[Editor's note: This was originally posted back in January, but it got lost in the Super Bowl shuffle. Keith did a great job on it though, so we're cycling it back to the front of the site for those of you who missed it.]

You know how sometimes when you hear a one-hit wonder song on the radio or on the jukebox at a bar, it makes you think of a certain time in your life and all of the memories of that time come flooding back?

For some reason, those songs resonate.  They are the songs that everyone knows the words to, even if they are embarrassed to admit it.  The best one-hit wonders activate that mental and emotional time machine in a person.

Sports do the same thing for me.  I tie events in my life to notable sports players and seasons.

I distinctly remember my first two years of middle school being “Fab Five” years.  I wore a Jalen Rose #5 maize jersey, matching shorts, black socks and black Nikes to school at least once a week. By 8^th grade, I had orange and turquoise hair, but not because of Greenday or the Offspring, but because of Dennis Rodman.  I also wished that I could grow a mustache at 13 years old to be more like L.A. Raiders quarterback Jeff Hostetler, whose jersey I also proudly donned.

Ill-conceived fashion choices aside, the feelings and memories generated by sports and music endure as much as any.  Years from now, when I look back at this NFL season, I will remember plenty, but among the most amusing things to reminisce about will be the guys who came out of nowhere to have a great year and then disappeared.  Guys like Victor Cruz or (gasp!) Tim Tebow could qualify if they are unable to replicate their 2011 successes.

In that spirit, here are some of the greatest single-season performances by players who were never able to reach that level of success again in NFL history and a one-hit wonder tune to go along with each.  Nonsensical?  Probably.  Fun?  Absolutely.

Steve Beuerlein – 1999 / Chumbawamba – “Tubthumping”

Stats: 60.1 Comp %, 4,436 Yards, 36 TD, 15 INT, 94.6 rating, 50 sacks

Beuerlein was primarily a backup quarterback until 1998, when he took over for Carolina Panthers quarterback Kerry Collins, who was battling personal problems and ineffectiveness on the field.

Beuerlein finished the 1998 season strong and staked his claim to the starting job in 1999.  That season, he demolished all expectations, helping the Panthers double their win total from the previous season and setting franchise records for passing yards, touchdowns and rating that still stand today.

He was reasonably successful the following year (3730 yards, 19 TD, 18 INT, 79.7 rating), but nowhere near the same as in 1999.

You certainly did get knocked down, Steve.

Why “Tubthumping” for Beuerlein?  Well, he was sacked 50 times in 1999.  So he literally got knocked down and got up again, and no team was able to keep him down, at least that season.

In fact, in the 44 games he started from 1998-2000, he was sacked 156 times.  That’s an average of over 3.5 times per game.  Hey Jay Cutler, if you need a shoulder to cry on, I would call Steve Beuerlein.  He feels your pain.

DeAngelo Williams – 2008 / Aldo Nova – “Fantasy”

Stats: 273 carries, 1,515 rushing yards, 20 total TD

I understand that DeAngelo might have a couple of good years ahead of him.  Carolina certainly hopes so, as they signed him to a 5-year, $43 million contract this past year.  But given the new direction of the offense with Cam Newton at the helm and the time share between Williams and Jonathan Stewart in the backfield, I just don’t see Williams ever having the kind of impact he did in 2008.

"Fantasy" kryponite has a name, and it is DeAngelo Williams.

I chose Canadian rocker Aldo Nova and his 1981 hit “Fantasy” because in that magical 2008 season Williams was the #1 ranked fantasy player in the NFL.  And also because I think “Fantasy” and it’s wicked synth/guitar riff is quite awesome.

Before Rob Dyrdek used a cover of it for his Fantasy Factory show, the song was relegated only to occasional airplay on classic rock stations and my iPod.  Now, we can all sing “life is just a fantasyyy” every time Williams comes off the board in a draft and laugh at the guy who thinks he will sniff his 2008 numbers again (note: I was that guy in 2009 and 2010).

Derek Anderson & Braylon Edwards – 2007 / Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock – “It Takes Two”

Stats:

• Anderson – 3,787 yards, 29 passing TDs, 3 rushing TD, 19 INT, 82.5 rating
  
• Edwards – 80 receptions, 1,289 yards, 16 TD
  

This is it for Carolina Panthers players, I promise, even though Anderson was in Cleveland during his lone great season.  Both of these guys have bounced around after their fantastic (especially by Cleveland Browns standards) 2007 season.  Edwards was recently cut by the 49ers thanks to nagging injuries and inconsistency, and Anderson is toiling away as a backup in Carolina.

That 2007 Browns team overachieved its way to 10 wins, and this QB-WR duo is a big reason why.

Rob Base and D.J. E-Z Rock scored a hit in 1988 with “It Takes Two,” and I attached this to the Anderson-Edwards tandem because I have to believe that without one another they wouldn’t have been able to chalk up numbers like they did in 2007.

I still find it hard to believe that, with all his gifts, Edwards has disappointed so spectacularly in the NFL.  I find it similarly strange that Rob Base and D.J. E-Z Rock never put together another infectious hip-hop club anthem, as “It Takes Two” was undeniably catchy, and in the right venue can still incite a late-80′s dance party.

Otis Armstrong – 1974 / Carl Douglas – “Kung Fu Fighting” 

Stats: 263 carries, 1,407 yards, 9 TD, 405 receiving yards, 3 TD in a 14-game season

Long before the Denver Broncos could just plug and play guys in the backfield and expect 1,000-yard seasons, Armstrong had an amazing season.  In 1974 the season was only 14 games long, meaning Armstrong averaged over 100 yards rushing per game.  Applying his averages to today’s 16 game schedule, Armstrong could have totaled over 2,000 total yards and 14 or 15  TD.

Unfortunately, he had only one other decent year (1976) and it didn’t compare to his 1974 first team all-pro campaign.

I’m going to be honest here; I chose “Kung Fu Fighting” because it is hilarious, and the only tie it has to Otis Armstrong is that both were wreaking havoc on the United States in 1974.  Douglas’ goofy song is one of the top 25 selling singles of all time, which is patently ludicrous, yet funny.

Apologies to Broncos fans and Armstrong aficionados.  I just had to include this somewhere.

