Feeley...and All The Way!!!!!!!!
Bryan Minehart
AP Sports, Miami Bureau
Two weeks after bringing Miami it's first NFL Championship since crushing Minnesota in Super Bowl VIII, the ringing hasnt yet left AJ Feeley's ears. "I still cant believe we actually won the whole damn thing," says Feeley. "I can remember way back in May when most fans thought the wheels were coming off the train. But never, not once, did anyone on this team believe for one instant that we wouldnt win. Heck, even our defense was predicting that they would be the best defense to ever play the game, and statistically, they backed up every word. Im just so happy that I could be part of such a great team."
In fact, Feeley was right on about how most observors felt about Miami's chances back in April and May. Most NFL execs had raised eyebrows when Miami decided to trade away a second round draft pick for the once third string QB of the Philadelphia Eagles. "I suppose the Eagles might think they let one get away after Feeley torched them two weeks ago," jests Rick Speilman, Miami's GM. I just had a feeling...no pun intended. The first few QB camps were rough on AJ as he got used to our system, but from the first pre season game on, he looked every bit the part of a Super Bowl MVP. Hey, I took a chance...but AJ backed me up. The fans in Miami deserved this championsip. We are going to do our darndest to keep it here where it belongs."
Feeley's season ending statistics were guady in and of themselves, but it was his leadership that really pulled this team together. After finishing the season with just over 4,000 yards passing and 18 Tds compared to just 9 int's, Feeley was narrowley edged out by his own team mate Ricky Williams for the NFL's MVP.
"Its ironic, but for such a soft spoken guy like Ricky, he sure can yell loud. Thats why my ears wont stop ringing. He kept screaming in my ears after we had won. Oh, well....I wouldnt mind if that ringing lasted the rest of my whole life."