Super Bowl 50: Adversity Reveals Character
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A few takeaways from Super Bowl 50.
I couldn't be happier for Demarcus Ware.
One of my all-time favorite Dallas Cowboys, Demarcus should still be a Cowboy. A sure fire Ring of Honor and Hall of Fame player should never be allowed to walk away with tread still left on the tire. Clearly, Jerry erred on this one.
Two years ago, the organization he loved, in the city that he loves, didn't want him anymore.
In 2014, he had 10 sacks with the Broncos. This season, he had 11 more sacks, including two in Super Bowl 50.
Demarcus Ware faced adversity. He prevailed.
I couldn't be happier for Wade Phillips.
One of the best defensive coordinators in the game, Jerry did not err in letting Wade go as a head coach. Not all great assistant coaches make good head coaches.
Since being fired by Jerry Jones, Phillips was the Houston Texans defensive coordinator for three seasons. His Texans' defenses were ranked 2nd, 7th, and 7th in the NFL from 2011-13. His World Champion Broncos' defense was ranked #1 in the league and was as dominant as any Super Bowl defense ever.
In 2014, he was out of work. Nobody wanted him.
Wade Phillips faced adversity. He prevailed.
I loved Cam Newton when he won.
A week ago, I made the comment on CBS 11's Score that I couldn't understand why anyone couldn't like Cam Newton. Yes, there's a lot of showmanship in his game. But that's who he is. He plays the game with a smile on his face. It all seems to come so easy for him. There's a lot of Magic Johnson in his game. But that's when Cam wins.
When Cam loses, things change. Nobody's body language changes as much when the scoreboard changes. And, when you're the NFL MVP and the face of the franchise, if not the future face of football, you have to be better than Cam was after Super Bowl 50. To whom much is given, much is expected.
Cam Newton faced adversity. He failed.
Addendum:
The above is what I wrote before I saw a tweet that has video (and audio) of what Cam is hearing during his press conference.
Apparently, the NFL set up the winners and losers press conferences within earshot of each other. In the background, Cam is hearing Broncos CB Chris Harris (on a speaker) describe Denver's game plan to stop Carolina's offense: Load the box and make Newton throw the football. Cam hears this and gets up and walks off.
It doesn't excuse his lack of professionalism earlier in the presser, but it adds needed perspective.
Cam may have failed on this day, but he'll be back.
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