I suspect plenty of Dolphin fans on this site will root for the Patriots but be reluctant to admit it. Let's face it, the Patriots are the current epitome of the tinkerbell style of football that so many Marino worshippers grew up with. I despised the Marino era and everything it stood for. It felt like an insult, after being treated to Csonka and Griese and resourcefulness and trophies. I still get a howl out of assertions that Marino would win unlimited titles in this era. Talk about the absurdity of 40% adjustments. That's not 40%, it's like a different species and different planet. Believe whatever you want. I predicted zero early in Marino's career and made darn sure any sportsbook I was working for, or consulting, had the highest number in town on Miami to win the Super Bowl. If it was 8/1 everywhere we might be 20/1. The casino owner would be nervous in September then he'd be treating me to dinner at the loftiest restaurant in the building in December. Sometimes early January.
The Patriots do many things well. They run the ball when it's available and the defense is starting to attack more frequently. The strategy of hurrying up after a burst play is borderline brilliant. Yet I simply can't stand to watch that team. Yesterday I happily switched to PGA golf from Hawaii. Running play after play out of the shotgun and begging for rules infractions screams of taking advantage of everything Goodell has gifted to offenses in this era, this disgusting era. It's not football and I'm not going to pretend it's football.
Unfortunately, the Ravens are ripe to be had. They were legit last season, providing a big effort all season. Lewis and Reed still had something in the tank. This year it's fumes. You can literally see it in Harbaugh's face. He knows it's a facade and everything has to unfold perfectly, almost a fluke. Unless Flacco has a career game I can't see them outscoring Brady.
But I'm darn sure rooting that way, for Ravens vs. 49ers. A dualing tinkerbell Super Bowl of New England vs. Atlanta would be ghastly. I almost want to surrender to an unearthly being every time Matt Ryan launches one of his patented lollipops. I've complained about Tannehill's 4 iron trajectory. Ryan doesn't have to worry about that. The only way he can get it there is to fling a moon ball as far as he can. It just happens to travel the distance Julio Jones can run. If Ryan loses 5% velocity he's a joke but in this coddled era he's actually effective.
Besides, the 49ers should always be applauded for immediately caving in to fan outrage after a hideous logo change was announced in 1991. That logo had less of a lifespan than New Coke. Unfortunately, I don't think Ross and Dee will give a flip toward fan reaction.
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