Naturally, I stopped what I was doing and went to databaseFootball.com to answer Mangini’s question.

Here are all the Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks since the merger to have led the league in interceptions thrown:

Broadway Joe, one of many Hall of Fame quarterbacks to have led the league in interceptions.

• Terry Bradshaw, 1970 (24)
• Joe Namath, 1974 (22)
• Joe Namath, 1975 (28)
• Fran Tarkenton, 1978 (32)
• Warren Moon, 1986 (26)
• Dan Marino, 1989 (22)
• Warren Moon, 1991 (21)
• Jim Kelly, 1992 (19)
• Brett Favre*, 1993 (24)
• Peyton Manning*, 1998 (28)
• Brett Favre*, 2005 (29)
• Brett Favre*, 2008 (22)

* Brett Favre and Peyton Manning are not in the Hall of Fame, but I included them because it is safe to assume that both will be elected as soon as they are eligible. Probable future Hall-of-Famer Ben Roethlisberger threw a league-leading 23 interceptions in 2006. Also, Jay Cutler led the league with 26 interceptions in 2009, and he dominates.

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!

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.

I posted about this several weeks back when Jay Cutler first got hurt, mainly as an excuse to use the picture at the bottom of this post. But now, apparently, there is at least one-way interest in a potential Brett Favre comeback.

And by that I mean that Brett Favre, apparently, would “listen” if the Bears came groveling on their knees for him to rescue them from Caleb Hanie. Of course, Bears coach Lovie Smith has already said that the team is not looking to the outside and will stick Hanie.

But who cares!? It’s Brett Favre! Rumors! Let’s all have some fun out here!

FAVRE FAVRE FAVRE FAVRE FAVRE FAVRE FAVRE FAVRE FAVRE FAVRE FAVRE FAVRE FAVRE FAVRE FAVRE.

Anyway, I give this a 0.01% chance of happening, or a number of reasons.

First, Favre looked awful in his final season. Why should we think he’d be any better now not having played and a year older?

Second, when Favre went to the Jets and then the Vikings, he was essentially running the same offense he ran in Green Bay. So the transition was easy. Chicago, however, runs the Mike Martz Clusterfluck Offense, which Favre has no familiarity with, meaning he would basically just be dropping back and chucking it, with little regard for what the coach wants…

On second thought, hell, maybe it will happen.

Image source: Kevin Kaduk’s Facebook

Nah.

Regardless, Favre has people talking about him again, so that’s good, and hopefully will prevent him from sending any more ill-advised text messages to get attention.

Also, let the Bears know that I would listen if they need some help with their QB woes. I played quarterback my freshman year of high school. Even threw a touchdown pass. So long as it doesn’t interfere with our Sunday morning live chats, I’m available.

Since I’m the editor, I can see this, be insulted by it, and then give in to my immature side and quickly churn out a post to make what is a bad morning for he and Bears fans even worse.

So, here is the important question in the wake of Jay Cutler’s thumb injury: Brett Favre, anyone?

Image source: Kevin Kaduk’s Facebook

Now, just to be clear: I have seen absolutely zero rumors of this even being within the realm of possibility.

But who ever thought that Favre playing for the Vikings was within the realm of possibility?

Why not make it three out of the four NFC North teams Brett? Come on. Let’s make this happen.

Okay Juranovich. Go insult the White Sox. Just remember: don’t mess with me. I control the order posts are published in.

Update: Tyler’s post is now published. Here it is. It’s far less insulting than I thought it would be. But I don’t take this post back. Favre in Bears gear is hilarious.

I just made this here.

This is the second of a quick two-post series that will expand on this post and break down the Super Bowl history of the SB XLV participants. Here is the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl history. The Packers do not have nearly as voluminous a Super Bowl history as the Steelers, but they do have a much more rich history of championships overall if you consider the pre-Super Bowl era.

