Donaldhas taken mantleasbest DT ever

Sez Me Here are somepersonal observationsofwhat had to bethemost remarkable final two weekendsof January in NFL history:

• Pete Rozelle wasa freakforparity andnever really got any It’s here. No dominant teams.Thesix gamesplayed over the playoffs’ final two weeks were decidedby 21 totalpoints.The rout?

NICK CA NEPA Columnist

Chiefs 42 Bills 36. Are Super Teams thenew vogue,buildingbyspendingmoneyonproventalent— in-seasonandoffseason instead of throughthedraft?TheBucshave doneit, now theRams.L.A.hasn’thad a No.1 in five years and probably won’t have oneforseven.QB Matt Stafford andRBSonyMichel cameduringtheoffseason,LB Von Miller and WR OdellBeckhamJr duringtheseason.Eric Weddle was an 11th-hourdesperationmove atsafety Eric hadninetacklesvs. theNiners.They’re notplaying athome nextSundaywithoutthem.

TheChiefs wet thebed.AndyReid’s playcallattheendofthe first halfof Bengals-Chiefs was the worst sincePete Carroll’s atthe finishoftheSeahawks-Patriots SuperBowl,which seemsimpossible to match.Butit was stupid,andPatrick Mahomesshouldhaverealizedit.Great QBs don’tthrow awaypoints.

• Mahomes’secondhalf was hisseasonin miniature Something was missing.Great attimes,ashe was in the first half,not even near-average inthesecond.Three points after intermission?Blow an 18-pointlead? Athome?Theystunk.It wasa Patrick-Andy defeat. Thebest coachesadjust.Bengalshead man Zac Taylorand D coordinatorLou Anarumodid a terrific job the final 30 minutes.ButwithCincyinthat rushing-threedropping-eightdefense,whydidReid give uponthe run?Thelonger Mahomeshad to throw, themore unsure hebecame. A horrible job, Andy. Joe Burrow is brilliant,hasbeenbrilliant. But he looks andactslikea grown-up Kevinin“HomeAlone,”andthatelevates him.He’s unafraidwitharmandmouth. Namathswagger. I alwaysthoughtBob Lilly was the greatestdefensive tackle, followed closely by MerlinOlsenand Mean Joe Greene.But AaronDonaldhassurpassedthemall.He changes gameplans. Never rests.Andthe Rams’trueleader.

• KyleShanahan,theoffensive genius. Deebo Samuel,hismostdangerousplayer, didn’t touch theballinthe final 12:30 of regulationvs.Rams.FromESPN: Kyle’s Ninershave beenshut out 53-0inthefourth quarter ofhislastthree playoff games

• Kylewill regretthedayheallowed JimmyG. to leave Hate to sayit,butthemostdominant playersintheplayoffs were kickers Kickers are like water andbreathing.Can’tlive without ’em. If I coachedfootball at anylevel— my defensive backs andlinebackers would spend 15 minutesof every practicesession catchingballs. I realizemanybecomeDBs because theycan’tcatch,butlast weekend was stupid, game-changing.Gloves are like Gorilla Glue TheNinersprobablywinif theirDBs didn’thave thehandsofReid’s clock. I’mallinfavor ofofficialslettingthem play. ButI get thefeelingplayers recognize that,anditbecomesridiculous.Zebras aren’tbadenough to misssome of these things.Passinterferenceandillegalmotion becamemythsintheseplayoffs.

• For me,theplayoffs were a diamond with one flaw TheChiefs beattheBills.…

TheRaidersare raiding thePatriots, plucking theirnew head coach andGM fromthenot-always-fruitful New England BillBelichick tree The Vegas ExPatriots.… Mac Jones madethePro Bowlasan alternate.All you need to know aboutThe WorstSportsShow onEarth.…

Ishetheother Tom Petty? Maybe,but what does Tom Brady owe thePatriots?As myuncle John wouldsay:“Diddlysquat.” Tom’s slightoftheminhiseight-page retirementscribble was intentional.He’s too smart and aware for it not to be.…

Belichicksayshe was privileged to draft Brady No, he was beyondfortunate....

