

Another instance of two previous Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks competing against each other.

Roethlisberger had Pittsburgh in its second Super Bowl in four years, but Warner, in his third Super Bowl appearance, was the story. He had to earn the starting job from Matt Leinart and had Arizona in the playoffs at just 9-7. He played spectacular in the playoffs, however, leading the Cardinals to 30-plus points in each of the three playoff games up to that point.

#13 – Super Bowl XLIV: Drew Brees (Saints) vs. Peyton Manning (Colts)

Brees-Manning was perhaps the better straight quarterback match-up than Roethlisberger-Warner the season before, but this was Brees’ first appearance in a Super Bowl, so he did not have the stature he does now.

Still, Manning was the MVP that season, and Brees was no slouch, throwing for 4,338 yards and had a passer rating of 109.6, so this was a highly anticipated matchup between two prolific quarterbacks.

#14 – Super Bowl XXVII: Troy Aikman (Cowboys) vs. Jim Kelly (Bills)

Aikman’s first Super Bowl, Kelly’s third straight. Better the next year.

#15 – Super Bowl IX: Terry Bradshaw (Steelers) vs. Fran Tarkenton (Vikings)

Perhaps the best defensive matchup ever, featuring the Steel Curtain against the Purple People Eaters, but Tarkenton was in his second straight Super Bowl and Bradshaw was in the middle of his Hall of Fame career.

#16 – Super Bowl XXVIII: Jim Plunkett (Raiders) vs. Joe Theismann (Redskins)

Maybe not the most elite of matchups from a name value perspective, but both already had a Super Bowl win on their resume entering the game, which had only happened twice to date.

#17 – Super Bowl XXXIX: Tom Brady (Patriots) vs. Donovan McNabb (Eagles)

Brady was playing in his third Super Bowl in four years against a perennial Pro Bowler in McNabb playing in his first.

#18 – Super Bowl XLVI: Eli Manning (Giants) vs. Tom Brady (Patriots)

The build-up was there based on the Patriots being 18-0 at the time, but there were serious doubts about Eli Manning. Why does everybody doubt this kid again?

Eli Manning finally earned some respect by leading the Giants to a Super Bowl 42 upset of New England. He can gain even more respect on Sunday.

#19 – Super Bowl VI: Roger Staubach (Cowboys) vs. Bob Griese (Dolphins)

The first Super Bowl appearance for each of these quarterbacks, at least one of whom would appear in five of the next seven Super Bowls.

#20 – Super Bowl XLV: Aaron Rodgers (Packers) vs. Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)

This ranking is actually based of it being Roethlisberger’s third Super Bowl appearance, and it came in the midst of Rodgers’ ascendance to one of the game’s elite, but he wasn’t truly there until this game was played.

#21 – Super Bowl II: Bart Starr (Packers) vs. Daryle Lamonica (Raiders)

Lamonica was that season’s (1967) AFL MVP, and that Starr guy was pretty good too.

#22 – Super Bowl XXXI: Brett Favre (Packers) vs. Drew Bledsoe (Patriots)

The two had combined for six Pro Bowls plus two MVPs, both of which were awarded to Favre, including his second straight in 1996.

#23 – Super Bowl XXI: Phil Simms (Giants) vs. John Elway (Broncos)

This was Elway’s first Super Bowl, on the heels of The Drive, but the Broncos ran into Simms’ 14-2 Giants, better known for the Lawrence Taylor-led defense.

 #24 – Super Bowl XVI: Joe Montana (49ers) vs. Ken Anderson (Bengals)

Both were young quarterbacks coming into their own, and while Montana would eventually win four Super Bowls, Anderson was the 1981 MVP.

#25 – Super Bowl XXX: Troy Aikman (Cowboys) vs. Neil O’Donnell (Steelers)

Aikman’s third appearance in four years, while O’Donnell was an effective manager of 11-5 Pittsburgh, throwing for just under 3,000 yards and 17 touchdowns against just seven interceptions.

#26 – Super Bowl XII: Roger Staubach (Cowboys) vs. Craig Morton (Broncos)

Both quarterbacks’ second Super Bowl appearance, with Staubach leading Dallas to the win in Super Bowl VI and Morton coming up short for those same Cowboys in Super Bowl V.

#27 – Super Bowl XXVI: Mark Rypien (Redskins) vs. Jim Kelly (Bills)

Kelly was making his second straight Super Bowl appearance, while Rypien led the NFC in passer rating at 97.9 with protection from “The Hogs”.

#28 – Super Bowl XXXIII: John Elway (Broncos) vs. Chris Chandler (Falcons)

Chandler led the Falcons to a surprising 14-2, but Elway’s fifth Super Bowl appearance, and second straight, was the talk.

#29 – Super Bowl XXXIX: Steve Young (49ers) vs. Stan Humphries (Chargers)

Humphries had the surprise Chargers in the Super Bowl, but this was about Steve Young finally getting his shot at a title and monkey off his back.

Steve Young finally became a Super Bowl-winning quarterback and emerged from Joe Montana's considerable shadow with a historic performance against the Chargers.

#30 – Super Bowl VII: Bob Griese (Dolphins) vs. Billy Kilmer (Redskins)

Griese was looking to avenge the Super Bowl loss and did so with a perfect Dolphins team; and then there was Billy Kilmer, and you don’t know who he is either.

#31 – Super Bowl III: Joe Namath (Jets) vs. Earl Morrall (Colts)

Namath’s guarantee is famous, but he was a slightly-above-average quarterback on the field despite his star power, while Morrall was filling in for an injured Johnny Unitas.

#32  - Super Bowl XIV: Terry Bradshaw (Steelers) vs. Vince Ferragamo (Rams)

Ferragamo was a back-up for Pat Haden and was not great, bringing down the fact that Bradshaw was playing in his fourth Super Bowl.

#33 – Super Bowl XV: Jim Plunkett (Raiders) vs. Ron Jaworski (Eagles)

Two quarterbacks you remember being as better as they actually were.

#34 – Super Bowl IV: Len Dawson (Chiefs) vs. Joe Kapp (Vikings)

Three years after losing to Bart Starr, Dawson finally got his win.

#35 – Super Bowl XXII: Doug Williams (Redskins) vs. John Elway (Broncos)

Williams was fortunate to have a loaded Redskins team, while Elway had Denver in the Super Bowl for a second straight year.

#36 – Super Bowl XXXIV: Kurt Warner (Rams) vs. Steve McNair (Titans)

Warner was the engineer of the “Greatest Show on Turf,” but Eddie George was the main threat for Tennessee.

#37 – Super Bowl XXXVI: Tom Brady (Patriots) vs. Kurt Warner (Rams)

2001 Tom Brady was just the guy who took over for Drew Bledsoe, not the 2012 Tom Brady he is today.

#38 – Super Bowl XL: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers) vs. Matt Hasselbeck (Seahawks)

Big Ben was still somewhat unproven in his second year, and while Hasselbeck was efficient for Seattle, MVP Shaun Alexander was the driving force.