• Super Bowl Appearances: 5 (counting XLV)
• All-Time Super Bowl Record: 3-1 (pending the result of XLV)
• NFL championships in pre-Super Bowl era: 9 (’29, ’30, ’31, ’36, ’39, ’44, ’61, ’62′, 65)

Super Bowl I: Green Bay Packers v Kansas City Chiefs

• Date: January 15, 1967
• Location: LA Coliseum in Los Angeles, California
• Score: Green Bay 35 – Kansas City 10
• MVP: Bart Starr, Packers

Super Bowl II: Green Bay Packers v Oakland Raiders

• Date: January 14, 1968
• Location: Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida
• Score: Green Bay 33 – Oakland 14
• MVP: Bart Starr, Packers

Super Bowl XXI: Green Bay Packers v New England Patriots

• Date: January 26, 1997
• Location: The Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
• Score: Green Bay 35 – New England 21
• MVP: Desmond Howard, Packers

Super Bowl XXII: Green Bay Packers v Denver Broncos

• Date: January 25, 1998
• Location: Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calfornia
• Score: Denver 31 – Green Bay 24
• MVP: Terrell Davis, Broncos

Source for above: Packers.com

Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay Packers v Pittsburgh Steelers

• Date: February 6, 2011
• Location: Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas
• Score: Green Bay ??? – Pittsburgh ???
• MVP: ???

The pregame show just started on FOX. Kickoff is approaching. As Bart Scott might say: can’t wait!

In this post, I’ll run down the latest point spread over-under odds for Super Bowl XLV, as well as some interesting prop bets that you may want to take a look at, including comparing what Aaron Rodgers does today to what Brett Favre did in his Super Bowl appearance.

Via our friends at DocSports.com*, here is the rundown of Super Bowl XLV point spreads and over-under odds from a number of books. As you’ll see, there is very little fluctuation in the point spread, but there are a few differences in the over-under.

Super Bowl XLV Packers-Steelers Point Spread

• BoDog: Packers -3 (100) | Steelers +3 (120)
• BetUS: Packers -3 (100) | Steelers +3 (120)
• Sportsbook.com: Packers -3 (100) | Steelers +3 (120)
• BookMaker: Packers -3 (110) | Steelers +3 (110)
• Dimes: Packers -3 (105) | Steelers +3 (115)
• Sports InterAction: Packers -3 (100) | Steelers +3 (12)

Super Bowl XLV Packers-Steelers Over-Under Odds

• BoDog: 45.5 ov-115
• BetUS: 45 ov-110
• Sportsbook.com: 45 ov-110
• BookMaker: 45 ov-110
• Dimes: 44.5 ov-105
• Sports InterAction: 46.5 ov-110

And now let’s look at the current odds for some fun prop bets:

The most popular Super Bowl prop bet every year seems to be the length of time it will take for the National Anthem. The current over/under on the time it will take Christina Aguilera to sing the National Anthem is 1:54. Personally, I’d take the over.

This year’s game is unique from a prop bet perspective in that the backstory of the Brett Favre/Aaron Rodgers connection provides a bevy of interesting numbers to wager on. For those who want to match Rodgers’ performance in Super Bowl XLV up against Favre’s performance in his Super Bowl victory, there are a number of prop bets available. (Hat tip: SBNation)

Aaron Rodgers/Brett Favre Prop Bets

Total Passing Yards, which will be higher?

• Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl XLV  -29½ (-110)
• Brett Favre Super Bowl XXXI (246 Passing Yards) +29½ (-120)

Total TD Passes, which will be higher?

• Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl XLV  +125
• Brett Favre Super Bowl XXXI (2 TD Passes)  -155

Completion Percentage, which will be higher?

• Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl XLV -11.5%  +105
• Brett Favre Super Bowl (51.8%) +11.5%   -135

And finally, below are the odds on who will win MVP (again, hat tip to SBNation).

