FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART 28 - ADDENDUM

I’ve reserved every 10 posts for a look at the sublime of the previous few weeks and the ridiculous, but the Cam Newton incident this week made me mad and I had to comment.

The New Face of the NFL Has Gold Feet of Clay

I've had time to think about Super Bowl 50 and how it ended. Cam Newton, literally the Golden Boy NFL MVP, not only was shown that he could be beat, sorry Falcons, but it also showed that he, like almost every other player these days, is playing only for himself in a game that stresses team more than any other professional sport.

During the season Newton was reveling in the attention he got each week as the Panthers won game after game leading up to talk of the perfect season. He could do no wrong and couldn't wait to stand before the press after each game and answer what would be the same questions week in and week out. He would flash that $Million smile and "his ego grew three times each day" if that was possible for a man who came in with an ego the size of the Super Bowl audience world wide.

However the week leading up the to the big game Newton grew tired of answering questions every day (kind of foreshadowed something didn't it) and made the comment, "It's confusing. How can I reword questions I've been asked so many times? Goooooolly, it's not like the questions have changed since I saw you 24 hours ago. I had an unbelievable sleep and yet I'm up here again. It's cool. I sound like a broken record."

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART QUINCE

(click on your computer's SAP app to find out which PART this is)

SUBLIME

This Old Dog Beat The Young Pup

Super Bowl 50 featured "Superman", who all the pundits were calling the best quarterback in the game today - see what happens Aaron Rodgers when you give up that mantle - and "The Sheriff", who was called the worst quarterback to start a Super Bowl by FoxSports - who we know is the bastion of truth, justice and the American Way.

When the dust settled Peyton "The Sheriff" Manning was standing on the podium with the Lombardi Trophy while Cam "Superman" Newton was doing his best Marshawn Lynch and Bill Belichick impressions answering - and I say that while laughing out loud - questions before abruptly getting up and ending the post-game interviews in mid-question showing the real Cam Newton and not the fake modest Cam Newton who answered question after question after question even though it did get tedious and he said so during the week before the game.

I Feel Sorry For Carson Palmer, But It Could Have Been Worse

Carson Palmer's Worst Nightmare Came True

Tick, Tock, the clock is running out for Carson Palmer and yesterday facing the biggest game of his professional career he laid an egg. Unlike the "man-child" that bested him Palmer is a class act and I felt sorry for him as the interceptions mounted and his chance for a Super Bowl may have gone by the boards forever.

Palmer threw 4 interceptions and lost two fumbles in the debacle, but if misery loves company then he has plenty of company with 15 other quarterbacks having worse days, including 6 Hall of Famers.

We Need a Miracle

Will The Valley of the Sun Be A Garden of Earthly Delights or a Disaster in the Desert

The Packers are in the playoffs, but they still have things to play for. With games against the Arizona Cardinals on the road and the Vikings at home the Packers are masters of their own domain. If the Packers beat the Cardinals and Vikings the No. 2 seed is still in play and a first round bye. If the Packers lose to the Cardinals and then beat the Vikings they Packers win the North and clinch the No. 3 seed and a home game instead of having to hit the road as a wild card to play the Vikings again.

Panther Preview

Cam Newton after hearing he is facing the Packer defense

Now to the game at hand. The road game against the 7-0 Panthers has some interesting aspects.

 

First Sam Shields (shoulder-injured when he fell down and not after being hit), Ty Montgomery (sprained ankle) and Quinten Rollins (neck) are most likely out. Bryan Bulaga (knee), T. J. Lang (illness) and Mike Neal (hip) have been added to the injury list on Saturday and Bulaga and Land are listed as probable and Neal questionable. Clay Matthews (ankle/knee), Nick Perry (shoulder/hand) and Aaron Ripkowski (illness) are also probable.