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CNN Sunday Morning

Experts Analyze Super Bowl

Aired February 03, 2002 - 09:10   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We got some good e-mails for you.

NANCY NEWMAN, CNN ANCHOR: OK, we're getting ready for football.

O'BRIEN: Some real winners in there. That's coming up in just a second.

NEWMAN: You're going to find them too, aren't you?

O'BRIEN: Nancy Newman is one-third of the troika of experts that will be taking those e-mails, and hopefully phone calls very shortly, at 404-221-1855. But, for now, let's just talk about the game for a moment shall we?

NEWMAN: OK, yes. It's Game Day. Are you ready?

O'BRIEN: Oh, yes.

NEWMAN: OK. Let's begin. This is how we'll set the table. It's impossible not to notice the similarities of (inaudible). In 1999, then Rams Quarterback Trent Green went down in the pre-season, opening the door for Kurt Warner's Cinderella ride to Super Bowl victory, versus the Titans at Georgia Dome.

Well this season, it is the Patriot's Tom Brady who is poised to snatch that glass slipper. Pro Bowl QB Drew Bledsoe suffered an injury in Week 2. The man named Brady has led the fairytale ride since, 6'4 with good mobility, Brady proceeded to win 11 games, taking New England to the AFC East title and all the way to Super Bowl XXXVI.

A blitz, the ankle injury versus the Steelers last weekend in the Conference Championship, a game during which ironically, Bledsoe picked up the slack. But the ankle is fine. Head Coach Bill Belichek (ph) named him the starter Wednesday. Bledsoe would have loved to make amends for the Super Bowl loss to the Packers a few years back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DREW BLEDSOE, PATRIOTS QUARTERBACK: I've been here one time and lost this game, and that's a feeling that never leaves you. You know, I've never watched the Super Bowl that I played in. I've never worn the ring. I tried it on, but I've never worn it, and it's a bitter, bitter feeling to make it this far and lose the game.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWMAN: Meanwhile on the Rams side of the ball, it often begins and ends with Kurt Warner and Marshal Faulk (ph), good friends off the field, magic on it, as well as owners of the League MVP Award between them the last three years running.

Were it not for the running back extraordinaire, Kurt Warner may have found himself where Dan Marino was or John Elway before Tyrell Davis. But when you can hand off to Faulk 30 to 35 times per game, it sure helps to set up the aerial show, which by the way, included some 5,000 passing yards for Warner this season, a season which, Warner says, has been a better one than their championship campaign of two years ago. The task this time around, to solve the defensive genius mind of past head man Bill Belichek.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KURT WARNER, RAMS QUARTERBACK: To coach Bill, it's that you never know what you're going to see. And so, in that first game, we saw a lot of different things, and going into this game, I'm assuming we're going to see a lot of different things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE MARTZ, RAMS HEAD COACH: There's just so many things you can do out of a personnel grouping, and I think what he does a great job of is not looking at specifically what you do but the overall theme with what you do in personnel groupings. And that being said, he understands the concept and the weakness of it, and as soon as you line up in it, you can almost predict he's going to attack your Achilles heel, you know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWMAN: Both good men and the two coaches, Belichek and Martz engaging in somewhat of a mutual admiration society this past week, singing praises about their respective counterpart, and it makes sense, Miles. I mean they were coordinators in the game for a long, long time now. Head Coach Bill Belichek, of course, had one previously with the Cleveland Browns, but it's nice to see them both in the big game.

O'BRIEN: A couple of good coaching minds there, too. I mean of course that's why they're...

NEWMAN: Absolutely.

O'BRIEN: ... NFL coaches of course. But you know, I'm already beginning with the trite stuff here. You know, because it is Super Bowl Sunday.

NEWMAN: Are you an anchoring coach?

O'BRIEN: Yes, cliches and trite stuff. NEWMAN: All right.

O'BRIEN: Speaking of that, let's go to our folks in New Orleans, Trev Alberts, Irving Fryar, and wherever they go, they bring that desk I'm told. They're in the middle of a park and they brought this collapsible anchor desk. It's kind of cool It actually fits in Trev's back pocket.

NEWMAN: You know they're smart and strong.