#39 – Super Bowl XXV: Jeff Hostetler (Giants) vs. Jim Kelly (Bills)

Only Kelly’s first Super Bowl, and Hostetler was an injury replacement for Phil Simms.

#40 – Super Bowl V: Johnny Unitas (Colts) vs. Craig Morton (Cowboys)

Unitas was 37, and Morton was in a QB controversy all season with Roger Staubach.

#41 – Super Bowl XLI: Peyton Manning (Colts) vs. Rex Grossman (Bears)

Peyton finally got to his first Super Bowl, but this match-up is dragged waaaaay down by Sexy Rexy.

In Rex's defense, the weather was awful and Peyton Manning didn't play particularly well either.

#42 – Super Bowl XXXVIII: Tom Brady (Patriots) vs. Jake Delhomme (Panthers)

Brady was going for two out of three, but he was facing the Panthers, who made it on the strength of their running game.

#43- Super Bowl  XVII: Joe Theismann (Redskins) vs. David Woodley (Dolphins)

Theismann wasn’t great, and Woodley wasn’t anybody.

#44 – Super Bowl XXXVII: Brad Johnson (Buccaneers) vs. Rich Gannon (Raiders)

Gannon was the MVP, but the Bucs were all about defense.

#45 – Super Bowl XXXV: Trent Dilfer (Ravens) vs. Kerry Collins (Giants)

Most people’s worst match-up, but only second-worst for me.

#46 – Super Bowl XX:  Jim McMahon (Bears) vs. Tony Eason (Patriots)

Eason had more interceptions than touchdowns in the regular season, while the Bears had Payton, Singletary and the Fridge, and McMahon was largely an afterthought outside his persona and sunglasses.

**********

So there are the rankings. 1-46. Every Super Bowl quarterback matchup ever.

The question now, as it was when we ranked the 13 best Super Bowl plays of all-time, and when we ranked the 10 best Super Bowl commercials of all-time, is what choices do you agree/disagree with? What did we get right, and what did we get wrong?

That’s what the comment section is for. Chime in below!

Of course the Super Bowl is next week, so this is Pro Bowl week!

The NFL’s annual all-star game is being played on Sunday in Hawaii, and it features all the stars of today’s game, minus those who are in the Super Bowl and preparing for their game next week.

Pro Bowl Preview

The game is in its third year of being played the week prior to the Super Bowl, and I personally think it is a great idea. Even though it excludes the players in the Super Bowl, not many NFL players want to play football in the second week of February. It is better to play the game in January, when guys have not yet begun their offseasons.

The AFC will be coached by Gary Kubiak of the Texans, while the NFC is coached by Mike McCarthy of the Packers. Both coaches would much rather be preparing for a game in Indianapolis, but a vacation to Hawaii isn’t a bad consolation. That is also a major draw for players who might otherwise choose not to play. The game is in Hawaii, and the week leading up to the game is treated like a vacation. The practices are very light, and it is a relaxing week of football after a grueling four-plus months.

Instead of trying to preview the actual teams, I have decided to make some predictions on what will happen throughout the course of the game.

Pro Bowl Prediction #1: Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees will be overshadowed by the play of Cam Newton.

Newton made it as a replacement for Eli Manning, and he deserved the recognition. He threw for 4,051 yards with 21 touchdowns and added 14 rushing touchdowns. He should get into the game early in the second half, when the game should still be tightly contested. As a rookie, he will want to play hard and win the game, and could catch the AFC’s defense by surprise.

Pro Bowl Prediction #2: Big kick for Seabass

Sebastian Janikowski will hit a 60+ yard field goal. He has the leg to do it, and why not let him attempt a kick of this distance in the all-star game?

Pro Bowl Prediction #3: Troy Polamalu will have a pick-six.

Polamalu is the best safety in the game, and he always seems to know where the quarterback is looking. One of the NFC’s quarterbacks will get lazy and throw up a weak pass that will be picked off and returned for a touchdown. Even look for James Harrison to lay out the quarterback during the return.

Pro Bowl Prediction #4: One player will spend too much time tweeting on the sideline computers, which will lead to a tweet limit for future Pro Bowls.

The NFL announced they will have computers on the sideline in order for the players to tweet during the game. I’m assuming they will have old Mac’s hooked up in a library-like setting, which creates a peaceful manner in order for the players to tweet when they should be focusing on the game.

Pro Bowl Game and MVP Prediction

The NFC currently has a lead of 21-20 in the Pro Bowls played since 1971, which came after the merger. They have won three of the last four, and they will win once again. The NFC has the more talented team, and the AFC is missing players like Ray Rice, Arian Foster, Tom Brady, and Rob Gronkowski.

The score is usually very high at the Pro Bowl, and that will be the case once again on Sunday. In a tight game, I have the NFC taking it 56-49.

For the MVP, it will go to the rookie Cam Newton. He will lead the NFC to the win during the end of the game, and will end his season in spectacular fashion.

Pro Bowl Poll

Who ya got?

Pro Bowl Game Info

• Pro Bowl Date: Sunday, January 29th
• Pro Bowl Time: 7:00 ET
• Pro Bowl TV: NBC
• Pro Bowl Announcers: Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth
• Pro Bowl Point Spread: NFC -4 (via Sportsbook.ag on Saturday morning)
• Pro Bowl Over-Under: 74

The commercial opened with highlights of New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms picking apart the Denver Broncos defense in Super Bowl XXI to the tune of “When You Wish Upon a Star,” a song made famous in the 1940 Disney film Pinocchio.

A voiceover asked, “Phil Simms, you’ve just won the Super Bowl. What are you doing next?” Simms, who had been named MVP of Super Bowl XXI, looked into the camera and said, “I’m gonna go to Disney World!”

Later that year Disney asked other recently crowned champions about their plans. America’s Cup winner Dennis Conner, NBA Finals MVP Magic Johnson, and World Series MVP Frank Viola all gave the same answer. All three were headed to Disney World.

Over the past quarter century, four dozen athletes, teams, and other champions have announced their intention to celebrate their victory at a Disney park. Half have been Super Bowl champions. While Disney occasionally airs spots with winners of the World Series, NBA Championship, Stanley Cup, or other events, the Super Bowl ad has become an annual tradition.

Since 1987 athletes representing every Super Bowl winning team but one have appeared in “What’s Next?” commercials. The one exception was Super Bowl XXXIX. Disney opted out of the big game that year because of the Janet Jackson-Justin Timberlake incident the year before.

Yes, They Actually Go to Disney World

Prior to Super Bowl XXI, Disney offered both quarterbacks, Simms and John Elway of the Broncos, $75,000 for a commitment to appear in the ad if they were victorious. By 1998 the fee had fallen to $30,000 for the person appearing in the commercial.