SUPER BOWL XLV – Odds to win MVP

• Aaron Rodgers (GB) QB                         7/4
• Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) QB                   7/2
• Rashard Mendenhall (PIT) RB                 15/2
• Greg Jennings (GB) WR                         12/1
• James Starks (GB) RB                           14/1
• Troy Polamalu (PIT) S                            15/1
• Mike Wallace (PIT) WR                          16/1
• Clay Matthews (GB) LB                          18/1
• Charles Woodson (GB) CB                     20/1
• James Harrison (PIT) LB                         22/1
• Tramon Williams (GB) CB                       25/1
• Hines Ward (PIT) WR                             25/1
• Heath Miller (PIT) TE                              25/1
• Donald Driver (GB) WR                           25/1
• James Farrior (PIT) LB                            28/1
• Lawrence Timmons (PIT) LB                   28/1
• James Jones (GB) WR                           30/1
• Jordy Nelson (GB) WR                           30/1
• A.J. Hawk (GB) LB                                 30/1
• B.J. Raji (GB) DT                                   30/1
• Emmanuel Sanders (PIT) WR                 35/1
• Sam Shields (GB) CB                            35/1
• Cullen Jenkins (GB) DE                          50/1
• Brandon Jackson (GB) RB                      50/1
• Field                                                     15/1

If I were betting on this one, I’d take Rodgers even though I think Pittsburgh will win the game. Rodgers, I think, is the “safest” choice to be MVP because I can’t see him not winning it if the Packers come out on top. Pittsburgh has already won two Super Bowls without Big Ben being the MVP, so that is easy to see happening again. And if it’s not the QB, it could be anyone, and thus very difficult to predict.

Okay, I’m ready for kickoff. Still 9 more hours to kill though…

Trust me.

Video: Brett Favre “What Should I Do”

As one Kenny Banya might say, “Gold Jerry! Gold!”

This video is, of course, a spoof of the LeBron James Nike commercial in which he wonders aloud what he should do. View it here if you are unfamiliar with it.

I was going to blipsnip it so you could just jump around to the funniest, most clever parts…but honestly it’s all pretty damn funny and clever. So just enjoy the whole thing.

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“He doesn’t play with Favre’s loose style.”

“He can’t come back late in games.”

These are the kind of things Aaron Rodgers has heard ever since he took over the role of starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. Despite being an elite QB that has already done things Brett never did, some Packer “fans” just refuse to accept him.

When Brett Favre retired from the Packers after bawling his eyes out in 2007, it appeared he’d go out as one of the best ever to play the game, and that he’d be forever loved by the Cheesehead Nation.

If only.

The messy divorce between Favre and the Pack left many fans angry at Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy for letting a legend go (I for one absolutely loved that they didn’t let Brett just do whatever he wanted). Hardly anyone was angry at Favre when he became a New York Jet, and both the Jets and Packers missed the playoffs that season.

New York, because of a meltdown at the end of the season thanks in large part due to Brett’s play dropping off significantly. Meanwhile, Rodgers had a great year, but Green Bay’s lackluster defense left them with a paltry 6-10 record.

Of course, the Favre worshipers were quick to point their fingers at Rodgers, and Titletown was thrown into chaos.

If Brett Favre would have just retired as a Jet, he would’ve still gone out  beloved by the Cheeseheads. He would’ve had that one forgettable final year of his career with a different team like so many legendary QBs before him had.

Unfortunately, it was not to be.

Favre couldn’t resist the urge to come back to play another year. Being traded to the Jets is one thing; voluntarily signing with the despised Vikings was simply unforgivable.

There was a huge backlash against Brett by the true Packer fans, but a huge cult following of worshipers became Viking fans.

It was pitiful.

You couldn’t have ever been a true Packer fan if you rooted for one of our archrivals because of one player.

That was a painful year for Rodgers. While his play was absolutely tremendous, Favre and the Vikings beat the Pack twice and were in the NFC Championship Game, while the Packers lost to Arizona in a crushing 1st round loss.

A single play changed everything:

28-28. Under 20 seconds left. Minnesota is within range for a game-winning field goal, though it would have been a 50-some yarder. Favre drops back to try and get them closer for Ryan Longwell. He could have tucked it and ran for a solid gain. Instead, we saw vintage Favre. A downright terrible pass was picked off by the Saints, and the rest is history. As a Packer fan, I never tire of watching this video.

