Sez Me …
Today’s NFL Championship Game has a real chance to eventually be known as Super Bowl M(etformin).
A sleep enhancer produced in the body, but at times necessary out of a TV screen for those in need of extra enhancement to get their z’s.
On its surface, this Super Bowl, New England vs. Seattle, is about as sexy as a bag of deceased lice. There is no “it” to the game. The best player on the Santa Clara field is a Seahawks receiver with three names, including a hyphen — you wouldn’t know if he was a first cousin.
Alas, there will be interest. A record 67.8 million American adults — 26% of the population — are expected to gamble on this game. And that’s just Americans. Guessing. So much is illegal.
There are storylines at quarterback. Seattle’s Sam Darnold, left for dead three years ago, has won 30 games in the last two years — 14 of them at Minnesota, which cast him off. New England’s Drake Maye is in his second year and is a rising star. But his name is not Brady.
The Pats, despite a weak schedule, could become the first team to defeat the seven top defenses on the way to a Super Bowl title. Seattle, with the No. 1 defense, gave up more than 22 points but twice this season.
The key will be the Pats protecting Maye, who has been sacked 15 times in the postseason, 14 by four-man rushes. Seattle has plenty of fresh people to get after him.
One never knows. Maybe this will be a great game. I doubt it. Seattle has defeated the Rams two out of three, and the Patriots’ offense is nowhere close to L.A.’s.
I’m going with Seattle. I just hope I can see it all. At my age, staying awake is not always optional. …
When asked who he’s rooting for in the Super Bowl, Tom Brady said he doesn’t “have a dog in this fight.” He’s since changed his song after getting ripped. Maybe he doesn’t want New England winning another title without him. …
Klint Kubiak will run the Raiders, a team with the worst roster, a bad offensive line, limited skill, bad owner, no prospects and no quarterback — unless you consider Fernando Mendoza, whose prospects are sequestered with the jury that’s still out. …
The best player in the NFL in 2025 was Myles Garrett. And he wants out of Cleveland. Good luck. If enough people in Cleveland wanted out of Cleveland, the population would be about 3, depending on the week. …
Arch Manning will make $5.4 million in NIL money playing quarterback this year for the University of Texas. My guess is around $10 million after all is accounted for, which no doubt will include a few silly TV gigs with his uncles. …
One of those uncles — Eli, aka Jughead — again didn’t make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He can ride the Manning name like Laffit Pincay, but he doesn’t deserve the honor. …
Jim Plunkett won two Super Bowls with the Raiders and doesn’t get a sniff from the Hall. Why should Eli? Because he’s a Manning and played for New York? …
Eli was a .500 quarterback who threw 244 interceptions. …
The Hall of Fame voter who first said, “Can you write the history of the NFL without him?” should realize you can’t do it without Garo Yepremian. …
Finally, the Rooney Rule is gaining traction. Ten NFL head coaching openings. Zero Black coaches hired.
“There’s got to be more steps,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says. I don’t care where Roger’s heart is, good or bad, but his owners (his employers) are going to hire who they want of the color they want. …
The Senior Bowl game is so important that most NFL coaches and scouts watch practices and then go home. …
The NFL will play a game in Australia. There should be a bye in front of it and behind it. The internationalization of this game has gone globally stupid. …
I can’t believe the players’ union is going for this nonsense. No matter what “International” Goodell says, I absolutely guarantee you players hate going overseas — unless it’s on vacation. …
According to Jim Steeg, who knows plenty, Pete Rozelle used to gather his inner-circle people before his State of the NFL address and have them pepper him with questions the media might ask. Smart guy, Pete. And the best tap dancer since Astaire. …
I think the Pro Bowl should be a part of county and state fairs. …
I just saw a film — not AI — of a fighter wearing a toupee and getting it knocked off. I can think of at least one politician who would sue the glue manufacturer. But the boxer won, anyway. …
RIP, Russ Casemero. A friend, and a good guy who married well. …
RIP, Terrance Gore. Tragic. Remember what Bill Walton said: “The only minor surgery is surgery performed on somebody else.” ….
Robert Kraft did not make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So what? He’s an owner who got lucky with a quarterback and coach. …
I can’t wait until Epstein-implicated Giants co-owner Steve Tisch’s name comes up for the Hall. Probably unanimous. …
Harrison Phillips says there’s a cancer in the Jets’ locker room. So that’s it. I thought they just stunk. …
Is it true that 20-some-odd Chinese swimmers tested positive at the last Olympics but were exonerated with the excuse of tainted food? Not buying it. I love Chinese food, but I’ve never been athletically superior because of it. …
Lindsey Vonn is what America is supposed to be all about. Tough. Unafraid. Don’t mess with us. …
The Washington Post has deleted its sports department. I am deeply saddened. …
This Is What We’ve Come To Dept.: The University of Houston’s athletic budget is $78 million, about a third of brother Texas. Basketball coach Kelvin Sampson groans he can’t afford players. Do colleges need a salary cap? …
San Diego State has good men’s basketball players. But this is a team that can’t finish vs. good teams. The blame list, if it doesn’t make the NCAA Tournament, begins and ends with them. Too many blown chances. And too many injuries for cohesiveness. …
James Harden is 36. Is he worth the grief? Another guy who’s never won anything and hasn’t been happy since birth. His first words were: “Mom, I don’t want to be here.” …
Harden. Four midseason trades. Big Airbnb guy. …
Saw a film of Franz Klammer’s downhill at the 1976 Olympics in Innsbruck. Basically fell off the mountain to win. To me, it remains the Secretariat-in-the-Belmont among human athletic endeavors. …
Have you seen the list of the top 10 Super Bowl halftime shows? Prince was No. 1, with which I can agree. But the next nine should have been Up With People. …
The Patriots are 5-0 in Super Bowls when Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow. As my Uncle John would say, Punxsutawney Phil, a rodent, “doesn’t know squatine.” …
Elon Musk’s estimated worth now stands at $852 billion. What a great Padres owner! …
As of Jan. 27, 85 seconds remained on the Doomsday Clock. Time to get my affairs in order.