James Harrison, spent, on the ground of the endzone after running back that 100 yard interception. I have to say I was in a similar place after that play…
When I first saw the ball land directly in the hands of Harrison I was ecstatic. A moment later I was thinking what I always think when a defensive player gets their hands on the ball, ‘Go down! Don’t fumble after making a great play!’
I then quickly realized that was not an option. Harrison had room, lots of room. He was going to go for as far as his legs could carry his massive 245 pound frame. I stood up and yelled for him to keep going as Breaston gained ground.
As he flopped into the endzone I was near hysterical. Why? No not because it’s a great story that this perennial practice squad-er was the NFL’s defensive player of the year. Rather, because I made an insane prop bet that Harrison would win Super Bowl MVP.
I was getting 16:1 odds. So I figured that if he gets a couple sacks or a pick, there is a good chance. Well, at the half I was pretty convinced that I was going to get paid off.
When the Steelers where in the red area in the 3rd quarter but were held to a field goal, I was sure that Harrison was going to get it.
Then came Big Ben and the Santonio Holmes show. I’ve heard people say that Roethlisberger would get it if not for Santonio catching that spectacular game winner. I honestly think that if say that TD had been an average pass to Heath Miller from Big Ben that James Harrison should have received the MVP award.
The interception to end the 1st half was one of the biggest plays in Super Bowl history and certainly the biggest of the game. You could argue that it was still bigger than the Holmes catch overall because the Steelers still had another shot at punching it in if that pass fell incomplete.
But, I guess we will never know. And your Super Bowl 43 MVP… former #1 selling South Florida drug dealer… San Antonio Santonio Holmes.
Harrison’s INT and the final touchdown broke my spirit, not because it was a bad game, it was a great game, but because I cannot stand seeing Pittsburgh win the Superbowl, especially since they can only seem to do it when they don’t have to face the Pats in the Playoffs.
Also before anyone says “most championships ever, dynasty before the Pats” or anything else, I am talking about recent Steelers (Big Ben era).