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Some random thoughts about the Super Bowl that was…

• Anyone talking about the refs doesn't watch enough football. There were lots of penalties (almost all of which were deserved) as well as many calls that weren't made for both teams. Want three against Arizona? Warner taking his helmet off to argue with a ref, Fitzgerald running 40 yards well out-of-bounds before tackling Harrison, and the numerous times Harrison was held when rushing. It was a fairly called game.
• I agree that the refs could have "taken the time" to review the play at the end of the game, but the play was reviewed upstairs and ruled a clear fumble. What's to review? The right call was made. If a Cards fan wants to be pissed at someone, let them be pissed at Whisenhunt, who didn't do a thing to cause them to re-consider their quick review of the play.
• Santonio's game-winning TD celebration: do you really want a Super Bowl decided by a ticky tacky "celebration" penalty? It happened a full minute after the play ended and Santonio was alone. Nobody was looking and it wasn't done to show anyone up. And if that's using the ball as a prop, how is spiking the ball not doing so? Or dunking it over the crossbar? Simple celebrations are allowed.
• I'm tired of hearing how well Steelers fans "travel." They don't travel - they exist everywhere. 15,000 fans don't drive from Pittsburgh to Denver or wherever - they simply live nearby. America's Team? No contest. It's the Steelers.
• John Madden is a horrible announcer. He's hated the Steelers since the Immaculate Reception. Calling for a Steeler (Harrison) to be ejected from the game for playing football is way, WAY beyond his responsibilities as an announcer, particularly when the guy who received the shoves (all legal) from Harrison makes a habit of going for people's knees.
• I always supported the hiring of Mike Tomlin. I predicted he'll win three Super Bowls in 15 years, and he's one third of the way there (in only two years). When he accepted the trophy, he wasn't nearly as excited as you'd think he would have been. Why? Because he has a plan, and that plan doesn't involve winning just one Super Bowl.
• The Steelers are by far the best operation in pro sports. Find another one that's better? The Rooneys deserve all the credit in the world here.
• Bruce Arians, despite winning a Super Bowl, needs to be fired. Nine goal-to-go situations and the Steelers got six points? The goal-line playcalling has been perhaps the worst, but Bruce's playcalling everywhere else is horrible too. Only when Ben freelances and goes no-huddle - removing Arians from the equation - do the Steelers move the ball regularly. I could go on and on and on here - the lack of plays to the tight ends and to Mewelde Moore-type running backs, and on, and on…
• The press is still failing to recognize Ben Roethlisberger as the big-time QB than he is. He's won more in his first five years than anyone ever. He's got far more fourth-quarter comebacks. He's done so all while being sacked and harrassed nearly an order of magnitude more often than Brady or Manning and without nearly the same corps of top-end wide receivers. And lest we forget, he nearly died! But hey, you media guys can keep blowing Peyton and Tom - Ben will probably just keep winning.
• The offensive line somehow found a way to improve - not much, but just enough - in the playoffs. Despite Ben's post-game comments, this may be the worst OL to win a Super Bowl.
• I have no idea why Arizona didn't play more of the offense that had success, but I think it's a great example why Ken Whisenhunt was not my choice for head coach in Pittsburgh. The Cardinals probably could have won the game 42-17 if they had played to their strengths on offense.
• The Troy Polamalu re-make of the Mean Joe Greene commercial? Vomit.
• Unless Kurt Warner 100% believes he can win a Super Bowl next year, he should retire, because this is as "on top" as he'll get. Brett Favre should have stayed retired.
• Why on earth would the Cardinals defer? With their high-powered offense, that call made no sense. Throughout the playoffs they built their leads in the first half.
• If you cheat, you can't claim to be the team of the decade. Sorry, Cheatriots. I'm not saying the Steelers are, but the Pats aren't.
• Before the season started, I honestly didn't think, with Bruce Arians and the offensive line the Steelers had, they'd make the playoffs. Credit belongs to Mike Tomlin - and the Cleveland Browns, who were predicted to do well this year - there.
• A pair of Super Bowls and a Stanley Cup Final ((Doesn't appear to be happening this year, but there's still time…)) in the past three to four years. Wow. If only the Pirates were owned by someone who didn't have his head up his ass…
• Best Super Bowl of all time? Top three for sure, I'd say. Not willing to go more than that.

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