David Boston – 2001 / Inner Circle – “Bad Boys”

Stats: 98 receptions, 1,598 yards, 8 TD

David Boston’s career never really took off the way it seemed it would, due to PED use and knee problems.  He was a record-setter at Ohio State, and he seemed to be a rising star at receiver for the Cardinals by the 2001 season.

Of course, looking at his physique it wasn’t surprising when he was suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s steroids policy.

One could argue that his 2000 season was good enough to exclude him from being a one season wonder, but the list of receivers with 1,100-1,200 yard seasons is a very, very long one, while only 14 other receiving seasons have ranked higher than the 1,598 yards Boston posted in 2001.

Inner Circle’s “Bad Boys” has become synonymous with the show Cops, and Boston has had a few run-ins with the bad boys himself.  In addition to the steroid suspension (which was merely an NFL suspension – no charges were filed), Boston has had legal trouble in 2007 with a DUI arrest and in 2011 was accused of beating a woman to the point that she needed stitches.

Meanwhile, his 1997 sparring partner Charles Woodson has been busy being the veteran leader of the 15-1 Green Bay Packers’ defense.

Ickey Woods – 1988 / Toni Basil – “Hey Mickey Ickey”

Stats: 1,265 total yards, 15 touchdowns, 5.3 yards per carry

Ickey Woods was about as famous in southwest Ohio in 1988 as Bo Jackson, Michael Jordan, and Wayne Gretzky (ProStars!) combined.  The man created what might be the worst on-field celebration (although Merton Hanks is close) in history – the “Ickey Shuffle” – and it was celebrated as groundbreaking for the time.

The 6-2, 231 lb. Woods was a force running the ball that year, rolling through defenders and helping lead the Bengals to the Super Bowl as a rookie.  Sadly, the shuffles mostly ended after that, as injuries claimed Ickey’s career after only four seasons (26 total games, including 1988).

For this post, we’re changing Toni Basil’s song to “Hey Ickey,” for obvious reasons.  Plus, the video is a bunch of cheerleaders, which is perfectly fitting an NFL post.

There’s probably not a lot I can say about the video for the song that hasn’t already been said on a VH-1 special or three, but I will say that Toni Basil’s eyes are downright frightening.

Scott Mitchell – 1995 / Timbuk 3 – “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades”

Stats: 4,338 passing yards, 32 TD, 12 INT, 92.3 rating, 4 rushing TD

when you’ve got Barry Sanders on your team, you wouldn’t think putting up big passing numbers would be a likely occurrence, but in 1995 Scott Mitchell put up some massive stats while leading the Detroit Lions to a playoff berth.

Mitchell’s 1995 season set franchise records in touchdown passes and yards (both broken by Matthew Stafford this year), and he was able to get both Herman Moore and Brett Perriman over 100 catches apiece.  The lanky lefty seemed to have the Lions headed to the top of the NFC.

With Mitchell, Sanders, and Moore all 27 or younger, one would have thought the Lions would have the makings of a contender for at least a few years to come.  Unfortunately for them, the stars never aligned, as Mitchell regressed badly and Sanders retired at age 30.

Timbuk 3′s hit is fitting here, because almost everyone thought the Lions were a few defensive pieces away from a Lombardi trophy.  And like the Lions, Timbuk 3 wasn’t able to strike another hit on par with “The Future’s So Bright…”

Mark Carrier – 1989 / OMC – “How Bizarre”

Stats: 86 receptions, 1,422 yards, 9 TD

Mark Carrier was the only real offensive bright spot for the 1989 Bucs, as Vinny Testaverde threw more INTs (22) than TDs (20) and their leading rusher, Lars Tate, had just 589 yards.  Carrier never had more than 66 catches in a season after that, and he only gained 1,000 yards once more (1,002 in 1995).

I certainly didn’t watch many Bucs games in 1989 (I was a kid and they were 5-11 – not exactly priority viewing in Ohio), but I can’t find any answers as to why Carrier was able to put together such a strong season on such a bad offense.

“Bizarre” is exactly the word I would use to describe Carrier’s huge 1989 season.  OMC are from New Zealand, and the tropical setting of their video meshes well with the tropical setting of Tampa, where Carrier rescued Testaverde from what could have been an even worse season.

Sadly, OMC frontman Pauly Fuemana died two years ago, but OMC’s lone hit will live on, reminding me that sports too can be bizarre.

Barry Foster – 1992 / The Verve – “Bittersweet Symphony”

Stats: 390 carries (!), 1,690 rushing yards, 11 TD, 344 receiving yards

Even with Big Ben throwing more, when we think of the Pittsburgh Steelers today most of us still think of smash-mouth football with a nasty streak on the defensive side.  In the early ’90′s, it was much the same, but there was more balance on the offense than most people remember.

Except for 1992, that is.

Barry Foster became a one man wrecking crew that year, running the ball almost 10 times as much as the next back on the roster (Merril Hoge) and accounting for about 43% of the total offensive touches for the team.

It comes as no surprise then that Foster struggled to stay healthy for the rest of his short career and was never able to reach those heights again.  Injuries forced him out of football in 1994, in what was truly a “bittersweet” parting for Steelers fans.  His 1,690 yards still rank first all time in Steelers history.

Christian Okoye – 1989 / EMF – “Unbelievable”

Stats: 370 carries, 1,480 yards, 12 TD

The “Nigerian Nightmare” was a legendary figure amongst kids my age in 1989.

If you had asked me then how many good seasons he had completed I would have guessed somewhere around 19.  I was that enamored by the 253-lb. bruiser.  Of course, as a young Raiders fan, I would have fought to the death over any argument about who was more badass between Okoye and Bo Jackson.

One question I have about Okoye’s 1989 season is how in the hell did he only catch 2 passes all year while carrying 370 times?  That has to be among the strangest football statistics ever.

Okoye fell victim to the same ailment that afflicted Foster – a relentless workload.  He couldn’t really keep his knee healthy and was out of the league just three uneventful seasons after his transcendent 1989 year.

“Unbelievable” is about as iconic a song as Okoye was a football player.  I chose it primarily because of Okoye’s exploits on Nintendo’s Tecmo Super Bowl.  The guy was nearly unstoppable on that game, and I sometimes had to forgo my silver and black allegiances to experience the awesomeness firsthand.