Disney also gives the featured athlete a trip to Disney World or Disneyland with the expectation that the athlete will make a public appearance there. Last year’s Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers was in Orlando the Monday after the Super Bowl. Here is Rodgers keeping his word:

Who Gets to Go?

There is no formula for who gets to appear in the “What’s Next?” ads.

For the inaugural commercial, Disney made arrangements beforehand with each team’s quarterback. The winning quarterbacks also appeared in the spots that ran after Super Bowls XXII (Doug Williams), XXIII (Joe Montana), and XXIV (Joe Montana again). In Super Bowls XXII and XXIV the winning quarterbacks doubled as the game MVP.

The first non-quarterback to appear in a “What’s Next?” spot was New York Giants running back Ottis Anderson, MVP of Super Bowl XXV. For the next 3 seasons the MVP went to Disney World, regardless of position. The Super Bowl XXIX commercial featured two players, 49ers quarterback and game MVP Steve Young and wide receiver Jerry Rice, who had been MVP of Super Bowl XXIII but wasn’t featured in the commercial.

While most of the featured players in Super Bowl “What’s Next?” spots have been quarterbacks and/or game MVPs, there have been a few exceptions.

• The Super Bowl XXX spot featured Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith. (Defensive back Larry Smith was game MVP.)
• Colts coach Tony Dungy and running back Dominic Rhodes appeared in the Super Bowl XLI ad. (Quarterback Peyton Manning was game MVP.)
• Dungy was the second NFL coach to announce his intention to go to Disney World. The first was Jon Gruden, who joined Bucs quarterback Brad Johnson in the ad that followed Super Bowl XXXVII.
• Disney approached Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and Packers coach Mike Holmgren about appearing in a commercial after Super Bowl XXXII, but both coaches turned it down.

Disney ran “What’s Next?” ads after five NBA Finals: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, and 2006. Four of the 5 players featured in those commercials were Finals MVPs. Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was one year away from retirement, appeared in the 1988 spot instead of Finals MVP James Worthy.

Finals MVP Dwyane Wade visits Disney World with Udonis Haslem after winning the 2006 NBA title. (Photo from Disney Sports News)

Frank Viola and Orel Hershiser, MVPs of the 1987 and 1988 World Series, both made a trip to a Disney park following the Fall Classic.

Disney wouldn’t feature another World Series champ until 2002 when the Angels’ Scott Spiezio appeared in an ad. Spiezio wasn’t the series MVP (Troy Glaus was), but he hit a 3-run homer in the seventh inning of Game 6 with the Angels trailing the Giants 5-0 that kicked off a 6-run rally. The Angels avoided elimination in Game 6 then won the series in Game 7.

In 2004 the trio of Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez, and David Ortiz went to Disney World for the Red Sox. Manny Ramirez was the MVP.

Disney also ran “What’s Next?” ads when Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds broke the single-season home run record in 1998 and 2001, respectively. But most people choose to forget about that.

Two commercials featured Stanley Cup winners, the Flames’ Al MacInnis in 1989 and the Canadiens’ Patrick Roy in 1993. Conner, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, and the World Cup-winning 1999 USA women’s national soccer team are the other athletes who’ve said, “I’m going to Disney World!” Disney has also run spots with 1988 Miss America Gretchen Carlson, assorted college graduates (1990), Santa Claus (1997), and recent American Idol winners.

Two Commercials, One “World” and One “Land”

Since Disney has parks on both coasts, and since families in Utah tend to vacation at a different park than families from Ohio, the company always cuts two “What’s Next?” commercials, one for Disney World and another for Disney Land.

Here is the Aaron Rodgers “Disneyland” ad from last year:

And here’s the “Disney World” spot:

To my knowledge, no commercial in the campaign features an athlete who is planning on going to Disneyland Paris or Tokyo Disney.

"Mamadou Niang, vous et Olympique Marseille avez gagné Ligue 1. Qu'est-ce vous allez faire ensuite?" "Je vais aller au Parc Disneyland!" (My French is a little rusty.)

“The corniest thing I’ve ever done.”

During the build-up to the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan became one of America’s most popular and beloved athletes. Her rivalry with fellow Olympic hopeful Tonya Harding got nasty when Harding (allegedly), Harding’s ex-husband, and Harding’s body guard hired a goon to break Kerrigan’s right leg. The goon failed to break Kerrigan’s leg but succeeded in forcing her to withdraw from the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Kerrigan went on to win silver in Lillehammer and to tell an adoring public, “I’m going to Disney World.”

Kerrigan skipped the closing ceremonies to fly to Orlando to fulfill her obligation to Disney. During the parade in her honor at Disney World a camera caught Kerrigan saying, “This is corny. It’s dumb. It’s the corniest thing I’ve ever done.” Kerrigan insisted that she was not referring to the parade or the trip to Disney World but to her mother’s insistence that she wear her medal during the parade. It was a lame excuse, but the controversy went away.

Ingredients of an “I’m Going to Disney World!” Commercial

Every “What’s Next?” ad has four elements:

1. Footage of the featured athlete(s) from whatever competition the athlete(s) just won
2. A rendition of “When You Wish Upon a Star”
3. The athlete(s) saying, “I’m going to Disney World” (or “Disneyland”) during the post-game celebration
4. An image of fireworks over either Cinderella’s Castle (Disney World) or Sleeping Beauty’s Castle (Disneyland)

The first element requires a quick turnaround. Producers have to compile footage during the game so that the commercial will be ready to air shortly afterward. For that reason, the first “What’s Next?” commercials didn’t air until the next day.

The person who asks, “What are you going to do next?” is Muncie, Indiana native Mark Champion, current play-by-play guy for the Detroit Pistons and former voice of the Detroit Lions and Michigan State Basketball.

Mark Champion, the voice of the "I'm going to Disney World!" commercials. (From NBA.com)

The version of “When You Wish Upon a Star” has changed over the years. Many of the commercials from last decade (such as the Dungy-Rhodes commercial from Super Bowl XXLXI) use a rendition by a singer named Clara Lofaro. More recent ads (including the Rodgers ads above) have used a version sung by Season 8 American Idol winner Kris Allen.

If it were up to me, every commercial would use the version that Cliff Edwards sang in the character of Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio (1940).