O'BRIEN: Gentlemen, how are you.

TREV ALBERTS, FOOTBALL ANALYST: Good, thank you Miles and Nancy, good to be here.

IRVING FRYAR, FOOTBALL ANALYST: Good morning, Nancy and Miles.

O'BRIEN: Did you get any sleep last night.

ALBERTS: I did get some sleep. I did pretend. Irving and I were trying to pretend like we're players, night before the game, the big game, our coverage. We tried to get a little bit of sleep, get ready for it. It's going to be a fantastic game.

O'BRIEN: Of course, as past Super Bowls have told us, some of those players are out carousing, aren't they? But anyway, let's not go there.

NEWMAN: The question is, how much sleep have they gotten all week?

O'BRIEN: Let's get right to the e-mail, shall we gentlemen, and we got some phone calls too. But this is a good one that kind of encapsulates all the pre-game buzz, gentlemen and lady.

"The talk for this game is about the Rams offense and the New England defense. Everyone has seemingly forgotten that the Rams also have a defense. In fact, the top-rated defense in the NFC, and the third-rated defense in the entire league. And the top two aren't in this game. While New England's defense is way down the list, defense still wins championships, right? I think the real question will be, how little will New England score in this game."

That's from Kelly in Indiana. Is Kelly on target there gentlemen?

ALBERTS: Well Kelly is on target, but we've talked about the Rams defense and we haven't missed that, and I think the point is that's the reason why the Rams are in the Super Bowl. They've had a great offense the last couple of years, but until Lovey Smith, their new defensive coordinator came to the Rams, they are the third best defense in the NFL right now.

They forced a lot of turnovers, got a lot - a lot of people have talked about the speed of that Rams offense. It's been the same game plan on defense. They've got a lot of speed in there. They fly around. They get to the football. The ratings on the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI in my opinion is because of that great defense.

FRYAR: I think one of the keys to the Patriots scoring points against the Rams defense is to be patient. They run a zone-type defense. They guys, they do fly around to the ball, but I think Tom Brady and those receivers, they have to be patient. They have to be real intricate in running the routes. Tom has to throw the ball 20, 25 yards down the field in the middle of the field, because that's where the soft spots are in the Rams defense.

O'BRIEN: Nancy.

NEWMAN: Good points, guys. Credit too to Mike Martz for bringing in Lovey Smith as Trev mentioned. They scored - were scored upon nearly 500 points a couple of seasons back. Last season, after taking over for Dick Vermeil, just 273 points allowed this season. That's a huge, huge turnaround, 200 points less than a year ago. So, good move.

O'BRIEN: Lovey Smith.

NEWMAN: Lovey. Got to love him.

O'BRIEN: With a name like that, you got to be good, right? Don't you think? All right. Let's take a phone call. Shannon's on the line from New Hampshire. Shannon, how are you this morning?

SHANNON FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE: I'm doing all right. How are you guys doing?

O'BRIEN: Good. Do you have a question or comment for our panelists here?

SHANNON: Well, I guess maybe it could be a question or a comment. I was thinking about the Pats and the Rams and who's going to be victorious in the Super Bowl, and I thought that a certain victory has already been established by Drew Bledsoe and Tom in their display of good sportsmanship this season. I wonder what you all thought about that as a victory?

O'BRIEN: That's a good point. We'll start with New Orleans and then we'll go to Nancy.

FRYAR: Trev.

ALBERTS: Yes, Shannon that's a great point. I think the guy who really needs to be lauded for all of this is Drew Bledsoe. Here's a guy who signed a $100 million contract in the off-season. He was a premiere quarterback in the NFL, but things hadn't gone well. They started the season at 0 and 2. He came down with the injury.

When he came back and he was healthy and ready to play, the team was playing very well under Tom Brady. Drew Bledsoe did not choose to become a bad influence in the locker room. He supported Tom Brady, became a mentor to Tom Brady.

So I think one of the other reasons that the Patriots are in Super Bowl XXXVI is because of the way that Drew Bledsoe handed the whole quarterback non-controversy. What I mean is it could have been a very big issue and became a controversy and Drew Bledsoe didn't allow that to become.