And now, in honor of the Super Bowl coming up, I will list a couple of the most noteworthy Super Bowl performances from guys who have otherwise failed to live up to their big stage moments.

Timmy Smith – Super Bowl XXII / Afro Man – “Because I Got High”

Super Bowl Stats: 22 carries, 204 yards, 2 TD

Rookie Timmy Smith was an unknown back who stepped in for injured starter George Rogers and started the Super Bowl.  He had the good fortune of running behind the “Hogs,” Washington’s dominant offensive line, and as a result he was able to set a Super Bowl record with 204 yards rushing.  For his entire regular season career he only totaled 602 yards, 3 TD and a 3.2 yards per carry average.

Rumors of cocaine abuse surrounded Smith the following year, and after he took an entire season off in 1989, he failed to make an impact in the NFL again, rushing just six times in a single game for Dallas in 1990 before being released.  Smith denied the drug abuse rumors but has certainly had ties to drugs since, as he was convicted on charges of selling cocaine in 2005.  He served two and a half years in prison and was released in 2008.

Afro Man’s hilarious rap “Because I Got High” is probably a little light-hearted for a man who has undergone such personal strife, but it just goes to show what the effects of drugs can be on someone with a promising future.

David Tyree – Super Bowl XLII – Eiffel 65 – “Blue (Da Ba Dee)”

Super Bowl Stats: 3 receptions, 43 yards, 1 TD, 1 miraculous helmet catch

In honor of this year’s Super Bowl rematch, I can’t leave out one of the most notorious Super Bowl plays of all time.

Tyree caught a 5-yard touchdown early in the 4th quarter, but it was his miracle “helmet catch” on 3rd-and-11 that kept the Giants’ game winning drive alive.  The win broke New England’s 18-game winning streak and brought the Giants their first Super Bowl win since 1990.

Tyree had only made four catches for 35 yards all season, but he turned in a performance for the ages in the decisive quarter of Super Bowl XLII.

What players will have their brightest moment in the rematch?

Eiffel 65′s “Blue” is the choice here because the Giants are known for, among other things, their blue uniforms.  Plus, I would imagine most people in the New England area really hated that song, and I know they hated the helmet catch, so why not throw the two together?

That’s it for my list.  What single season wonders did I miss?  And what songs would you put with them?  Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Follow me on Twitter @keithmullett

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 Image Credits: golf912.org, nfl.com, espn.com, sportsworldcards.com, sfgate.com, sbnation.com, nola.com, pittsfinest.tumblr.com, chiefscrowd.com, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, wfplaw.com

Wes Welker and Deion Branch look on helplessly as the ball falls to the ground, ending the Patriots hopes of a Super Bowl win.

Rob Gronkowski and Patriots come up just short on last play of Super Bowl 46. (Photo credit: Bill Frakes-SI)

We’ll have plenty more postgame coverage to come here on MSF. But for now, the Giants are one of the very few franchises in NFL history with four Super Bowl titles, joining the Steelers, 49ers, Cowboys, and Packers.

The point spread was Patriots -3, so obviously the Giants covered it with their 4-point win. The over-under was in the 50s, so anyone who bet the over is screwed.

Whichever teams wins this evening will join the rarefied air of franchises with four Super Bowl wins. Here is a quick rundown.

All-Time Super Bowl Wins

• 6 – Pittsburgh Steelers
• 5 – San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys
• 4 – Green Bay Packers
• 3 – New York Giants, New England Patriots, Oakland/LA Raiders, Washington Redskins
• 2 – Indianapolis/Baltimore Colts, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos
• 1 – Ravens, Jets, Bucs, Saints, Bears, Chiefs, Rams

As you can see, either the Giants or the Patriots will be joining NFL franchise royalty with a win today. Only the Packers, Cowboys, 49ers, and Steelers have won four or more Super Bowls. One of the two Super Bowl XLVI participants will join that elite list today.

To see the complete table of all-time Super Bowl wins and every team’s Super Bowl record, check out our Most Super Bowls and Team Super Bowl Records post.

New England Patriots Super Bowl Record

The New England Patriots are 3-3 all-time in the Super Bowl.

Earlier this week, Josh Tinley broke down the Patriots up and down history in the biggest of Big Games. Click to view Josh’s post on the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl history. He breaks down every game, the score, the location, who won the MVP, and more.

New York Giants Super Bowl Record

The New York Giants are 3-1 all-time in the Super Bowl, losing only their meeting with the Ravens.

Earlier this week, Josh also broke down the Giants’ history in the Super Bow, which features fewer games than the Patriots but a much higher winning percentage. Click to view Josh’s post on the New York Giants’ Super Bowl history, where he again breaks down all of the information you need.

Now let’s all settle in and see who gets Super Bowl victory #4 today.

Jerod provided us with critical Super Bowl start time and TV information earlier, but that post left one pressing question unanswered that search engine users may be wondering: Who is playing in the Super Bowl?

The winner gets this pretty trophy!

Who Is Playing In The Super Bowl?

This year, at Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, the NFL has decided to pit the two conference champions against each other again.

Here’s a look at who is playing in today’s big game, with each team looking to take home the Vince Lombardi Trophy:

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS vs. NEW YORK GIANTS

The Patriots (15-3) will be representing the American Football Conference, while the Giants (12-7) will be representing the National Football Conference.

Also, you know who else is playing tonight? Rob Gronkowski. We have a post on his injury status for Super Bowl 46 coming soon.

Now that you know who is playing, enjoy the commercials game!

[Editor's note: If this drives lots of search engine traffic, which is clearly the only reason to post this, I'm going to let out a few hearty cackles of surprise. Who wouldn't know what teams are playing in the Super Bowl by now??? I guess we'll find out.]

Now that you’re here, also consider these far more substantial examples of our in-depth and entertaining Super Bowl 46 coverage:

• 46 Trivial Facts About The Super Bowl (Including The Most Interesting Of All-Time)
• Super Bowl 46 Preview and Prediction
• Super Bowl XLVI Predictions By The MSF Team
• 22 Most Intriguing Super Bowl Prop Bets
• Mark Herzlich – The Best Story of Super Bowl 46

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You’ve soaked up all the hype.