A List of Every Athlete to Appear in a “What’s Next?” Commercial

Super Bowls

• Super Bowl XXI: Phil Simms, New York Giants
• Super Bowl XXII: Doug Williams, Washington Redskins
• Super Bowl XXIII: Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers
• Super Bowl XXIV: Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers
• Super Bowl XXV: Ottis Anderson, New York Giants
• Super Bowl XXVI: Mark Rypien, Washington Redskins
• Super Bowl XXVII: Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys
• Super Bowl XXVIII: Emmitt Smith, Dallas Cowboys
• Super Bowl XXIX: Jerry Rice and Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers
• Super Bowl XXX: Emmitt Smith, Dallas Cowboys
• Super Bowl XXXI: Desmond Howard, Green Bay Packers
• Super Bowl XXXII: John Elway, Denver Broncos
• Super Bowl XXXIII: Terrell Davis and John Elway, Denver Broncos
• Super Bowl XXXIV: Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams
• Super Bowl XXXV: Trent Dilfer, Baltimore Ravens
• Super Bowl XXXVI: Tom Brady, New England Patriots
• Super Bowl XXXVII: Jon Gruden and Brad Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Super Bowl XXXVIII: Tom Brady, New England Patriots
• Super Bowl XL: Jerome Bettis and Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Super Bowl XLI: Tony Dungy and Dominic Rhodes, Indianapolis Colts
• Super Bowl XLII: Eli Manning, New York Giants
• Super Bowl XLIII: Santonio Holmes and Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Super Bowl XLIV: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
• Super Bowl XLV: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

NBA Finals

• 1987: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1988: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1989: Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons
• 1991: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
• 2006: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

World Series

• 1987: Frank Viola, Minnesota Twins
• 1988: Orel Hershiser, Los Angeles Dodgers
• 2002: Scott Spiezio, Anaheim Angels
• 2004: Curt Schilling, Pedro Martínez and David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox

Single-Season Home Run Record

• 1998: Mark McGwire, St. Louis Cardinals
• 2001: Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants

Stanley Cup

• 1989: Al MacInnis, Calgary Flames
• 1993: Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens

Other

• 1987: Dennis Conner, America’s Cup
• 1994: Nancy Kerrigan, figure skating, Winter Olympics
• 1999: U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, FIFA World Cup

In the article they tried to pull the ever-so-cliche stunt of trying to look at the positives. It’s the oldest trick in the fanbook. Did your team not win the Super Bowl or not make the playoffs? That’s ok because “There’s always next year” or “Hey, Aaron Rodgers had a great season, so I call the season a success,” or, my personal favorite, “We have a lot of young talent coming in, so I see this team competing for years to come.”

All those statements are signs of repressed acceptance that your favorite team sucks.

Before I continue with my critique of Chris and Amanda’s article, I first want to bring out the fact that Amanda probably isn’t even a Packers fan. She herself admits it in the article.

She calls the Packers as being “overrated” and  “weak.” Some fan she is.

She goes on to say “They [Packers] bounced back from their loss to Kansas City dominating Chicago Bears on Christmas…”  Ok, first off, dominating? Really? Did Jay Cutler even play in that game? The definition of dominating is Jay Cutler. Look it up. So how can the Packers be “dominating” if they don’t have Cutler? Therefore the sentence is illogical and just blatantly wrong.

Chris adds that “There shouldn’t be excuses made for the Packers losing to the Giants.” Well, at least he admits the Packers suck. It seems like he isn’t much of a fan either.

I also don’t like the fact Packer fans go round exclaiming they’re better than other fans because they own stock in their team. According to Wikipedia, the Packers are “are the only non-profit, community-owned major league professional sports team in the United States.” You know what that sounds like? Socialism. Everyone knows being a Socialist is to be un-American, therefore being a Packers fan means you hate America.

Do we really want this un-American team to win? I don’t, and I know you don’t either.

But the main problem with their article is that it forgets who is at the helm of the Chicago Bears’ offense.

Jay Cutler's smile has been known to take woman's virginity.

That’s right, folks. Be prepared for the resurgence of Jay Cutler, arguably the best QB since the NFL started counting interceptions as a stat.

The thought that the Packers are going to resurge next season and steal the NFC North and cheat their way to the Super Bowl again is just as ludicrous as thinking Tim Tebow will complete more than 50% of his passes in his career.

Cutler is not going to allow the Packers to win next season. Mark my words. It’s time for the Cutler era.

Chris: Amanda Lawson and I are not just part-owners of the Green Bay Packers. We’re die-hards. The loss to the Giants this weekend sucks. But Packers fans, keep in mind all that your team has achieved and what it stands for.

I think I can speak for both Amanda and myself in saying that February 6, 2011, was one of the happiest days of our lives. The Green Bay Packers capped off an incredible run through the playoffs with a 31-25 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. It’s been just shy of a full calendar year since then, and Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants makes me realize just what kind of year it has been.

The Packers won 19 straight games. 19! That’s incredible. My confidence from the Super Bowl run carried through to the regular season, and then topping the Saints in Week 1 started raising that level of confidence even more. Yet it made my expectations, and the expectations of the rest of the Packers’ faithful go through the roof.

Green Bay returned a better team this season than the team that won the Super Bowl. With that logic, there’s no reason the Packers shouldn’t have won the Super Bowl this season. Then a seemingly unassuming trip to Kansas City started to let doubt creep into my mind.

Amanda loves her Packers.

Amanda: One loss against the Kansas City Chiefs and the Packers became a 13-1 team. The best record in the NFL but the media turned on them. Overrated. Weak. It had been almost a year since the Green and Gold team had lost a game with one of the most powerful offenses in the league, yet they were no longer considered a threat. With each win during the 2011 season, the team elevated expecations across the league. First to perfect 19-0 season. Then to back-to-back Super Bowl Championships.

They bounced back from their loss to Kansas City dominating Chicago Bears on Christmas and sending quarterback Matt Flynn to break records in a win against the Detroit Lions. With a bye for the first week of playoffs, the Packers took advantage of the extra week of rest.

On January 15th, 2012, the New York Giants walked onto Lambeau Field and played one hell of a game to beat a team that was almost unrecognizable. The offense was uncharacteristically off-sync with dropped catches, fumbles, and sacks.

Last year, our defense held us in the games even made game changing plays to help secure wins in the playoffs. This year, they couldn’t make the same plays. With four minutes in the 4th quarter, I began to let reality sink in, still holding on for a win but knowing a loss was possible. What, why, how questions running through my head.

Chris: There shouldn’t be excuses made for the Packers losing to the Giants. It wasn’t one thing. Green Bay even caught a few breaks, and still lost by 17. It was a beatdown. Eli Manning outplayed Aaron Rodgers. Jake Ballard outplayed Jermichael Finley. New York’s front four
outplayed Green Bay’s by a mile.

Chris loves his team too.

Packers fans got used to winning. We expected it week in and week out. Whether it took a last-second field goal, a late interception, or if the game was just a blowout, Packers fans, and honestly, Packers players too, expected to win. And why shouldn’t they? 19 straight wins, plus an offseason of everybody gushing over how good they were and would be the next season, can build up a great deal of confidence.

To watch an offense play at the level Green Bay did, which was deservedly compared to some of the best of all time, was incredible. Whether is was a perfectly timed slant pass to Greg Jennings or a play-action bomb to Jordy Nelson, the Packers were certainly fun to watch. But the level that the offense played covered up some serious flaws that the team had. In an entire calendar year, only two teams were able to fully expose those flaws.

