What could have been
While CBS' Jim Nantz and Phil Simms begin the network's game coverage, NFL Network is replaying the AFC Championship game between the Colts and the Patriots. With 7:45 left in the fourth quarter of a 28-28 game, New England's Tom Brady lofted a pass toward Reche Caldwell along the right edge of the end zone. Caldwell slowed to measure the pass and was pushed by the Colts defender. The pass sailed toward the back of the end zone but Caldwell's momentum had been altered enough to keep him from getting more than a finger on the pass. The obvious pass interference was ingnored by the officials and the announcers. Rather than first-and-goal from the 1, the Patriots kicked a field goal for a 31-28 lead. It easily could have been 35-28 and we could have spent the last fortnight on much different storylines. Why this wasn't an issue during and after the game is simply dumbfounding. But the NFL got it's Peyton Manning storyline and it's Tony Dungy storyline and avoided two weeks of terrible Bill Belichick news conferences and the same-old, same-old Patriots storyline that may not have captured a national fantasy like Peyton and his Colts. Case in point: CBS' pregame analyist Boomer Esiasian stated that this was Peyton Manning's Super Bowl. Hmmmmm? It's easy to forget this is a TV show, the ultimate reality show, as the lines become blurred, director cuts rapid and announcer comments measured. Now go and enjoy today's program, er, game.