You know Rob Gronkowski is as human as Greek legend Achilles.

The only thing you don’t know is how it’s going to end. Not a problem. Many of us at MSF have an opinion and think we know exactly how it’s going to go down.

Here are some of our experts’ predictions.

Jerod Morris – MSF Founder, Managing Editor 

(San Fransisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins fan)

At this point, I trust Eli Manning more in a big game than Tom Brady. Since I think this will be a relatively close game, that splits the difference for me.

I also think that the Giants are simply a bad matchup for New England, regardless of Rob Gronkowski’s health. New York can get pressure with their front four, especially up the middle, which always seems to rattle Brady and make him more inaccurate than normal. And the weakness of the Patriots’ D – the secondary – plays right into the hands of Eli and his trio of great receivers.

As soon as I saw that this was the Super Bowl matchup, I was convinced New York would win. Nothing since then has changed my mind.

Of course, the last time these two teams played in the Super Bowl, the team that was obviously going to win did not. So what the hell does I or anyone else really know?

• Super Bowl XLVI Prediction: Giants 24 | Patriots 17

Drew Lange – MSF Senior Writer 

(Minnesota Vikings fan)

The Giants are going to blow the Patriots out of the water. With New York’s stellar passing offense and New England’s weak passing defense, expect the Giants to top the Patriots big.

Jonathan Washburn – MSF Senior Writer

(Indianapolis Colts)

I like the Giants 31 – 17. Because I hate Tom Brady and he hasn’t won a ring since the Pats stopped cheating. I don’t care if that is completely devoid of logic.

Keith Mullet – MSF Senior Writer

(Oakland Raiders)

I know the Giants are hot and Eli is playing out of his mind, but there is no way Belichick and Brady let Coughlin and Eli beat them again.

Everyone talks about how bad New England’s pass defense is, but consider that many of the yards they allowed happened while they were up big in games and playing a lax prevent and trying to burn out the clock.

I expect the Patriots to contain the fearsome front line of New York and get out to a healthy lead, only to allow the Giants to score a couple of times late to make the final look respectable.

• Super Bowl XLVI Prediction: New England 34 | New York 27

Chris Callaway – MSF Contributor

(Green Bay Packers)

Bill Belichick won’t lose to the Giants in the Super Bowl twice.

• Super Bowl XLVI Prediction: Patriots 38 | Giants 24

Brian Dilsheimer – MSF Contributor

(Philadelphia Eagles)

New England 27, NYG 20.  I can’t get away from revenge game angle…

Jim McGrew – MSF Contributor

(Chicago Bears)

All signs point to a New York win in convincing fashion and most of the “experts” agree.

The Giants defense is playing much better now than in the regular season. Their offense is clicking on all cylinders. New England’s defense is susceptible and the cornerbacks are a big concern. Gronkowski is not 100% with a high ankle sprain.

Which makes this the perfect upset opportunity for Belichick and Brady.

• Super Bowl XLVI Prediction: New England Patriots 31 | New York Giants 28

Tyler Juranovich – MSF Featured Columnist

(Chicago Bears)

Giants 20 …. Jay Cutler 30

And for me…

Amanda Lawson – MSF Featured Columnist

(Green Bay Packers)

Momentum is what carried my beloved Packers through the playoffs last year, and it’s what carried the Giants when they beat the “perfect” Patriots in 2008. Once again, the Giants found the motivation to become a top contending team after their loss to Green Bay in December during the regular season.

Eli Manning will lead the Giants offense to drive over the Patriots defense for another Super Bowl victory. At least Tom Brady will still have his Uggs.

• Super Bowl 46 Prediction: Giants 33 | Patriots 27

So there you have it. MSF writers are split right down the middle: 4 for the Giants and 4 for the Patriots (plus Tyler and his Jay Cutler prediction). What do you think?

Enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday!

The Patriots decided it was necessary to cut receiver Tiquan Underwood and promote defensive lineman Alex Silvestro from the practice squad.

Tiquan Underwood Cut By Patriots

The Patriots cut a player the night before the Super Bowl!

Given, Underwood only had three catches on the season, but the move is still mind-boggling. Underwood has been preparing for the biggest game of his career, only to be told that he is no longer part of the team.

Instead of displaying anger, as I would have, Underwood took the high road on Twitter. He sent out a tweet that read,”Good Luck To The New Enland Organization, The Coaches, & All My Teammates… #PatsNation“. It would have been clever if he would have put #GiantsNation, but he is clearly a better man than I.

The only person who is happy about this decision is Silvestro. He will likely see some time on special teams in the Super Bowl, which is a major upgrade from the practice squad.

Underwood will most likely find a way to watch the game, and he may even be invited to join some group attending the game. He will say that he is rooting for the Patriots, evident by his hair-cut that features the Pats’ logo, but would any of us blame him if he is secretly rooting for a New York victory?

As usual, by Saturday pretty much every angle of the Super Bowl has been picked apart, dissected, twisted inside and out, and we have all reached the stage of fatigue where we pretty much stay away from football today before totally immersing ourselves in it tomorrow.

But it hit me today that one video clip I thought I’d see a lot of this week, but that I’m not sure I’ve seen even once on TV – granted, I haven’t watched too much Super Bowl coverage on TV – is Tom Brady’s infamously smug response to Plaxico Burress’ score prediction before the first Patriots-Giants Super Bowl four years ago.

You’ve seen it before, like multiple times, but enjoy the Brady smugness one more time just for old time’s sake:

Burress predicted a 23-17 Giants victory, which seemed like a foolishly brash thing to do at the time, but it didn’t look quite so bad after the Giants shocked the heavily-favored Patriots 17-14 in a Super Bowl classic.

Brady met Burress’ prediction with understandable consternation and contempt considering how high-powered a machine his offense had been during the regular season. Because the Patriots lost their last game of that season, it is easy to forget just how dominant they were for most of the regular season. I mean, look at that. Only once in the regular season did the Patriots score fewer than 27 points before the paltry 14 they put up in the Super Bowl.

Who knows how much anyone could have or should have read into Brady’s response to Burress at the time, but there certainly seemed to be a bit of overconfidence on the part of the Patriots in that game, and perhaps that overconfidence coupled with a lot of bounces going the Giants way is what ultimately led to the perfect Pats’ undoing.