Sunday’s beatdown can overshadow the six straight wins to close out last season, plus this year’s 15-1 regular season. The loss sucks. I’m still in shock. But that’s because the past year has made me a more passionate, intelligent, and defensive Packers fan. Heck, Amanda and I each shelled out $275 that we could have probably put to a much better use, just to own a glorified piece of paper saying that we were part-owners of what we consider the greatest professional sports franchise on Earth.

Amanda: I own my football team, as does Chris. How many of you can say that? Mock us if you like, but as an entire fan base we hold more pride in our team than any other fan holds in theirs. Whether we win a Super Bowl Championship or have an unexpected loss before the NFC  Championship game; whether Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers makes a glorified pass to Jordy Nelson or backup Matt Flynn takes the field to finish out the season, we will always cheer on our beloved Packers.

Packer fans are there through thick and thin, during the good times and the bad. That’s what makes this fan base so incredible. Sure, we’ve picked up our fair share of bandwagoners like any Super Bowl Champion does. They will come and go as quickly as the snow piles up on a cold February day in Green Bay. But the true Packers fan never waivers, admits an opponents strengths, and prides their teams glories.

Chris: While this loss hurt, it’s about perspective. The Packers have won 13 world championships, including four Super Bowls. Last season was incredible, and this season fell short. But you know what, we’re still going to have a hell of a team to cheer for next season.

Wait…what?

That’s right, you heard me. Makeout sessions. Just look at these pictures and tell me these bros aren’t about to lock lips right there on the gridiron.

First, here are Tommy Brady and Timmy Tebow:

Image credit: Barry Gutierrez/AP via People.com

In this picture, Tebow appears ready to play the role of Gisele, gazing into Tom Terrific’s eyes before planting a wet smackeroo right smack dab on those dreamy lips. He’s even using the age-old technique of grabbing the outside shoulder to guide Brady towards him. This is the technique of a grizzled makeout veteran, not a close-to-holy virgin, so to see Tebow execute it so deftly is both surprising and impressive. He’s a natural, this one.

What’s funny is that even if you didn’t interpret this picture at all like that, the once-unseen-cannot-be-unseen principal applies. Now you can’t look at the picture without seeing it as an impending lip lock, can you?

To prove it, try looking at this picture of Alex Smith and Drew Brees after their epic 4th quarter rendezvous in Candlestick.

Image credit: Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP  via GreenwichTime.com

Smith goes with a different technique than Tebow, choosing instead to control the action with the arm-around-waist strategy. But from his subtle lean back, it’s clear that he wants Brees to make the first move, just like Brees did in the final five minutes of the 4th quarter on Saturday before the game’s fantastic final few minutes.

Another great example of the Postgame QB Kiss phenomenon came in December of 2010 when Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers met up. (Unfortunately, none of yesterday’s pics of the two really qualified; I guess Aaron just wasn’t in the mood.)

Image credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America via Zimbio.com

In this picture, Rodgers has clearly accepted the submissive female role. In this sense, Rodgers’ makeout-initiation strategy seems not all that unlike how he and the Packers played yesterday. You can see ARodg placing his right hand gently below Eli’s chest while gazing towards Eli’s awkwardly formed mouth. Eli, with his devil-may-care hairstyle is clearly enamored with Rodgers’ 8:00 shadow, even more than Rodgers’ ability “flight” and “spin” the ball.

As for the fourth game from yesterday, that there was actual QB play in that game is only a rumor, so I didn’t waste time searching for pictures of Fu Manchu Flacco nor T.J. Yates. But you don’t have to dig too deeply into the Google Image Search results to find other such pictures. Just search two high profile QBs’ names together, and you’re sure to find a postgame picture of them that, because of this ridiculous and unnecessary post, you will now see as the early stages of QB tonsil hockey.

Let’s try it. How about…Brees and Peyton Manning?

Yep:

Image source: Gridiron Experts

Brees and divisional rival Matt Ryan?

Image credit: AP via PennLive.com

Okay, so Drew Brees likes kissing other quarterbacks. We get it.

Let’s go the non-Brees Legends Division. How about Jay Cutler and…Brett Favre?

Yep.

Image source: PigskinReport.com

As for the brothers, they seem a bit less likely to gaze longingly into eachothers’ eyes, at least from the 90 seconds of research I just did; rather, they go right in for the bro hug like Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick here:

Image credit: Tim Shaffer/Reuters via Eurweb.com

And it’s not just limited to quarterbacks either. Coaches tend to have the same midfield meetings after games, and most are not like Jim Harbaugh and Jim Scwhartz.

In fact, from time to time we get movie-style dramatic pre-kisses like this one featuring Bill Parcells and his former apprentice Bill Belichick.

Image source: The Sports Blog

Another great example of coaches getting into the act may have occurred this weekend. Showing that he has learned from the Schwartz fiasco, Jim Harbaugh seemed quite gracious in victory with the Saints’ Sean Payton. Watch the video and decide just how gracious.

There are plenty more pictures and videos showing similar postgame closeness between opponents. I’ll let you enjoy the search for them. I think I’ve made my point and now forever ruined your ability to see these ubiquitous postgame photos as they are actually meant to be seen, which is of course as simple friend gestures of sportsmanship.

So…my work here (which probably never should have started) is done.

All that is left to do is let Turk and J.D. take us out with a song that lets all of these kissing combatants know it’s all okay. It’s just guy love…between two guys.

New York’s furious late-season finish and dominance in the Wild Card Round against Atlanta is generating comparisons to the unlikely Super Bowl winner from a few year’s back. Meanwhile, Green Bay’s dominance over the last calendar year is being somewhat taken for granted, overshadowed by the Giants, Tebow Mania, Tom Brady’s ruthless record-setting, and the perfect football game.

Here is all the basic info you need to know, what MSF’s writers have said about the game this week, and a poll so you can take your pick.

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers Game Info

• Saints-49ers Date, Time, and TV: Sunday, January 15th at 4:30 ET on FOX
• Saints-49ers Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
• Saints-49ers Point Spread: Packers -9
• Saints-49ers Over-Under: 52.5

Chris’ Giants-Packers Prediction

Click to view Chris’ complete Packers-Giants preview, posted earlier this week.

If the Giants are going to have success this weekend, they are going to need to put pressure on Aaron Rodgers. They can’t just blitz the house, because Rodgers will prey on the single coverage in the secondary and light up the scoreboard. New York needs to rely on Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Chris Canty up front to not only apply pressure, but also keep Rodgers in the pocket so he can’t makes plays on the run.

On the other side of the ball, the Giants have to prevent turnovers at all costs. The Packers have a penchant for capitalizing on turnovers, but taking care of the ball on offense keeps the ball out of Rodgers’ hands. New York cannot waste possessions, as Green Bay can put up 40 on even the best defenses, and the Giants will need every possible chance to score.