FRYAR: And because Drew responded to the whole situation the way he did, he was very much a leader. He handled it very professionally. When he did get a chance to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers, his teammates responded to him.

If he were a cancer in that locker room or in the midst of all what was going on with the so-called quarterback controversy, when he got a chance to come in and do his thing against the Pittsburgh Steelers, his teammates would not have responded to him, but they did because he was the leader that he is.

O'BRIEN: You know, Nancy, here's a term we don't often use with football players. This is a man who used grace, and I'll add another one, maturity. How rare is that?

NEWMAN: Absolutely. Considerably rare, and I think the good point here too is as well, that not only did he get the job done in a supporting role, but he did it on the field as well, as Irving alluded to. He passed for 102 yards last week. He did his job on the field when called upon, after not having played since Week 2. There's a lot to be said for him.

O'BRIEN: Who knows? Maybe he'll be a coach someday, you know, the way he's - a mentor.

NEWMAN: Don't look for him to stay in New England after this.

O'BRIEN: Yes.

NEWMAN: Yes.

O'BRIEN: All right. Here's another e-mail. This one comes from Travis in Eugene, Oregon.

"St. Louis has been known this year for doing the unexpected. Can we expect more of the same from them this game, and might New England try some tricks of their own."

Gentlemen, you first.

ALBERTS: Well, I think absolutely the Patriots. If I'm Bill Belichek, why not try some things. I mean, what really do you have to lose in this game. Everybody thinks that it's going to be a blowout. People are talking about how the Rams are 14 point favorites in this game.

So I think you can expect those things, but that's the reason why the Rams are here.

FRYAR: That's right.

ALBERTS: Because Mike Martz does the unexpected. There's always been kind of like a protocol in the NFL. Maybe on first down, you run the ball. You get a few yards and you throw on second and third and long.

He's come out, he doesn't care if he's on the one-yard line, he'll call an 80 yard bomb down the field to Isaac Bruce, and I think he's displayed, you know changed all the rules in terms of coaching in the NFL.

FRYAR: And I think if you watched the two games, or if you had a chance to watch the two games that the Rams did lose this year, this is a high-risk offense. But no risk, no reward, the same things that make this offense great are the same things that cause them to have problems.

They threw a lot of interceptions, turned the ball over this year, 44 turnovers this year, which is the worst in the NFL. So they are a high-risk offense, but the same things that make them great are the same things that you can use against them.

ALBERTS: Yes, great point.

NEWMAN: And another interesting point, guys, as we all know. These two teams faced one another back in November, a 24-17 victory for the Rams, Kurt Warner passing for a season high, 401 yards in that game. So they've already seen each other. So maybe a few more risks to be taken.

O'BRIEN: Maybe what is going to happen today. Who knows? We're going to take a break. Back with more of this in just a moment, stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: All right, distinguished panelists and viewers. We have a new person to add to our panel. And you know, you guys may think you're experts, but Sister Jean Kenney she's got a direct pipeline.

NEWMAN: She has a gift.

O'BRIEN: She's got a direct - she has gifts. She has the capability. Sister Jean, good to see you again.

SISTER JEAN KENNEY: Good to see you. Thank you, Miles.

O'BRIEN: It's our annual visit, and every year I apologize for being late for being an altar boy every year. I'm sorry about that again.

KENNEY: That's OK. Look where you are today.

O'BRIEN: All right, and you've been pretty accurate, haven't you?

KENNEY: Fifteen out of 16.

O'BRIEN: That's not bad.

NEWMAN: Wow, she's keeping score.

O'BRIEN: I'm telling you. You guys think you know something. All right, and every year, Sister Jean Kenney for those of you who are tuning in for the first time, and we hope there are some new viewers as well as some of our faithful viewers in there, she has a little ditty for us which gives us a sense of what's going to happen a little later today on the New Orleans gridiron. Sister Jean, take it away.

KENNEY: All right. This year's Super Bowl poem is entitled, "Ram Tough is Still Enough."

