The NFL beat -- Super Bowl edition

Okay the season's over and we have just come down from the high of the most exciting conclusion to a Super Bowl ever. The only real question now is what are we going to do until draft day?

1. Biggest Upset Ever

The Jets victory over the Colts in Super Bowl III may have been more unexpected and significant, but the Patriots victory was the biggest upset ever in a Super Bowl.

If you look back at the Jets team, they had several Hall of Famers and their opponent's best player didn't get in until the fourth quarter. Before Sunday, could you name more than five players on the New England team? And two of the players you would have named weren't even playing (Drew Bledsoe, Terry Glenn).

The genius label gets tossed around pretty carelessly these days, but Bill Belichick's performance this season was pure genius. His Patriots are the least talented team to ever win a Super Bowl.

2. Speaking of the genius label

Why was Mike Martz appointed a genius head coach? What has he won? Didn't he inherit Dick Vermeil's Super Bowl team?

How come his insane coaching decisions are never questioned? Like his propensity to use all of his time-outs in the first five minutes of the first and third quarters. He also has the bad habit of challenging calls every two minutes until his team is out of challenges for when they really need them. (I won't even go over his play calling except to say Marshall Faulk is on your team, give him the ball.)

It is beginning to look like Martz was a good offensive coordinator who is an average head coach.

3. Is the NFL becoming the Arena League? Plus other non-football items.

The Rams play an Arena League style game and now the whole league is in serious jeopardy of going the same path.

This was clear during the entrance of the teams. It reminded me of the Iowa Barnstormers or an Indoor Soccer team from the '80s. This type of entrance works in the NBA, but not in football.

First of all, you couldn't even see the players. Secondly, the whole thing looked very unprofessional. Is the Superdome small? Why did the players come out and have to walk three feet to get to midfield. What happened to the days when the players came running out like madmen onto the field then jumped into the arms of the rest of the team?

Make fun of it all you want, but I rather enjoy a Michael Irvin/Ray Lewis style entrance. With that being said, the Patriots entrance was awesome. You kind of got the feeling they were going to win after that. I just hope everyone doesn't try to copy it now. It was a one-time thing.

Also, why were an Englishman and Irishmen two of the main attractions in a "Patriotic" Super Bowl? Was Springsteen busy? C'mon. Paul McCartney and U2? Great musicians, but definitely not appropriate for this year's Super Bowl.

Now a word about Mariah Carey: Is it just me or is she more attractive after her tumultuous year? Go ahead and make your weight jokes, but whatever she's selling, I'm buying.

4. Who will be in Super Bowl XXXVII?

Eagles-Seahawks (if Trent Dilfer is the QB) or Eagles-Browns (if the Seahawks start Matt Hasselbeck).

The Rams will be good, but let's be honest, the Eagles should have beaten the Rams this year. Next year in the big game, the Eagles won't hold McNabb in the pocket. They'll let him win the game.

As for the AFC...you can definitely see a pattern. The last three entrants have been the Titans, Ravens, and Patriots. All teams who went from mediocrity to the big game. The Seahawks are building something special and could have made a run this year if Holmgren would have let go of his ego and inserted Dilfer in the line-up from day one. They play tough defense, run well and have a QB who doesn't kill them with mistakes.

If Dilfer is no longer in Seattle, Cleveland is a strong possibility to make a run. They showed some life this season and could be ready to make the leap to the big-time.

5. Who will be the surprise quarterback of 2002?

First it was Kurt Warner, then last year Trent Dilfer, and finally this year Tom Brady. So who is the candidate to win the "from out of nowhere to big time quarterback" award next year?

Here are a few possibilities. Chad Pennington, NY Jets. Vinny's about done and Pennington shined at Marshall. Drew Brees, San Diego. Okay he was a big college star but no one expects him to be a big star in the NFL. Chris Redman, Ravens. Can't you just see Elvis getting hurt and the Ravens inserting the unknown Redman into the game?

6. Does Art Modell belong in the Hall of Fame?

This story has a lot of steam in Cleveland and Baltimore for obvious reasons. Modell was denied entrance in the Hall of Fame over the weekend as a Cleveland writer gave an impassioned speech against Modell.

But, remove all of the emotion and the answer is simple. No he does not.

Yes, he did a lot for the league, and yes he is influential. But, it reminds me of a guy who is living a good life. He goes to church, works hard, loves his family and one day he snaps and kills somebody. Is that guy a good person?

Don't get me wrong; I am not comparing Modell to a murderer.

However, for all of the good Modell did, he erased it with a major bad. He put a knife in the heart of Cleveland and embarrassed the NFL. And don't give me that Al Davis is in the HOF argument. He doesn't deserve to be either.