After that, the tide shifted greatly.

In 2010, Brett Favre had an awful season, while Aaron Rodgers had yet another incredible year. This time, the Pack disposed of the Vikes both times the teams met, and they were able to get into the playoffs after winning their final two games.

The Vikings’ season? Not so great. They fired Brad Childress, had the failed Randy Moss experiment, and had the roof on their stadium collapse, among other things.

Even after this turn of events, many still refused to accept Rodgers. This playoff game was one he had to win, and he did just that.

He didn’t have a jaw-dropping performance, but he did his share in helping the green and gold win. While Rodgers hasn’t done things Favre did just yet, it appears that he’s on his way to becoming legendary. So for now, the Favre worshipers will have to burrow back into the hole from whence they came.

Now if Aaron Rodgers can lead the Pack to three more victories, we may never have to hear from the worshipers again.

Image source: Imgur via Reddit

If anyone would like to take a gander at captioning this photo – perhaps with some conjecture about what Favre might be thinking about while standing on the sideline with his hand down his pants – the comment section waits patiently below.

In his career, 16 quarterbacks have waited for this day to come, a chance to start in his place. The names range from Paul McJulien, Ty Detmer, T.J. Rubley, Craig Hentrich and Steve Bono to Jim McMahon, Matt Hasselbeck, Doug Peterson and Aaron Rodgers.

Other than needing a practice  quarterback or someone for mop up duty, the Green Bay Packers could have left that #2 QB spot vacant. In 2001 he was the only player on the Packer roster to take snaps at quarterback. Since Don Majkowski got hurt, Brett Favre has started every game in which his team has played in. Including playoffs the streak would be 321 games.

In the game of football, defensive coaches, from pee-wee to the pros, would coach players to kill the quarterback. Any team’s backup quarterback is never as good as the starter, so the goal is to get him out of the game.

Brett Favre played in the most physical game, at a position that made him most vulnerable. He played through injuries that when they occurred, you thought for sure he would need to miss the next week, yet he would keep coming back. Injuries that included high ankle sprains, pulled hamstrings, shoulder strains, concussions, headaches, neck pain, chin contusion, hand and forearm sprains, and the broken bone in his right thumb. Brett played through them all.

Life also threw a few curveballs that has kept professional athletes off the field. Such things as the birth of his daughters, the death of his father, and the discovery of his wife having breast cancer did not keep him from playing the game he loved.

Those closest to him would not have had it any other way.

As it stands now, Brett leads all NFL quarterbacks in the following categories:

• Passing Yards: 71,775
• Completions: 6,295
• Attempts: 10,162
• Touchdowns: 507
• Interceptions: 335

If Brett can play the remaining three games, these numbers will go up. And since it’s only three games, surely Brett Favre can handle that streak.

Other active streaks at quarterback:

• Peyton Manning: 205
• Tom Brady: 111
• Eli Manning: 100
• Phillip Rivers: 77

However, is it really the greatest Iron Man streak of all time, as many are positing today? Other legendary Iron Men like Lou Gehrig, Cal Ripken, Jim Marshall, Doug Jarvis, and A.C. Green just might feel differently, and all have legitimate claim to the title of Greatest Iron Man of Them All.

I grabbed my camera and transcription device and rounded up all of these Iron Men to get their thoughts on the matter. This roundtable of Iron Men is presented below as our latest MSF photo story.

If the image above is not loading properly, click to view it here.

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]]> http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2010/12/photo-story-the-greatest-iron-man-of-them-all/feed/ 4 http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2010/12/peyton-favre-now-thats-something/ http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2010/12/peyton-favre-now-thats-something/#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2010 13:16:55 +0000 Jon Washburn http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/?p=23770 It kills me. It absolutely kills me to write this.

But the charade can’t go on any longer.