Some Cajun style football will be played today The rambunctious Rams will win in a spicy sort of way The second-place New England Patriots will fade away As their special teams will not get it done today. The greatest pigskin show on Earth takes place in the Big Easy Lovey Smith's defense will leave Belichek's pass dazed and queasy Could grand Marshal Faulk be this year's MVP Stay tuned for this jambalaya answer on FOX TV Warner, Bruce, Wilkins and Williams will have plenty to say Just grab life by the horns tremendous team will shout hooray Offense, defense and special teams are ready to play Master Mike Martz wins it all on football's finest day.

I predict the final score of Super Bowl XXXVI will be St. Louis Rams 30, New England Patriots 20. Let the rampage begin.

O'BRIEN: Sister Jean, excellent work as always, and you feel pretty confident about that one?

KENNEY: Yes, I do.

O'BRIEN: All right. It's always a pleasure having you drop by. Sister Jean Kenney, 15 out of 16, and undoubtedly 16 out of 17.

KENNEY: We're hoping.

O'BRIEN: We're hoping a little later today. We appreciate that. Gentlemen, that's a tough act to follow I know. But let's bring, I think we should bring David in here. We're going to take the tone a little more serious. David is in Kentucky and he has some, a couple of bones to pick about the security and who is exactly footing the bill. David, good morning to you sir. Are you there? I believe we've lost David. All right. Let's to an e-mail, shall we?

This one comes from a woman, and I know that because she says: "I am a female. I was watching the news, not sure which one the other day, and they were reporting how the NFL wanted more women to watch the game, and how they were trying to get more women to do that. Yet on NBC, apparently, at halftime they're having" - is Sister Jean still on the line?

NEWMAN: Yes.

O'BRIEN: Okay, well Sister Jean, close your ears for a minute.

NEWMAN: Oh, oh.

KENNEY: Oh, oh.

O'BRIEN: It's the "Playboy Fear Factor during halftime. Now that should bring in the women spectators. Quite frankly, I'm appalled. Sharon." Are you appalled, Sister Jean, at that?

KENNEY: I didn't hear what you said.

O'BRIEN: Oh, this halftime program called "Playboy Fear Factor."

KENNEY: Oh, yes. No, I certainly won't be an advocate of that.

O'BRIEN: Good.

KENNEY: It's not necessary.

O'BRIEN: All right, gentlemen real quickly, the issue of female viewer-ship, bringing in women to the NFL.

ALBERTS: Well, obviously that's been a goal of the NFL for a long time. But listen, that halftime show, the whole Playboy thing is on NBC. You'd have to actually turn away from the FOX telecast to go to that. NBC is trying to take viewers away from FOX. So you don't have to turn over to NBC if you don't want to watch that.

Obviously, the NFL is trying to expand its base of fans, it's fan base and just another way, I think that's the next level. Obviously 15 to 48-year-old males are big into football, both college and NFL, but it's the next step, and I think you're starting to see a lot more people in the interest of the NFL, and I think women are the final straw. But I'm telling you, including my mother, there's an awful lot of females that are awfully in football.

FRYAR: Exactly, and that's my point. You know, the more I talk to females, the more they're educated about professional football, about the athletes, just sports in general.

Now's the day, now's the time when females are getting more involved and it's very, very interesting, they know more about football, a lot of females, than I do.

ALBERTS: And not only that, you're starting to see high school football players that are females from kickers.

FRYAR: Right, some females. Exactly.

ALBERTS: Even some college players are now female. So I think it starts at the bottom level and if that continues, you'll see that fan base expand even more. O'BRIEN: All right, briefly final word from Nancy. We got a little bit of breaking news we got to attend to. But since you are the female member of this panel, what are your thoughts on that, very quickly?

NEWMAN: Hey, I'm here. That's a statement in itself. When I was young, certainly there was very few women sportscasters, let alone participating in high-profile sports. Actually Martin may have hung it up, but as the guys alluded to, women are more involved in sports today than ever in our lifetimes and look forward to it to continue that way.

O'BRIEN: All right. Unfortunately we're going to have to abbreviate this. Thank you very much to all you.

NEWMAN: Good to see you guys, enjoy.

O'BRIEN: Trev Alberts, Irving Fryar, Nancy Newman, Sister Jean Kenney, excellent, excellent panel discussion on Super Bowl. And we're going to shift gears dramatically, and talk a little bit about the Middle East.

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