At the time of Brady’s quote,, New England was 18-0 and on the precipice of immortality. Ever since then, there has been a slow and steady erosion of his play in big games.

Here is what Brady has done in playoff games since uttering his now infamous response to Plaxico Burress:

•  29-48, 266 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT in 17-14 Loss to Giants
• 23-42, 154 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT in 33-14 Loss to Ravens
• 29-45, 299 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT in 28-21 Loss to Jets
• 26-34, 363 yards, 6 TD, 1 INT in 45-19 Win over Broncos
• 22-36, 239 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT in 23-20 Win over Ravens

Here are the totals:

•  129-205 (62.9%), 264 ypg, 11 TDs, 7 INTs, 22.8 points per game in 5 games

And if you remove the best (Denver) and worst (Baltimore) games from the bunch:

• 80-129 (62%), 268 ypg, 3 TD, 3 INTs, 18.3 points per game in 3 games

This last line is probably the best and most fair snapshot of the “new” playoff Tom Brady. As cemented as his place is in the history of the National FOOTBALL LEAGUE, he has become a mediocre postseason quarterback.

Granted, he doesn’t have a weapon like Randy Moss anymore, he’s had to deal with injuries to wide receivers, and 18.3 points used to be enough to win with the vintage Belichick defenses that the Patriots no longer employ; but Tom Brady built his legend on superlative playoff performances, and frankly he hasn’t had one in a close game since uttering the infamous words in the video above.

And you can say it’s a somewhat arbitrary moment in time to have chosen for an analysis like this…but is it?

I don’t think for one second Brady or the Patriots ever expected to lose that game. When you feel invincible, and are emphatically proven otherwise, maybe your sports psyche takes a hit, and it manifests itself in the biggest moments. We’ve seen it happen to Tiger Woods, though for far, far different circumstances. But there is a parallel between these two all-time great closers enduring invincibility shattering moments and then suddenly seeming to get a bit rattled when it comes time to close.

Of course, Tom Brady can erase all of this loose conjecture on my part with a great performance tomorrow and his fourth Super Bowl title. Besides, win or loss he’s sauntering into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, and deservedly so.

But here’s the thing about Tom Brady: I used to always trust him in big moments. I used to always think he’d come through. I knew he’d come through. But tomorrow, in the biggest of big games, against his largest nemesis over the last half decade, I will be more surprised than anything if Brady delivers a great performance that leads the Patriots to victory.

If you told Brady this in ’08, he might have smugly said, “Jerod said that?” (before then wondering “Who the hell is Jerod Morris?”)

The fact is though, Tom Brady has earned some doubt since Super Bowl 42. And one of the most fascinating aspects of tomorrow’s game for me will be watching to see if he can reverse that and restore some of the faith he always used to inspire in big games.

If New England is going to win, he sure as hell better.

And he and the Pats might want to put up more than 14 points too.

Rob Gronkowski Injury Status For Super Bowl 46

According to Pro Football Talk, via on-site reporter Alex Marvez, Gronkowski is officially listed as “questionable” for the Super Bowl. Marvez reported also that Gronkowski did not have any noticeable limp during the Patriots’ offensive practice.

Bill Belichick is notoriously tight-lipped about his players’ injuries heading into the game, but even his dry stonewalling of reporters can’t mask the fact that Gronkowski will indeed play Sunday.

As Midwest Sports Fans and others have commented, however, we won’t know until the Pats take the field whether we’re getting the Gronkowski who is a hybrid of Antonio Gates, Bo Jackson and a Madden create-a-player or a limited Gronk who serves as a decoy to try to spring the rest of New England’s weapons.

Belichick and other sources have told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Gronkowski will be on the field as long as he doesn’t experience any setbacks, so since the Patriots only have a team photo to worry about tomorrow, the chances for setbacks seemed to have evaporated.

Marvez also reported that Gronkowski was wearing a T-shirt with his newly coined phrase “Yo soy fiesta” on the front, so it’s nice to see that even after the Bibi Jones controversy and the injury, the Gronk still likes to party.

In other injury news, the Patriots don’t expect any of their other players to miss the Super Bowl, and there has been nothing of note out of the Giants camp either.  It looks like we’ll see the best both sides have to offer on the field, which should make an already interesting matchup live up to its billing.

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Follow me on Twitter @keithmullett

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This week is a build-up to one of the greatest holidays in American history (don’t even try to tell me it’s not a legitimate holiday).  Join your favorite crew — Drew, Tyler, Chris, and myself — for discussion, predictions, and the latest insight on Ron Gronkowski’s ankle injury.

Show details:

• Date: Thursday, February 2nd
• Time: 6:00 CT (7:00 ET)
• Call-in number: (858) 365-5571 (also use this number to listen to the show anywhere right from your phone)
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Tentative Show schedule:

• Welcome
• Pro Bowl Recap
• Super Bowl Preview and Predictions
• Brady vs Manning
• Super Bowl Commercial Leaks (WHAT?!)
• Plus random shenanigans throughout

In case you didn’t know about it or had to miss it, and are now distraught about what you may have missed last week, we’ve got you covered. Listen to the Pro Bowl Preview episode of The NFC North Report right here:

Rob Gronkowski Injury Update

Gronkowski suffered what has been described as a high ankle sprain in the AFC Championship game and was seen wearing a walking boot as recently as Monday.

It is widely believed that Gronkowski will suit up for the big game, but no one is sure yet how much of his usual game-breaking ability will be on display.

According to the tight end himself and everyone else in the Patriots organization, they are taking it day by day.

That is certainly a vague declaration, but what else can you expect from a team that puts star quarterback Tom Brady on the injury list as “questionable” every week?

Nonetheless, Gronkowski has yet to practice since the injury, meaning Aaron Hernandez, Chad Ochocinco and Julian Edelman may be in for increased workloads. Because, you know, Hernandez hasn’t been pulling his weight by playing running back AND tight end, and that layabout Edelman only plays offense AND defense. Belichick works in mysterious ways.

As more information on Gronkowski becomes available, Midwest Sports Fans will relay the news.

Gronkowski has been quarterback Tom Brady’s most reliable target this season, racking up 1327 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns. According to ESPN, Gronkowski was on the field for more than 80% of New England’s offensive snaps this season.