I guess everyone has to lose it eventually, but it never stops being sad. I’ll never forget watching Jordan score only 6 points against the Pacers as a Washington Wizard. Seeing Griffey fade into mediocrity was one of the saddest developments of the steroid era. Even the invincible Tiger Woods is just lacking something right now.

But when it’s your favorite guy from your favorite team, it’s not supposed to happen.

I blame myself, really. As a fan, whenever things don’t go your way, you trick yourself into thinking you had something to do with it. Even something as simple as changing your shirt in the middle of the game can have drastic effects on the outcome. No matter how illogical it is that your change of apparel at the 3:00 mark of the second quarter really caused your team to score, you will absolutely not take that new shirt off until it’s clear that it’s not working.

Well, for me, the bad news started when I got engaged. Let me be more specific. My sports luck changed as soon as I got engaged to a girl from CLEVELAND. I desperately hoped that my luck would rub off on her, and that maybe one of her beloved teams would finally turn a corner.

At this point though, it’s clear to say that the rubbing off has been the other way around.

In the last year and a half, the Colts have lost the Super Bowl (my NFL team), the Pacers drafted Tyler Hansbrough – who can’t even start over Josh McRoberts – (my NBA team), a student filming practice for Notre Dame died (my college football team), Robbie Hummel tore his ACL…twice…and Gordon Hayward’s half-court heave rimmed out (my college basketball teams), LeBron left, and the Browns signed Jake Delhomme (my wife’s teams).

No matter whose fault it is, though, something has happened to my favorite player. And worse than that, everyone is afraid to say something.

Over the past three weeks, I have seen the best QB of my lifetime lose something. Eleven interceptions. FOUR returned for TDs. Two game-ending failures.

Peyton Manning has become Brett Favre.

Don’t laugh.

I’m not talking about the pathetic “Me first” stigma that has come to tarnish Brett Favre’s career over the last few seasons.
No, it’s easy to forget this now, but once upon a time, Brett Favre was everybody’s favorite “Golden Boy.” He was a 3-Time MVP. He had been to two Super Bowls and won one of them. He ENJOYED playing the game. He would congratulate Warren Sapp for hitting him hard. He was, quite simply, everybody’s favorite player.

But then, something happened. Maybe it was the heartbreaking playoff loss, at home, to a young, exciting, unconventional team (that was the Michael Vick breakout year). Maybe it was his age. Maybe he stopped working hard. Maybe (and in my opinion, most likely) the entire rest of the league just figured him out. Whatever it was, Favre started slipping. He had always thrown interceptions, but slowly, the number started to rise. They became more and more crippling. At age 34, his team slipped from 12-4 (back to back) to 10-6 and he threw five more interceptions than he had in either of the previous two years.

Two years later, his team was 4-12 and he threw a startling 20 TDs and 29 picks. Then the circus started, and Favre was gone shortly thereafter.

Even though Favre was clearly not the same player, we were all too scared to say anything. Every one of his interceptions was “Brett Favre being Brett Favre.” He never made a bad throw…it was always a “gutsy decision that backfired” or “a little too much of a risk” or my favorite, “he just trusted his arm too much on that one.” Because of his tremendous career, and his incredibly likable personality, we kept giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Fast forward to 2010.

Peyton Manning is a 4-Time MVP. He has been to two Super Bowls and won one of them. He ENJOYS playing the game. He appreciates greatness. He is on every football commercial there is. He is, quite simply, everybody’s favorite player.

But this year, something has happened.

Now it’s entirely possible that this is just not the Colts’ year. Dallas Clark, Austin Collie, Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Addai, Donald Brown, and Mike Hart have all missed significant time. Pierre Garçon has missed a few games as well. The offensive line has three brand new faces. And this is just on offense.

I, of all people, understand that you have to be realistic as a sports fan. If I were to start complaining about the terrible luck that has hit the Colts this year, every Browns fan in America would want to shoot me. Add to the injuries the Colts’ utter joke of a running game, and ANY quarterback would struggle, right?