• Giants-Packers Prediction: Packers 35 | Giants 30

Jerod’s Giants-Packers Spread Pick

My gut reaction to the spread is that it’s just too many points. Green Bay is excellent, and they will surely put up more than the two points Atlanta scored on New York – probably 15-20 times over – but I don’t think the Packers’ D has any answer for Eli and his three receivers, plus a now-healthy tandem of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs.

The game they played earlier in the year went down to the wire. Even though the venue is different this time around, I see no reason to think this one won’t go down to the wire too.

• Giants-Packers free pick: Giants +9

Giants-Packers Poll

Who do you think will win?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

And don’t be shy. Defend your pick below in the comment section.

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New York Giants at Green Bay Packers Preview

The Packers didn’t go undefeated, but one of the 15 games they did win a Week 13 game at the New Meadowlands, a 38-35 win thanks in part to a 31-yard field goal by Mason Crosby as time expired.

Mason Crosby's could prove to be important for the Packers, much like in week 13.

Since that point, each team has lost just one game, but the prevailing public opinion is that the Giants are playing their best football of the season and have as good a chance as anyone to knock off the top-seeded Packers this season.

While that is certainly a possibility, New York will have to play extremely well in a number of facets of the game.

If the Giants are going to have success this weekend, they are going to need to put pressure on Aaron Rodgers. They can’t just blitz the house, because Rodgers will prey on the single coverage in the secondary and light up the scoreboard. New York needs to rely on Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Chris Canty up front to not only apply pressure, but also keep Rodgers in the pocket so he can’t makes plays on the run.

On the other side of the ball, the Giants have to prevent turnovers at all costs. The Packers have a penchant for capitalizing on turnovers, but taking care of the ball on offense keeps the ball out of Rodgers’ hands. New York cannot waste possessions, as Green Bay can put up 40 on even the best defenses, and the Giants will need every possible chance to score.

The Giants could have a great day on offense, but there’s a strong likelihood that the Packers will have an even better one. This game should hit over 52.5, but I don’t think Green Bay will cover. It could be a backdoor cover, but 7.5 is just a bit too much.

Prediction: Packers 35 | Giants 30

What do you think?

Green Bay Packers-New York Giants NFC Divisional Game Info

• Packers-Giants Date: Sunday, January 15th
• Packers-Giants Time: 4:30 ET
• Packers-Giants TV: FOX
• Packers-Giants Location: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
• Packers-Giants Point Spread: Packers -7.5
• Packers-Giants Over-Under: 52.5

Cutler’s whole NFL career is pure dominance, whether it be the baby-face looks on the sideline, the shining moments when Cutler throws it to the other team, or the carefully placed hand-offs to the running back…Cutler has and does it all.

A lot of you are probably thinking “Boy, I wonder if Cutler is still relevant as a QB in the NFL when players like T.J. Yates, Tim Tebow, Cam Newton, and Andy Dalton are demonstrating to us their potential to be star QBs?” Well, that’s a pretty stupid question to ask, and it obviously shows your ignorance and lack of intelligence because there is no better QB than Jay Cutler.

Let me show you why.

Cutler’s Natural Ability to Throw to Both Teams

I don’t what to hear how good Aaron Rodgers is or how skillful and talented Drew Brees is. (I heard he broke some stupid record. I’ll believe it when I see it.) Rodgers and Brees are very selfish with the ball; and I don’t about you, but my mom didn’t raise me to be a selfish person, and it seems like Cutler’s mom didn’t either.

This is what’s called sharing, and it’s the right thing to do.

I could watch that all day.

Cutler’s Dominance of the English Language

A writer (yes, Jay Cutler is a writer) uses repetition to hammer home a meaning or feeling the writer wants the reader or listener to understand. It’s true that Cutler uses the phrase “you know” 57 times in the video below, but in that crazy amount of usage, there has to be a meaning. I just haven’t figured it out yet.

Jay’s ways are above my intelligence and most definitely above any Packers fans’.

Jay Cutler=Hall of Fame QB and literary genius.

Cutler’s Dominance of the Offseason Workouts

I also hear a lot about how Cutler doesn’t put forth much, if any, effort into his game. That’s a complete lie. According to Wikipedia, Jay Cutler is also a bodybuilder and has won Mr. Olympia four times. I have no idea what the hell that means, but it sounds pretty awesome, and hard to accomplish when you have to juggle football on top of lifting weights in competitions.

All Rodgers does outside of football is star in stupid, unfunny, and intelligence-insulting commercials.

Getting huge > Being unfunny

They get to (creatively) celebrate a touchdown.

Image credit: Holy Scwhartz

The touchdown celebration began with a simple spike of the ball, but has evolved into so much more. There are the infamous celebrations done by players such as T.O, Randy Moss, and Chad Ochocinco. Several weeks back, we counted down the top 10 touchdown celebrations of all-time.

The problems with the celebrations of the aforementioned players is that they were hard to copy. Even for the average backyard football player, it is hard to find a field with a star in the middle to run to and kneel down.

The celebrations in this post are being done by the young stars of the NFL. The three players – Cam Newton, Victor Cruz, and Aaron Rodgers – are household names already, and they will be able to inspire a new generation of touchdown celebrators.

“Superman” – Cam Newton

There were some who doubted Cam Newton’s potential in the NFL, and they were proven wrong. He had a record-setting rookie season and should be the favorite to win Rookie of the Year.

His touchdown celebration features him pretending to pull his shirt apart to reveal the Superman logo. Obviously a little imagination is involved to get the celebration, but it is great. He has been doing it since his time at Auburn, and he has stuck with it in the NFL.

This has even led to some other superstar athletes to think that they are Superman as well. Dwyane Wade broke out his inner Superman after a go-ahead shot in Charlotte, with Cam Newton in attendance.

“Salsa” – Victor Cruz

This celebration is a little harder to copy due to the great footwork involved.

Victor Cruz has broken onto the scene this year and has emerged as a big-play threat for the Giants. Once he began scoring all of his touchdowns, he broke out a well-crafted celebration. He incorporated some of his Latin roots and after every score has done a flawless Salsa dance.

“World Heavyweight Title Belt/Discount Double Check” – Aaron Rodgers

This celebration began for Rodgers as one that stressed strength and victory. He would pretend to reveal a title belt after a big play or a touchdown.

The celebration has gone from powerful to laughable (in a good way) as it is now featured in a State Farm commercial.

Here is a SportsCenter feature on the celebration, pre- “Discount Double Check”.

If you haven’t seen it before, which is hard to believe as it is always on, here is the “Discount Double Check” commercial.

All three of these celebrations will be copied by young and older players alike for many years to come. Hopefully, new celebrations will arise in the playoffs that are worthy of being featured on a car insurance commercial.