Matt Light and Sebastian Vollmer Injury Updates

In other injury news, offensive linemen Matt Light and Sebastian Vollmer both returned to practice today after sitting out with flu-like symptoms. Light says he is fine, while Vollmer is hoping to return from a foot injury that has sidelined him since November 27.

Given the tenacity of the Giants pass rush, it is imperative that New England’s offensive line be at full strength.

Check back every day this week for updates on key injuries and their effects on Sunday’s action.

As a reward for checking out this post, here’s an outdated video of Grizzly Adams talking about the Patriots offensive lineman. You’re welcome.

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Follow me on Twitter @keithmullett

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Things didn’t get much better for the Pats after the AFL-NFL Merger.

In their first 14 seasons in the NFL the Patriots never won a Playoff game. The team’s first Super Bowl appearance was a 46-10 mauling by the storied 1985 Chicago Bears.

In recent years the Patriots fortunes have changed and they have become one of the most successful and consistent teams in football.

• Super Bowl appearances: 7—1985-86 (XX), 1996-97 (XXXI), 2001-02 (XXXVI), 2003-04 (XXXVIII), 2004-05 (XXXIX), 2007-08 (XLII), 2011-12 (XLVI)
• All-time Super Bowl record: 3-3 (pending the result of XLVI)
• AFL Championships before the Super Bowl era: none (played in the 1963 AFL Championship Game)

Tom Brady after Super Bowl XXXVI

New England Patriots Super Bowl Results, Locations, and MVPs

Super Bowl XX, New England Patriots vs. Chicago Bears

• Date: January 26, 1986
• Location: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Score: Bears 46, Patriots 10
• MVP: Richard Dent, Bears DE

Super Bowl XXXI, New England Patriots vs. Green Bay Packers

• Date: January 26, 1997
• Location: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Score: Packers 35, Patriots 21
• MVP: Desmond Howard, Packers KR

Super Bowl XXXVI, New England Patriots vs. St. Louis Rams

• Date: February 3, 2002
• Location: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Score: Patriots 20, Rams 17
• MVP: Tom Brady, Patriots QB

Super Bowl XXXVIII, New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers

• Date: February 1, 2004
• Location: Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas
• Score: Patriots 32, Panthers 29
• MVP: Tom Brady, Patriots QB

Super Bowl XXXIX, New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles

• Date: February 6, 2005
• Location: Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
• Score: Patriots 24, Eagles 21
• MVP: Deion Branch, Patriots WR

Super Bowl XLII, New England Patriots vs. New York Giants

• Date: February 3, 2008
• Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
• Score: Giants 17, Patriots 14
• MVP: Eli Manning, Giants QB

(This game, of course, famously featured one of the 13 best plays in Super Bowl history.)

Super Bowl XLVI, New England Patriots vs. New York Giants

• Date: February 5, 2012
• Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
• Score: Patriots ??, Giants ??
• MVP: ???

Click to view the New York Giants Super Bowl History.

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Obviously, some players feel the need to create motivation for themselves, especially given the already heightened competitiveness that professional athletes possess.

(AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)

Super Bowl 46 “Underdogs”

Tom Brady

Tom Brady isn’t much of an underdog these days, whether on the field or in his personal life.

He is still fixated on being drafted in the 6^th round though, and that perceived slight has driven him to be one of the hardest workers in the game and in turn one of the most successful stars in the NFL.

New York Giants

The Giants perennially underachieve at home and when favored, yet they have an uncanny ability to perform well when it would seem least likely for them to do so.

Win five straight road games to make it to the Super Bowl?  Sure, they were able to do that.

But did no one believing they could pull off that series of long shot wins really influence their play and intensity on the field?  Or were these guys just healthy and playing well at the right time of year?

No one can be sure precisely what factors can cause a 55-man team to gel and perform their best.  Certainly attitude, health, matchups and, of course, talent, are all mixed to determine who wins each game.

In looking at the rosters for the Super Bowl teams, I started to look at what each player’s college attended and draft position looked like.  I wondered what the mix of big school players versus small school players is and also where guys had been drafted.

If I could see how many are truly underdogs out to prove they belong in the NFL, maybe I could begin to understand how things like the “no one believes in me/us” factor can affect performance.

This is by no means meant to be a conclusive explanation for why certain players and teams outperform expectations.  It is simply the presentation of data that may support the idea that an athlete or team might gain extra motivation from feeling slighted, and that such motivation can affect the outcome of that player or team’s performance.

First, I looked at where every key player (I identified “key” players as those expected to start or see a large number of snaps in the Super Bowl) was drafted.  In all, I came up with 73 total players I expect to make some sort of impact Sunday – 38 for the Patriots, 35 for the Giants.

The breakdown, per team, of how many players were drafted in each round, is as follows:

Patriots Draft Positions

• 1st Round: 6
• 2nd Round: 8
• 3rd Round: 2
• 4th Round: 2
• 5th Round: 3
• 6th Round: 1
• 7th Round: 3
• Undrafted: 13

Over 33% of the Patriots players who will see significant field time went undrafted.

At the risk of sounding like Greggggg Easterbrook (h/t Drew Magary), these numbers suggest the Patriots have excelled with guys who have simply worked harder than most others.

Of course, over 33% were also first and second round picks, but I was very surprised that a Super Bowl team would seemingly have so few highly touted players on its roster.

Giants Draft Positions

• 1st Round: 8
• 2nd Round: 6
• 3rd Round: 4
• 4th Round: 3
• 5th Round: 3
• 6th Round: 3
• 7th Round: 1
• Undrafted: 7

The Giants are much more balanced, as one would expect any team to be, especially a Super Bowl team.  Still, they feature almost as many undrafted players as first round picks.

Between the two teams, 27% of impact players were undrafted, while only 19% were picked in the first round.

Now that we have noticed that the best teams don’t necessarily have loads of highly drafted players, let’s look at the schools these players came from.  I broke down the number of players per BCS automatic qualifying conferences (“AQ” for the sake of brevity) and the number of players from non-AQ schools.