And it’s still possible for the Colts to turn it around. As luck would have it, the entire AFC South is down this year, and the Colts, at 6-6, are still in the thick of things. In 5 weeks, I could be writing about the Colts visit to the Meadowlands and why Peyton Manning will ABSOLUTELY beat Mark Sanchez in a playoff game.

But what if the unthinkable has actually happened?

What if that Super Bowl loss last year scarred him more than any of us could ever realize? I mean, up until that point, he was Superman. As a fan, I used to joke around when the Colts were down with less than 2 minutes left in a game. I had supreme confidence that Peyton would pull it out. I even wrote an entire column, after the Patriots comeback last year, proving once and for all why Peyton was the Greatest QB to Ever Play.

But then, Tracy Porter picked off the slant, Peyton was blocked in the back (the most egregious no-call in Colts history since Kordell Stewart ran out of the back of the end zone and then caught a TD in the famous Hail-Mary game), and Drew Brees was celebrating. Had it occurred to anyone up until that point that the Colts could lose? Had it occurred to Manning? Maybe that pass changed him.

Maybe, he’s just getting old. I mean, his offensive line hasn’t been that good this year. Can a guy who has started every game since his rookie season really be that invincible? He can’t take this kind of punishment and not loose something, right?

Or maybe, and most unfortunately, the entire league has figured him out. There came a point in Brett Favre’s career where other teams realized, “Nobody else would ever think about throwing that pass, besides Brett.” That was one of things that made him so great. But once his opponents started planning for those passes, the interceptions skyrocketed. And they weren’t necessarily all the time. But in the BIG moments, when the game was on the line, opposing defenses started baiting Brett Favre, and the losses started piling up for Green Bay.

Maybe, the Super Bowl was the key. I remember hearing Gregg Williams talk about how the Saints had three game-plans going into the Super Bowl: one for the first half, one for the 3rd Quarter, and one for the 4th. Now I, of course, shrugged this off because, “Nobody could ever outsmart the great Peyton.” But when push came to shove, it was the Saints that were calling the shots, and not Peyton Manning.

Over the last three weeks, I have seen the Patriots, Chargers, and now Cowboys all pull the same stuff. And it’s not like Peyton has had TERRIBLE games. Against the Cowboys, he threw for nearly 400 yards. But in the BIG moments, when the game is won and lost, Peyton has been outsmarted. Repeatedly. That’s not supposed to happen.

I know the “leverage” penalty yesterday was ridiculous. Reggie Wayne’s drop in OT was equally demoralizing. If either of those plays go the other way, the Colts probably win. But still, I was interested to hear what Peyton would say after the game. Of course, he didn’t give any excuses. He was admirable in defeat. But then he said the following,

“I’m not going to get gunshy. Sometimes, when you are on a turnover streak, you start playing a little timid. Don’t expect me to stop slinging the ball up there. I just have to make better reads.”

Tell me that doesn’t give you chills. It wasn’t supposed to happen to Brett Favre, either. HE was the old gunslinger. The guy that threw for 300 yards in the first half the game after his dad died. The guy that had played in a billion straight games. He was too likable to be mortal. And because of that, we were blind to his true game for five years too long. Let’s not make the same mistake twice.

The truth is that Peyton still has 3 or 4 more GOOD years left in him, maybe more. But he is no longer Superman. The days of him single-handedly winning games are gone. That extra something about his game is just gone. If he doesn’t have enough help (which this year, he clearly doesn’t), the Colts are only average.

Look, I hope more than anyone that I’m wrong. Peyton is my favorite football player of all time. He has led my Colts to more good times than anyone could have ever predicted. And to be honest, if anyone deserves a free pass, it should be him. Again, I’m not sure any QB could win with the team the Colts have right now. The guy is entitled to have a few bad games. Just a month ago, Peter King still had him listed as his #1 MVP choice.

Now suppose you gave him all of his weapons back. Suppose you gave him a running game again. Suppose you gave him time to pass. Would he still be one of the best in the game? Absolutely.

