In case you haven't been bludgeoned to death yet with the suffocating media coverage radiating from South Beach, Fla. this week, the Super Bowl is Sunday. And the question on everyone's mind: who's the next Dexter Jackson?
Jackson, the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XXXVII, had his name etched into the history books of "the big game" for eternity, alongside Brady, Bradshaw and Rice. Of course, you would have been hard pressed to find someone willing to bet on Jackson's future accomplishments up to and including kickoff. Entering the game, Jackson had seven career interceptions in four seasons and none returned for touchdowns. So of course it seemed logical that Jackson would intercept Rich Gannon twice, return one for a touchdown and walk away with one of the most coveted pieces of hardware this side of the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
It is with this in mind that we attempt to ascertain the answer to a very simple question. Who can fill Jackson's shoes?
For argument's sake, we'll leave Peyton Manning, Brian Urlacher and Marvin Harrison out of this conversation. Far too obvious of a choice, the trio of Urlacher, Manning and Harrison would have to be the far and away favorites to walk away with the Pete Rozelle Trophy.
Numbers wise, that leaves us with over 100 potential MVPs, but for my own sanity, we can narrow it down to a group of players that have the game-breaking potential, but lack the headline-making fame of Bart Starr and Joe Montana.
There's Devin Hester, the record-setting rookie kick returner from the Chicago Bears. Hester's seven returns for touchdowns set an NFL record earlier this year and if you watched the immortal Ellis Hobbs shred Indianapolis' coverage team two weeks ago then you know that Hester very well could be the difference in the game. In fact, can someone check Hester's phone records to see how many calls he's made to Desmond Howard in the past two weeks? Is anyone on top of this?
Of course, there's the media-savvy pick, Indy safety Bob Sanders and his reputation for bone-crunching, earth-shattering hits. With Chicago expected to hand the ball to running backs Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson at least 40 times, Sanders might want to legally change his name to "8th man in the box." If Sanders were to jar the ball loose from Jones, Benson or Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman with one of his big hits, a defense that seems re-energized since his return to action could provide a score that may well prove the difference.
If you're looking for someone to channel the spirit of Jackson, look no further than Bears' cornerback Nathan Vasher. If your memory is lacking from too many Soco and lime shots at the Steer last night, Vasher was Hester before the Bears drafted Hester out of Miami last April. Last season, Vasher intercepted eight passes and returned a missed field goal against the Giants 103 yards for a touchdown. With the Colts' offense designed around Manning's timing routes with Harrison and Reggie Wayne, Vasher will be looking to jump routes all night and if it works, chances are he's off to the races.
Much like Hines Ward last year for Pittsburgh, wide receiver Bernard Berrian is the key to the Chicago offense. When Grossman is on, it's because Berrian is getting open deep and keeping the opponent's safeties from cheating towards the line of scrimmage. The deep slants and crosses that Chicago runs will be crucial to keeping Indy's defense honest, and Berrian will be the reason they do it.
Indy uses their multiple to stretch the defense and open up the middle of the field. Thus far in the postseason, Manning has consistently found tight end Dallas Clark for big plays over the 10-15 yards down the field in between the hashes. This postseason, Clark is averaging 16.5 yards per catch, which is top for tight ends. Last week, Chicago won by using its smart and speedy linebackers Urlacher and Lance Briggs to limit New Orleans' tight end and backs from making plays over the middle. If Clark continues to find daylight over the middle, it'll be a long day for the Bears' defense.
But if you're an Indy fan wearing (out) your AFC Championship t-shirt every day for the last two weeks, then you know that it's because of Vinatieri that the Colts are even in this position. Irregardless of Peyton's "drive" last week or Addai's game-winning run, the Indy x-factor is their kicker. As much as it would pain even the great Skip Bayless to admit, Vinatieri has been beyond rock-solid this postseason, making all 11 of his kicks including 6-6 from 40 yards or more, including two kicks over 50. Any Patriots fans will tell you that when the clock is ticking down and the ball is on the opponents' 35 or closer, it's No. 4 you want out there.
When it comes down to it, though, I'll take Vasher as my MVP and the Bears as Super Bowl Champions. For some reason I keep seeing Vasher breaking in front of an 8-yard-out to Harrison and taking the ball 65 yards to the house for the fourth quarter score that clinches it. That and I made a promise to myself two years ago I would never pick a Manning in a playoff game.
Bears 24, Colts 21.