Here is a list of the many passing and receiving records that were broken or tied during the 2011 NFL season:

Most passing yards in a single season

• Old record: 5,084—Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins, 1984
• Record breakers: 5,476—Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints; 5,235—Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Highest single-season quarterback rating

• Old record: 121.1—Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts, 2004
• Record breaker: 122.5—Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Most passing yards in a single season for a rookie

• Old record: 3,739—Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts, 1998
• Record breaker: 4,051—Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Most receiving yards in a single season for a tight end

• Old record: 1,290—Kellen Winslow, San Diego Chargers, 1980
• Record breakers: 1,327—Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots; 1,310—Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints

Most touchdown receptions in a single season for a tight end

• Old record: 13—Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers, 2004 and Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers, 2009
• Record breaker: 17—Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

Most net passing yards surrendered in a single season

• Old record: 4,541—Atlanta Falcons, 1995
• Record breakers: 4,796—Green Bay Packers; 4,703—New England Patriots

Most 500-yard passing games in a single season

• Old record: 1 (1951, 1962, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2006, 2009)
• New record: 2 (Matthew Stafford, 520 in Week 17; Tom Brady, 517 in Week 1)

Most 4,000-yard passers in a single season (tie)

• Old record: 10—2009 (Schaub, P. Manning, Romo, Rodgers, Brady, Brees, Roethlisberger, Rivers, Favre, E. Manning)
• Tied record: 10 (Brees, Brady, Stafford, E. Manning, Rodgers, Rivers, Romo, Ryan, Roethlisberger, Newton)

Most 5,000-yard passers in a single season

• Old Record: 1—1984 (Dan Marino) and 2008 (Drew Brees)
• New Record: 3 (Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Matthew Stafford)

Most 3,000-yard rookie passers in a single season

• Old Record: 1—1998 (Peyton Manning), 2008 (Matt Ryan), and 2010 (Sam Bradford)
• New Record: 2 (Cam Newton and Andy Dalton)

Drew Brees shattered records this year with the help of his sentient Muppet football.

There’s your list. I’ll leave it to someone with more football expertise than myself to explain why all of these records went down in a single season. But I would caution you not to write off all these record-breaking performances as a consequence of rule changes to protect quarterbacks and defenseless receivers. While passing numbers have been on an upward trend since the first of these rules was put in place in the 1970s, there isn’t a single 2011 rule change that accounts for all of these records—some of which have stood since the early 1980s—falling this year.

Moving the kick-off to the 35-yard line has not had a substantial effect on starting field position. (Drew Brees’ average starting position this year was his 28.24-yard line; last year he started from the 28.64.) While the league has put a premium on player safety and banned “launching,” it has also eased roughing-the-passer rules so that a player is not penalized for grazing a quarterback’s helmet with his hand. This latter rule should have resulted in more pressure on quarterbacks.

It is also interesting that all of this happened in a year when one of the most prolific passers in league history—Peyton Manning—didn’t play and when Matt Schaub, one of the most prolific passers during the last several seasons, suffered a season-ending injury in November.

This animated GIF is probably my favorite of the week. It is Bills’ defensive back Drayton Florence making an obvious flop attempt, which would have made it perfect for this post I did last week on flopping in professional sports.

GIF source: MockSession via Cosby Sweaters

If Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan had been watching this, he might have responded thusly:

GIF source: SBNation

Instead, Ryan had to watch his own defense play in the first half Sunday night, which induced this outburst. Dallas trailed 21-0 at the half, with Ryan’s defense looking totally out of sorts. It led to this classic image of Jerruh Jones:

Image source: MockSession

But there may yet be hope for Jerruh and Rob. As I type this, the Cowboys are down 21-7 and driving with the 3rd quarter near its close. Could they complete the comeback? One team that couldn’t was the Jets, coached by Rob’s brother Rex, whose Jets couldn’t find a way to sneak into the playoffs and reel off another improbable run to the AFC Championship Game.

You’re done Rex.

Image source: Reddit

But you know who is not done? The Green Bay Packers, who won today despite sitting superstar starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Superstar backup quarterback Matt Flynn started in his place, setting franchise yards for yards and TDs in a single game. File that away for trivia use later in life.

Before the game, Rodgers continued his weekly tradition of photobombing the Packers’ team captain photo. Happy New Year!

Image source: NFL.com

But back to people who are done…how about this streaker, who gets taken to the turf by the Packers’ Brad Jones.

Image credit: Morry Gash/AP via Reddit

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Those are my favorites from Week 17. What are yours? If I missed any classic images/GIFs/videos, feel free to post in the comment section.

Now, apropos of nothing, let’s let Chris Bosh take us out.

GIF source: Reddit

And in related news, the Cowboys just scored another TD and are only down 21-14 to the Giants. Time to go watch the finish.

Update: Never mind. It’s been all Giants since I hit ‘publish’ on this post. Just ask Jerruh.

Image source: SBNation

Matt Flynn, Matthew Stafford Have Record-Setting Day in Lambeau

By throwing for 520 yards in a losing effort, Stafford became the third NFL QB to throw for 5,000 yards this year, joining Drew Brees and Tom Brady. Those three could be joined by Eli Manning if he throws for 413 yards for the Giants v. the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.

Flynn threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns, BOTH GREEN BAY TEAM RECORDS. Absolutely amazing how he put his name in the Packers record books considering virtually all the games started in the last 20 years (315 games) were either by a guy named Favre or Rodgers.

That’s two QB’s, exactly 1,000 yards passing (a record-breaking 971 yards net) – and you thought Baylor v. Washington marked the end of the Mayan calendar.

And, despite resting several regulars besides Rodgers, the Packers succeeded in beating the Lions at home for a 20^th consecutive year.

Not long ago, I actually felt sorry for Detroit. Now, however, I have little sympathy for the Lions and their already tired, arrogant act. I’m looking forward to Detroit’s winless streak in the state of Wisconsin reaching the point that Rodgers will soon be throwing to receivers who were not even born when Mel Gray went off way back in 1991.

Matt Flynn (Re)Emerges…What Now?

It turns out the loss in Kansas City a couple weeks back was not the worst thing in the world to happen. Had the Pack gone into Week 17 at 15-0, Mike McCarthy would have almost been forced to start #12. This way, Matt Flynn got some very valuable playing time – and if by some off-chance Aaron were to go down during the playoffs, it is now known (and GB already knew) that there is a more than capable man waiting in relief. As Don Majkowski was a one-year wonder in 1989, Flynn is a one-game wonder (two if you count last year’s game against New England), and at the present time a better insurance policy than Rodgers could ever get from State Farm.

And to emphasize again, this was not back in the dome in Detroit, or even on a halfway mild day like most of December was in Sconnie. It was like winter suddenly realized that the calendar just turned to January, with Packer Weather – complete with high winds – finally making an appearance.

But Flynn was SO good Sunday that not only did he ultimately make himself a lot of money, but also raised a couple questions not even thinkable even after a couple of Cherry Bombs at a New Year’s Eve party 24 hours earlier…

• Is Flynn now franchise tag material? He would still eventually be shipped out of Green Bay, but not before being flipped for first-round draft choices.