Patriots Players by Conference

AQ Conferences:

• ACC: 2
• Big Ten: 4
• Big 12: 1
• Big East: 4
• Pac-12: 3
• SEC: 10

Independent: 1

Non-AQ Schools: 13

Giants Players by Conference

AQ Conferences:

• ACC: 7
• Big Ten: 8 (Nebraska was in Big 12 when Prince Amukamara attended)
• Big 12: 3
• Big East: 3
• Pac-12: 0
• SEC: 4

Independent: 1

Non-AQ Schools: 9

As this demonstrates, over 70% of the impact players in this year’s Super Bowl came from AQ schools.  I can’t help but wonder if players who attended big football factory colleges, only to be disappointed come draft day, aren’t the ones who play with the largest chips on their shoulders.

Players like Brady (6th round), Aaron Hernandez (4th round), Ahmad Bradshaw (7th round) and Michael Boley (5th round) probably think back to sitting there on draft day and waiting to hear their names called and use that as fuel to prove scouts, GMs, and media members wrong.

(Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Final Thoughts

I’m still not sure how many of these guys have ever been disregarded and told they were never going to make it.  But what I take away from this is the following:

• In order to make it to the NFL, obviously, you must be talented.
• After that, it is about who works the hardest and who can be the most motivated player to succeed.

If telling yourself that the whole world is betting against you helps you do that, then do that. It just sounds more believable coming from Danny Woodhead than Eli Manning.

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Follow me on Twitter @keithmullett

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Image Credits: nashuatelegraph.com (AP photo), cosbysweaters.com, nydailynews.com

Thankfully, Super Bowl Sunday is the perfect combination of all three.

And what fun is it to just sit around and drink casually on your own terms? Why not have a little fun with it?

So to make things a bit more interesting, because let’s face it no one outside of the northeast corner of America actually wants to watch this year’s Big Game, here is the official MSF Super Bowl XLVI Drinking Game.

The rules are simple: anytime something in the list below happens, take a drink according to the category it is under. Feel free to add your own rules as well.

One Drink

• Anytime Peyton Manning is mentioned
• Anytime Archie Manning is mentioned
• Anytime a beer commercial is played
• Anytime a player is shown crying
• Anytime Super Bowl XLII is mentioned
• Anytime Rob Gronkowski’s ankle is mentioned
• Every time you lose a bet (because it’s not a Super Bowl if you don’t have a few bets on the line)
• Successful Extra Point
• Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin are shown and you’re first thought is, “That man looks constipated.” (Then stop taking drinks after this occurs three times, otherwise you’ll die.)
• Anytime Eli is caught making the “Eli Manning Face”

Two Drinks

• Anytime Cooper Manning is mentioned
• Anytime a baby appears in a commercial
• Anytime Gisele is on screen
• Anytime a player complains to the ref about a call
• Anytime Tiquan Underwood is mentioned
• Any pass over 30 yards
• Any run over 20 yards
• Anytime this infamous Tom Brady quote from Super Bowl 42 is shown:

Three Drinks

• Anytime Archie Manning is on screen
• Anytime David Tyree is mentioned/shown on screen
• Field Goal
• Onside kick
• Interception
• Fumble Recovery
• Victor Cruz salsa dances
• Anytime you hear Joe Buck’s voice

Yes, the game is on NBC, but Super Bowl 42 was on FOX...so it might happen during highlights.

Four Drinks

• Safety
• Touchdown
• Anytime Peyton Manning appears on screen
• Player waves to the camera and says “Hi Mom”
• Anytime Madonna does a hip thrust during her act
• Blocked Punt/Kick
• Either team attempts 2 point conversion
• Vince Wilfork salsa dances
• Jim Irsay provides backup instrumentation for Kelly Clarkson’s national anthem
• The Tom Brady Combine picture is shown.

Finish Your Drink

• Fat man interception (take an extra shot if he scores)
• Anytime a quarterback gets sacked
• Chad Ochocinco catches a pass
• Missed Field Goal
• Fake Punt/FG
• Tom Coughlin or Bill Belichick smile
• Jim Irsay provides backup instrumentation for Madonn’a halftime show
• Tom Brady does this dance after a big play
• Anytime Tim Tebow is mentioned

Shotgun a 12 pack

• Chad Ochocinco scores a TD

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Now it’s your turn.

What rules would you add? Comment below. If there are enough new rules added we’ll re-post before our Super Bowl 46 live blog on Sunday.

Instead, let’s talk about the best Super Bowls that never happened.

Talking hypothetical is one of my favorite things to do because there is really no right or wrong answer, because we don’t and will never know. What would have happened if Mark Brunell won a Super Bowl? Would there have been a belief that left-handed quarterbacks were the future of football?

I could have even gone the route of writing hypothetical Super Bowls between the Seattle Seahawks and the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, because I’m sure in some alternate universe (like after hypothetical Super Bowl XVII) that it could have happened.

Rather than getting all crazy and doing that, let’s just stick with teams that actually qualified for the playoffs during the year of said Super Bowl. It’s a lot easier that way.

1. Super Bowl X – Minnesota Vikings vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Drew Pearson pushed off (go to the 2:00 mark). I don’t know how anyone can say he didn’t. The first Hail Mary was a fraud people. It’s about time we finally admitted it. The Vikings went 12-2 in 1975, were the top seed in the NFC, and lost because of a blown call by the referees. Not cool, Drew Pearson. Not cool at all.

2. Super Bowl XVI – Dallas Cowboys vs. Cincinnati Bengals

I do not like the Cowboys at all, but I do have to say they got robbed of a Super Bowl appearance in 1982 courtesy of the 49ers and “The Catch”. It would be the first of five Super Bowl wins for the 49ers, four of them behind the arm of Joe Montana.

If Dwight Clark didn’t make that catch, the West Coast Offense would have been passed off as a phase and a gimmick, Bill Walsh would have retired as the head coach at Washington State, and Joe Montana would be wearing ShapeUps that he had to buy with his own money.

3. Super Bowl XVII – Detroit Lions vs. Cleveland Browns

The playoffs leading up to Super Bowl XVII might be my favorite thing in the history of professional sports (other than a hypothetical Vikings Championship, of course.)

Because of the players’ strike during the 1982 season and the resulting nine-game regular season, the NFL decided to allow eight teams into the playoffs (instead of the usual four) from each conference. This was subsequently named the “Super Bowl Tournament” and included the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns who both had records of 4-5, marking the first time any team had made the postseason with a losing record.

