Rams win second Super Bowl!

Back in 2002 the St. Louis Rams were the talk of the NFL. The Rams were dubbed the "Greatest Show on Turf" because of their wide open, high scoring offense. The star studded offense included Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt, Orlando Pace and Isaac Bruce. Having won the 2000 Super Bowl over the Tennesse Titans, talk of a dynasty surrounded the Rams as they headed into the big game as heavy favorites over the New England Patriots. However, a funny thing happened on the way to becoming a dynasty, the Rams lost the game.

The game was close as the Rams came back from a 17-3 deficit to tie the game 17-17 with a 1:30 left. However, Adam Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal as time expired gave the New England Patriots the win (and their first Super Bowl title.) So how did the Patriots stop the high scoring Rams? Fans and reporters have blamed Rams former head coach Mike Martz because of his refusal "to take what the defense was giving." The Patriots defense was centered on stopping the Rams passing game and many believe Martz was to stubborn to rely on a running game lead by future hall of famer Faulk. An article that will appear in the Sunday Boston Herald indicates Martz might not be the only one to blame.

The article claims that a member of the Patriots' video staff taped the Rams last walk through before the game. Remember that the Patriots are confirmed cheaters and questions remain as to how else (not if) the Patriots cheated in that game. As the saying goes, football is a game of inches and a game won on a last second field goal is a prime example. The Patriots have denied cheating and the NFL is standing behind them. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello stated "We were aware of the rumor months ago and looked into it. There was no evidence of it on the tapes or in the notes produced by the Patriots, and the Patriots told us it was not true."

I had to read that last sentence twice and I'll read it again when I want a laugh. The Patriots, like all cheaters, would not self report their cheating and only confessed after they were caught red handed. While NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell punished the Pats ($750,000 in fines and loss of first round pick) the punishment did not go far enough. The Patriots cheat to help them win games and to stop them from cheating you need to take away what they were after. For that reason, Goodell should declare the Rams the Super Bowl XXXVI champions. The parades on Monday.