• Or, if the Packers repeat as Super Bowl Champions – and with his value being at it’s absolute peak, could Ted Thompson trade Aaron Rodgers and make Flynn the 2012 starter? They could even find an organization (Dan Snyder/Redskins?) desperate enough to pull a Mike Ditka and TRADE AN ENTIRE DRAFT.

I’ll address option #2 first. If you think Rodgers is going anywhere, you are still cycling down from the New Year’s cocktails. Hypothetically, if Rodgers went down in a playoff game and GB won the Super Bowl with Flynn, then I might dare say a QB controversy would surface, and even then Rodgers is likely still the man. But then who thought Peyton Manning’s future would be questioned 12 months ago…

As for placing the franchise tag on Flynn, there is too much of a $$$ risk.  Under the new CBA, Flynn could be tendered as a non-exclusive franchise player and be offered the average salary of the five highest-salaried QBs over the past five years. The Packers would have a right to match any contract offer by other teams, or refuse and get two first-round draft picks in return. The downside is that if there are no takers the Packers are ‘stuck’ paying a #2 quarterback $15 million in 2012 (higher salary than Rodgers). In addition the franchise tag would not then be available for TE Jermichael Finley and he would likely walk.

Top 12 Potential Free Agent Destinations for Matt Flynn

Barring the above two unlikely scenarios playing out, Matt Flynn will get his starting shot somewhere else in 2012, and he is suddenly the hottest commodity on the free agent market. Here are the top-ten (actually top 12) landing spots as I see it if Flynn is an unrestricted free agent this offseason:

10.  Denver

Is Matt Flynn better long-term than Tim Tebow? You can definitely make that argument. But John Fox and John Elway are all-in on the Tebow experiment for all of 2012. If Tebow doesn’t make a leap next year, then they will be more in the QB market in 2013; but they will sit this year out.

9. Miami/Tampa Bay/Jacksonville

I throw the entire state of Florida in as a package, as all three will be undergoing major overhauls and likely all three with new coaches. Of the three, I only see the Dolphins as a halfway attractive opportunity that Flynn would actually be interested in, and vice versa.

8. Minnesota

Seeing Flynn go to the purple early in his career would be far worse than seeing Favre wind up there in his dying years. Despite a 3-13 record, some pieces would be in place with Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen, and a #3 overall draft pick on board. But the Vikes are one of many teams who are already committed with a high 2011 first-round pick (Christian Ponder) so I don’t see the Twin Cities as a landing spot.

7. Tennessee

It is known that Jake Locker is a project, not unlike Tim Tebow. But it’s unlikely that the Titans will pull the plug just one year after making Locker a #8 overall pick.

6. Kansas City

The Chiefs got a good test drive with Kyle Orton and found out what the Broncos and Bears already know: nice QB, but not enough to get them to the next level. There is no dominant team in the AFC West and Dwayne Bowe is a nice #1 target.

5. New York Jets

One of these days this franchise and its fans will finally realize that Mark Sanchez is the NFL’s answer to Ryan Howard. The question is whether the organization will come to their senses this year and look into Flynn. The Jets would be a possibility considering the team is still a contender, and the fan base is demanding to the point that NY might be a player.

4. Cleveland

The Browns do not have that much invested In Colt McCoy, who also has a concussion history dating back to his Texas Longhorn days. Mike Holmgren, and the organization in general, has to make the big splash one of these off-seasons.

3. Washington

I could even put the ‘Skins as the #1 landing spot, especially if Flynn is attracted to the bright lights of the NFC East. The team may be a couple years away, but you know Dan Snyder will spend the cash.

2. Seattle

Wouldn’t be the first Green Bay understudy to eventually migrate to the Pacific Northwest – and Flynn’s name was trending in Seattle on Twitter at the peak of Sunday’s game. The Seahawks have not been bad hovering around .500 the past two years with Pete Carroll, and they definitely have a glaring QB need.

1. Arizona

Signing Kevin Kolb for 6 years/$65 million ($21 million+ guaranteed) was a bad move from the minute the Cards made the move minutes after the end of the NFL lockout. Even with John Skelton at QB, Arizona rallied to finish with an 8-8 record. Flynn could be close to what the franchise had with Kurt Warner a couple years back. The Cards should cut bait with Kolb as soon as they can. If they can do it in a way that makes financial sense this offseason, Flynn would be a better investment and instantly make Arizona instantly a player again in the NFC West.

Chicago Bears

Before Jay Cutler went down with a thumb injury in Week 11 against the Chargers, the Bears were 7-3 and poised for a playoff spot. They were on a five-game winning streak, and had a fairly easy schedule ahead of them. Caleb Hanie took over for Cutler the next week in Oakland in a losing effort. He led three more losing efforts, and the Bears now sit at 7-7, hanging on to slim playoff hopes.

After going 0-4, Hanie has been benched by Lovie Smith in favor of Josh McCown. The demotion comes after Hanie threw three interceptions, with two being pick-sixes, last week in a 38-14 loss against Seattle.

Jay Cutler has been trying to get back on the field, but it is better to let him heal instead of getting him a long-term injury. If the Bears made it to the playoffs, he would likely be ready to go, but they must first focus on beating the Packers.

For the Bears to even have a shot at the playoffs, they will need losses by the Lions or the Falcons. By the time the Bears play the Packers on Sunday night, the Lions could already have won by then, with the Falcons not playing until Monday night. However, they have plenty to play for, with the rivalry against the Packers being something to play for in itself.

The defense will have to step up, and hope that Aaron Rodgers has another off week, as he did last week in Kansas City. With McCown at quarterback and Marion Barber at running back, the Bears simply aren’t the same 7-3 team from earlier this season.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers went a year without a loss, and finally came back down to Earth last week in Kansas City. Romeo Crennel led the Chiefs to a 19-14 win over the Packers, in a game that exploited the weakness of the Packers’ defense and their heavy reliance on Aaron Rodgers’ success.

Rodgers went 17 for 35 with 235 yards and a touchdown, along with a rushing touchdown right before the two-minute warning. The defense gave up 438 yards to the Chiefs, who are not too bad a team with Kyle Orton as quarterback.

As much as teams hate to lose, it is not always bad to go into the postseason with a loss or two. Going into the playoffs undefeated carries a load of pressure that is not always wanted by a team. They can now put away all the undefeated talk and focus on securing the top seed in the playoffs. A win over the Bears secures that top spot, and could lead to Rodgers and the rest of the starters getting some much needed rest in the last game of the season against Detroit.

Even though the Packers slipped up last week in KC, it is tough to see them dropping two games in a row. The Bears offense is pedestrian without Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, not to mention the fact that Sam Hurd is out due to some notable wrongdoing.

Prediction: Packers 35-Bears 17

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Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

• Bears-Packers Date: Sunday, December 25th at 8:20 PM ET on NBC
• Bears-Packers Announcers: Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth
• Bears-Packers Point Spread: Packers -12.5
• Bears-Packers Over-Under Odds: 43.5 points