How great would it have been to have a Super Bowl played between two No. 8 seeds? The sixth seed from the AFC, the New York Jets, advanced to the Conference Final before losing to the Dolphins, but we’ve seen a sixth seed win the Super Bowl before thanks to the Wild Card.

The NFL had one chance to have an eighth-seeded team with a losing record become a Super Bowl Champion and they blew it. What would have happened if the Browns or Lions would have actually made it to the big game, let alone won it?

Would the NFL have been attacked by critics for allowing their players to strike, which lead to a shortened season that ended with a sub-.500 team winning the Super Bowl, therefore tarnishing the reputation of anyone involved with the NFL? All of this allowing the USFL to step in and be a legitimate competitor, forcing another merger and leave the National Football League of America with too many teams that they would eventually have to contract teams instead of grow in popularity and expand. Would that have happened?

If this Super Bowl would have happened, we never would have had the Jaguars or Texans or Panthers. Jim Kelly would have never lost four Super Bowls with the Bills. Steve Young would probably never be a Hall of Famer. Hershel Walker would be the greatest running back of all time, and the Vikings would have never handed the Cowboys three Super Bowl rings on a silver platter.

For all we know, the National Football League of America could have failed miserably and become a low-rate professional sport right next to jai hali and SlamBall.

4. Super Bowl XXI – New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns

The Drive. I feel bad for Cleveland Browns fans. I knew they were terribly unlucky and everything, but then I started doing research for this article. I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose multiple playoff games the way they did, and have the team they lost to go on to get absolutely killed in the Super Bowl.

I wrote down 15 hypothetical Super Bowls. The Browns appeared in six of them. I think I’m going to start being a Browns fan out of pity. I feel bad for them. As a Vikings fan, I’m here for you and know your pain. Speaking of the Vikings and Browns…

5. Super Bowl XXII – Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns

I had to do this one. Vikings vs. Browns. The two unluckiest franchises in NFL history squaring off a Super Bowl? The Vikings got knocked out of the playoffs after Darrin Nelson dropped a fourth-down pass late in the fourth quarter against the Redskins. The Browns lost on “the fumble” to the Broncos.

Literally anything could have happened. Imagine all the possibilities! It would be a contest to see which team could kill more fans in the span of three and a half hours.

To their credit, both teams deserve to make fake Super Bowls (the Vikings have four on this list, Browns have three). They probably wouldn’t have even won any of them anyway. Is it even possible for a team to lose seven Super Bowls? I don’t ever want to find out. Maybe it’s a good thing the Vikings and Browns will never make another real Super Bowl. It’s probably better that way.

6. Super Bowl XXVI – Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills

I really only included this one because I feel we as Americans were cheated out of seeing Barry Sanders ever play in a Super Bowl. In 1991 the Lions went 12-4, were the No. 2 seed out of the NFC, and made it to the NFC Championship game before losing to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Washington Redskins.

7. Super Bowl XXXIII – Minnesota Vikings vs. Denver Broncos

I’ve written about this game a lot in the past, so I’ll just keep it short. Because if I don’t, it will end up being 5,000 words that eventually lead me to comparing my moral compass to the ending of a football game that I watched when I was 8 years old.

15-1 record. Best offense in NFL history. Randy Moss, Cris Carter, Jake Reed, Randall Cunningham, Robert Smith. Injuries, horrible coaching, and the worst kick of Gary Anderson’s career crushed Minnesota. And they’ve never recovered.

And the Dirty Bird was the dumbest end zone celebration ever.

8. Super Bowl XXXIV – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Buccaneers lost in the NFC Championship game to the Rams by the oddest football score ever, 11-6, after the Rams scored a late fourth-quarter touchdown. It would take the Buccaneers another three years to finally reach the Super Bowl, and Kurt Warner became the greatest grocery bagger in NFL history.

The Jaguars were the No. 1 seed in the AFC in 1999 and put 62 points on the board in the division round against the Dolphins. They lost in the AFC Championship game to the Titans, who barely made it out of the first round, only doing so with a little play famously known as the “Music City Miracle.”

I have no idea what a Buccaneers-Jaguars Super Bowl would have been. I would have probably ditched the Vikings as my favorite team for the Buccaneers and would now have four different John Lynch jerseys in my closet. I suppose Fred Taylor would be a definite Hall of Fame running back and Tom Coughlin would now be the head coach of the Ravens.

9. Super Bowl XXXVI – St. Louis Rams vs. Oakland Raiders

The Tuck Rule. Super Bowl win number one for Tom Brady. Beginning of the end for Kurt Warner in St. Louis.

If the Patriots don’t win against Oakland, it is not inconceivable that Drew Bledsoe would have been reinstated as the starting quarterback in Boston, Tom Brady would have been traded to some team like the Chiefs or Texans, and Bill Simmons would have hopefully given up talking about football.

10. Super Bowl XLII – Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots

Brett Favre’s last pass as a Green Bay Packer was an interception in overtime which led the Giants to kick a game winning field goal to advance to Super Bowl XLII and spoil the Patriots chance at a perfect season.

Had the Packers beaten the Giants, one would have to believe that Favre would have retired after the season and actually stayed retired, Super Bowl win or not. Losing a Super Bowl to only the only team to win 19 games in a season is a much better ending than not even having the opportunity.

None of this happened of course, which helped set up Hypothetical Super Bowl No. 11.

11. Super Bowl XLIV – Minnesota Vikings vs. Indianapolis Colts

Can’t blame me for this one either. The Vikings were the best team in the league in 2009, thanks in part to Brett Favre playing the smartest (and arguably best) football of his life.

Unfortunately there was Brad Childress and his love for settling for 45-yard, game winning field goals. And then there was the Vikings getting flagged for having 12 men in the huddle RIGHT AFTER A TIMEOUT! Next play: Favre interception.

By the end of the game I was lying on my kitchen floor with my shirt over my face. Literally the worst night of my life.

I started writing for MSF two days later after comparing the Vikings-Saints game to lyrics by Hootie and the Blowfish. Weirdest thing I’ve ever written. At least something good came out of it.