Dave Cokin
Bonus Play Monday
“For a number of reasons, you in the stadium know how big this win was.”
Those were Robert Kraft’s words, spoken on the dais, shortly after his New England Patriots wrapped up another conference championship and a trip to Houston for this year’s Super Bowl.
This was a not even a little bit subtle shot at NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. There’s just no way anyone who follows pro football didn’t know exactly what Kraft was saying.
I don’t know about any of you, but I really want to see Goodell having to share the stage with Kraft and Tom Brady in a couple weeks. I don’t envision any snarky comments. But having to see Goodell squirm even just a little bit will be enormously satisfying.
And with that in mind, I’ll make today’s Bonus Play my call on the Falcons-Patriots Super Bowl.
101 PATRIOTS vs. 102 FALCONS 6:30 PM
Take: PATRIOTS -3
I’ll get the math out of the way at the top. I made this price Patriots -4. So it’s not some kind of slam dunk on the numbers, at least not on mine.
But I think most everything else favors New England. I’m one who believes Super Bowl experience is a definite plus. Having previously dealt with the incredible hoopla surrounding this event is an advantage.
One wouldn’t think there’s a motivational edge either way, as it’s the biggest game on the planet, so everyone involved figures to be very focused. But no one is going to be able to convince me that there’s a little something extra on the New England side. The Patriots organization, from top to bottom, thinks they got screwed by Roger Goodell. Whether or not any of us agree or disagree with that assessment, what matters is that the Pats do, and there’s simply no doubt on that count.
There will be an endless supply of in depth analysis available on this game that will lend convincing support to either side. I’ll read, listen and watch. Mine is much briefer and to the point, or at least my point. I don’t think there has ever been a more important game personally to Tom Brady than this one, and I am absolutely not going against that guy in a game of this magnitude. Simplistic as that might be, that’s where I am on this game.
Patriots minus the points is my choice.
