NFL Interview - It's a Ridiculous Week for the Pro Bowl Edition

Folks, we took a few weeks off there, but really not much has changed. We thought it was going to be a Colts-Saints Super Bowl, and so it is. The Jets' brief Cinderella run? The "can the Cards do it again" talk? The flurry of "Favrvrvrvre returns to the Big Game" hype? All mere digressions on the way to the inevitable.

Which brings me to the first question for our very-soon-to-be-12-year-old football analyst.

How much more interesting would this Super Bowl be if it were, as it looked to be several weeks back, a battle of undefeateds?

Much more interesting. Nonetheless, the matchup is physically the same as it was when both teams were undefeated.

Do you think the Colts erred by resting their starters in the fateful Jets game?

Yeah. Then the Jets would never have gotten into the playoffs at all, and the Texans would have been creamed by the Bengals.

The Jets, the Cowboys, the Vikings... all heavily hyped teams who proved to be flashes in the pan. Which of these teams will be a genuine threat next season?

The Jets have a lot of potential. They and Dallas are both teams on the rise. As for Minnesota, they will, but only if Brett Favre is the starter at quarterback.

Could any team that missed the playoffs have given the Colts or Saints a run for their money? If so, who?

Hmm...not many of them. Perhaps the Steelers.

Which players and coaches impressed you the most during the playoffs?

Darrelle Revis, definitely. He made an amazing pick against San Diego. And another Jet, Rex Ryan. Gotta love that personality. As for the NFC, Reggie Bush proved that he isn't a bust.

Which players were the most shocking tank jobs? Which coaches the biggest dopes?

Chad Ochocinco did absolutely nothing for Cincinnati. Honestly, there were many more good performances than bad ones.

Once again, Favrvrvrvre's "career" "ends" with a devastating interception in a playoff game. Do you think that vacillating, jeans-pimpin' yahoo is finally gone for good?

With Favre, there's no way to know.

If so, what of the Minnesota quarterback situation? Will it be Tarvaris (shudder)?

Him or Rosenfels (double shudder).

Which other teams need to think about new QBs next season?

Rams, Seahawks and perhaps the Bills, although I'm sure many other teams will take quarterbacks in the first few rounds.

Any predictions for the early rounds of the NFL draft?

Well, the first three picks will involve some combination of Ndamukong Suh, Jimmy Clausen, Gerald McCoy, Sam Bradford, Russell Okung and Eric Berry. It's kind of up in the air.

I wanna get your take on Tim Tebow Tim Tebow. Who's gonna get him, and will they let him play quarterback?

If the Jaguars or Redskins get him, he will play quarterback. Others will give him a chance. The rest will make him an H-back.

What do you think of your Raiders' decision to retain Tom Cable as coach?

Well, although he may be a criminal, and the fact that the Raiders could definitely do better, he might be able to help them turn things around.

How do you feel about the shift of the Pro Bowl to the week before the Super Bowl (and your birthday)?

Well, now I can't watch it.

...

No one else seems to like it either, and in 2011 and 2012, it's headed back to Honolulu.

Did you vote for the Pro Bowl? Care to share any of your selections?

A while ago. I can't remember much, but I can tell you that I didn't even vote for every position. Anyway, my picks were fairly normal. I voted for Jairus Byrd, one of my new favorite players. (He was a second-round draft choice and led the AFC in interceptions. He was tied with three others for the league lead.) Unfortunately, he had to drop out due to injury.

Okay, here it comes. Predict the final score of the Super Bowl.

Colts 31, Saints 28. Peyton Manning throws a touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon with thirty seconds left; Drew Brees' pass is batted down by Jacob Lacey on fourth down.

We'll do a final post-S.B. wrap-up blog in two weeks. Until then, here comes the part where Hen gets to type whatever he wants.

Well, actually, I may write on Monday about the Senior Bowl and the Pro Bowl.

But anyway...

Almost every quarterback who was initially invited to the Pro Bowl isn't playing.