Belichick:Great coach,bad texter.…

BrianFlores,a coachI greatlyadmire,is suingtheNFLformisfeasance,racismand gettingcannedbyMiami owner Stephen Ross for refusing to breakthe rules.He’s also accusingtheGiants andBroncos of dishonesthiringpractices Wonderwhat college job he’llbe getting.…

Butwhathe’s doingtakes a spine.…

Ifwhathesays istrue,thatRoss wanted to payhim$100,000 to tank gamesin2019 so Miami could geta higherdraft pick(Flores says he refused),thenthe Fedsare butting in,andoddsmakersare drinkinghard

Pepto

Inhis own way, Florescanbecomethe NFL’s Jackie Robinson Oscar Robertson and Curt Flood

“Youplay to lose the game.”How coulda coach possibly get his players to tank?…

RogerGoodell says “efforts”fordiversity inthehiringprocesshave been “unacceptable.” Weak,asusual.But remember, Goodellisan employee

TheRooney Rulehasallthe teethofan aginghockeyplayer NFLquicklysaidthelawsuitiswithout merit(probablywithout readingit).But lettingairoutof a football was?

How manyBlack coacheshiredthus far?…

Commanders?I thoughtforsure the Washington Football Team would go with now-available Indians.…

Dan Snyder finally achieves hislifelong dream:CommanderinChief.…

StinkO’The Week Sezment:Hypocrite football coaches. Nick Saban isripping the NIL,saying athletes are puttingbusiness before playing.Nick,didn’t Bryce Young, your Heisman-winningquarterback, geta million inNILmoneybefore throwing a passatAlabama?…

IsaidUSC,rich,withpower alums, would be a transferdestinationunder a clever coach. Clever Lincoln Riley hasseen to it Moneyhas a Pavarotti voice.…

Jim Harbaugh never interviewsforthe Vikingsjob withoutbelievinghe’s gettingit.…

Jim lost to formerAztecsQB/good guy KevinO’Connell ofwhomonce-JetsGM Mike Tannenbaum saysofhis ex-player:“Ithink he’s going to be a coachingsuperstar.” Kevinis theoneplayerwho’s sentme a thank-you card.…

Bradyisn’tthe onlystar retiring.Orange County Register columnist Mark Whicker,a friend,andoneofAmerica’s very very finest sports columnistsfor decades, isputtinghis keyboard to rest. Too smart.… You can’tbeat Mountain Westofficials.Can you,Aztecs?…

Sadly, Pernicano’s Pizza Restaurant/Casa diBaffi hasbeenbulldozed. Now, if wallsonly couldwrite,those could typeentire libraries. Our TootsShor’s OurMusso & Frank.…

Just read a report claimingthat 10 Downingis guilty of excessive drinking Firsttime? Didn’tthatlegendary teetotaler Churchill hang 10 duringWWII?…

Ibelieve Snapdragon Stadium canbe completed earlieriftheymake itsmaller

Twelve peopledonotmakea rally Teslais recalling54,000 vehiclesthatmay disobeystopsigns.Socarsare takencare of. Now what aboutbicyclists?…

Stand corrected.SanDiego doesn’tdo everythingsmall. Largestpower billsin America. Joe West isquittingtheumpire dodge.I thoughtthathappened 5,460 gamesago sezme.godfather@gmail.com Twitter:@sdutCanepa

Sportspoll

Q:

Which teamwillwintheSuper Bowl?

1.Bengals

2. Rams Call(619) 293-2727 to vote by midnight Wednesdayor go to www.sandiegouniontribune.com to cast your vote untilnoonSaturday.

Last week

Do youlikethenewSaturday finish for the FarmersInsuranceOpen?

1. Yes,88(60percent)

2.No, 59 (40)