https://www.patriots.com/video/brady-and-edelman-hug-following-super-bowl-liii-win
See above what I thought was the emotional moment of the event when future Hall Of Famer Julian Edelman embraces his QB who is pretty good too. Ha.
In fact that postgame was a surreal dramatic moment as poor CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson tried to nab a postgame interview with Brady but was held up because Tom was congratulating people. I felt for the lady as she got shoved into the background in the swarm like some hopeless groupie waiting for her chance. Ha. But it all ended nicely and she showed great professionalism when she finally got to interview Tom.
And I never felt CBS was resentful the Pats won. In fact in general I think the Pats are finally growing on some media types. Cerebral tough football played the right way. What is there not to like even for the haters?
Perhaps not since the Larry Bird Celtics has a major league team, barring the NHL, had faces of the franchise who are white and in the case of the Pats even little tiny kids now know who Brady, Gronkowski and Edelman are which is really a great thing.
That Brady pass to Gronkowski to the Rams 4 yard line was one of the most beautifully executed plays I have seen in a big spot. (That wheel route pass was nothing to sneeze at either.) Not only was the pass beyond sublime but Gronkowski secured and cuddled it nicely. And I was glad the Pats didn't fuss around after that. They rammed it in with Michel as FB Develin once again cleared out a defender with a "get out of the way" block.
Then back to back runs that pretty much said to the Rams we are the champs and you aren't. Right up the gut of media heroes Suh and Donald first Michele rips a 26 yarder followed by Burkhead who ripped off another up the gut 26 yarder.
What a finish for Burkhead. His two most important plays in his entire career. Scoring the winning TD against KC and this seal the deal late run against the Rams. And remember against the Eagles he got injured early and had to leave the game.
I think the Pats drafted a good one with Michel. He is a classic RB that
follows his blocks. None of that fancy crap too many RBs rely on. And Burkhead is the new prototype RB who can essentially do everything. Run, block, catch passes he has great versatility and has been an essential piece of the puzzle for the Patriots in their late season run.
But their defense was immense too and their constant pressure put Goff in uneasy spots. They smartly doubled Woods and without Kupp, Goff had no one to bail him out. I have been down on BB at times of late but he came up with a great game plan and outcoached the youngster. And DC Flores did a good job too.
Ex Pat WR Brandin Cooks had big stats once again but I was probably the only one out there in media world who was never totally convinced with him. The Pats didn't resign him because he couldn't follow Brady's instructions and had trouble with contested passes. Guess what on three of the biggest plays of the game he failed to secure two TDs and was lost in space as CB Gilmore nabbed an all important interception. OK to be fair the Pats closed fast on both of those possible TDs but to win a Super Bowl a player has to make at least one of those plays. There is more to a player than stats or combine speed. Cooks checks all the boxes and he isn't a bad player but he proved my point from a year ago. He isn't as great as the media makes out. Does Kupp haul in at least one of those passes?
The last three weeks the Pats have played like old time NFL champs. Tough and relentless 60 minute blocking. And Edelman is the anti diva. You know the type. the "star" black WR who acts like a spoiled female actresses. Edelman plays with the grit of an offensive lineman.
And he had to come back from an ACL tear, never easy especially for older players. It was a tough night for Hogan as covered above.When he was open Brady couldn't deliver it and when he was covered nothing good happened. But Hogan was a key player down the stretch for the Pats. And as noted above has been essential the past few years.Have to wait and see if they resign him?
You know when you see a relative etc. as a baby even when they age you can't get the "baby" part out of your mind. I remember the first time I saw Edelman play. He was returning punts and the first thing that struck me was his quickness and dodge ability. I was flabbergasted. His athleticism was unreal and I kept thinking they got to get this guy the ball.
Flash forward to now and I am watching a post ACL tear and older Edelman who has lost a step and he still is faking out DBs like crazy. Those poor DBs couldn't even keep within ten feet of him. And after he caught it he was impressively moving the ball up field in big chunks. None of that dink and dunk crap meaning two yards and flop. What a player.
Very important victory.
I think the fall out will be positive. Maybe I am too much in the moment but teams have to start realizing that racially diverse teams can win big and often. Common sense.
BTW Brady and Edelman are at Disney World today and tomorrow is the Boston parade. Forecast? 60 degrees and sunny.
Perfect. Just perfect!!!