But that’s the thing. For the past 8 years, the only person that you could LEGITIMATELY put in the same breath as him was Tom Brady. Now? I’m only confident saying that he’s in the Top 7 (Vick, Brees, Brady, Ryan, Rodgers, Rivers, Manning…in case you were wondering).

And for a guy that was one of the best I’ve ever seen, that’s the saddest something of all.

Anyways… back on topic…

The day has come for Vikings fans to rejoice – Brad Childress is no longer the head coach. After a horrible loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 11, which let’s be honest, could have been a lot closer of a game if the defense showed up or Favre could hit open receivers, Childress was canned yesterday by owner Zygi Wilf. Defensive coordinator Leslie Fraizer was named the interim head coach.

With the firing of Childress, it leaves the status of Hall-of-Fame and ultimate diva Quarterback Brett Favre up in the air. Now I’ve never been a Favre fan and unlike many even after last year I wasn’t drinking the Kool-Aid. In fact, I stayed as far away from it as possible and it baffled me as to how native Minnesotans like myself who grew up loathing Favre and everything he stood for could be so easily converted into Favre faithful. Sure he’s got the cannon arm, the “gunslinger” mentality, the Midwest personality, and he was replacing Tavaris Jackson… but the guy turned our arch rival into a dynasty and I’m not about to forget that anytime soon.

This move may win over the fans, but it also still leaves the entire state of the franchise up in the air… Vikings fans know that the team needs a new stadium and that L.A. would like a team back sooner than later. It’s a scary proposition – losing your hometown team that’s 50 years old to a city who also stole the Lakers (yes, they were the Minneapolis Lakers… do you really think there are lakes in L.A.?) and has squandered away 2 NFL franchises already.

But alas, this is a day for Vikings fans to celebrate and I would like to thank one man in particular for his part in making this special moment happen – Jason Garrett. Being a trapped fan here in Dallas, I know and can see the transformation of the Cowboys under Garrett. It was night and day. Wade Phillips was/is a lousy head coach, much like Childress, and probably overstayed his welcome even moreso than Chilly.

However both coaches were lousy in different ways – Wade was the senile uncle, the man who failed to understand the complexities of a gameplan, the concept of accountability, and lost his team by failing to command respect due to inaction. Childress, on the other hand, is the stickler grandpa who felt the need to micro-manage everything and everyone which resulted in alienated players and people second guessing his decisions. Lie, cheat, cut – it didn’t matter how Childress went about his day-to-day activities as long as he could control the message, control the team (trade for Moss, cut him, don’t tell the owner), and control the perception. Wade the uncle and Childress the stickler. Neither one belong in the NFL in the capacity they once were.

My father always said when you take over for someone who had done a horrible job that when you do a good job it only makes you look that much better. This is happening right now with Jason Garrett and is what aided Wilf in his decision to fire Childress. The Cowboys were beyond gone, their star QB injured and an awful record – then boom, a coaching change happens and back-to-back wins. Not only did the wins start to roll in, but a team that rolled over and played dead for Phillips looks like they could compete against anyone under Garrett. The Cowboys are completely rejuvenated and hopeful for next season.

You’d have to think Wilf has the same in mind with the Vikings under Fraizer, who has also been a candidate for head coaching positions around the league much like Garrett. People are quick to forget that the Vikings let Mike Tomlin get away under the Childress regime, something I personally cannot live down given Tomlin’s success as a coach and that the Vikings were stuck with Chilly for as long as they were (4.5 seasons).

Tony Dungy, Brian Billick, Mike Tomlin… what do they have in common? The first thing that comes to mind is Super Bowl winning coaches – but they were also all Vikings assistants. It’s the story of the franchise, let the true talent slip away while keeping around the Dennis Green, the Mike Tice, and the Brad Childress of the world.

Let’s hope Fraizer changes the mold.

Matthew Brown is a social media professional who runs a full-time soccer blog called The Trapped Fan which focuses on international soccer.  Also an avid Vikings and Minnesota sports fan, you can follow him on Twitter: @trappedfan