Tom and Bob, back and forth, on the Super Bowl

You don't say. Virginian-Pilot columnists Bob Molinaro and Tom Robinson ruminated via e-mail last week on the spectacle that will be Super Bowl XLIV today, a transcript of which has been obtained...

From: Molinaro

To: Robinson

Subject: The Super Bowl

On Super Bowl Sunday, am I wrong to be annoyed by people who say, "I mostly watch to see the commercials"? The game is being broadcast by CBS, not QVC. Anyway, after you've laughed at a talking Clydesdale, what else is there to see?

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From: Robinson

To: Molinaro

Subject: The Super Bowl

Talkin' frogs and financial-wiz babies, I've seen. I think Clydesdales just play football. Anyway, if you listen to the media - and who doesn't? - the anti-abortion spot with Tim Tebow and his mom is going to explode flat screens everywhere when it appears. If you had 2-1/2 million bucks for a 30-second shill for the Martian Protection Society, hey, go for it, man. People need to chill on this. Get up and refill your chili bowl when the Tebows show up if you don't like their message.

My message to you, Robert, is this: The Saints should have lost the NFC Championship game by two touchdowns. What makes anybody think they can deal with what Peyton Manning and the Colts are going to bring? OK, that's more of a question than a message, but you get my point.

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From: Molinaro

To: Robinson

Subject: The Super Bowl

Your message is coming through loud and clear - and for far less than $2.5 million for a half-minute. The New Orleans defense gave up more points this season than any team that made the playoffs. Saints safety Darren Sharper talks about how rough and tough their defense is, but it's not sharp enough to slow down Peyton.

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From: Robinson

To: Molinaro

Subject: The Super Bowl

Here's the thing, the Saints try to cover a bunch of defensive ills through coordinator Gregg Williams' turnover-seeking aggression, but Manning's been around that block. Of course, so has Brett Favre, and we saw how that turned out - five New Orleans takeaways. Now, I give New Orleans credit; the world's been waiting for the Saints to play some semblance of defense so that nasty offense could get them to the big Bowl. So, you know, it's worked, right?

Part of me is pulling for the Saints. I was at the Vikings game and felt the emotional investment of those Saints fans. But don't get me started on this bogus idea that a Saints win will suddenly make that recovering city Utopia. Sounds nice, but it doesn't work that way. Speaking of not working, you think Colts' people are shaking in their sneakers because defensive end Dwight Freeney has ligament damage in his ankle and might not play? Is Indy's defense that fragile and Freeney-dependent?

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From: Molinaro

To: Robinson

Subject: The Super Bowl

If it weren't for Freeney's bum ankle, maybe nobody would even be talking this week about defense, which, I think, was outlawed by the NFL, judging by the passing figures. But, yes, I think Indy will be hurt by a less-than-ready Freeney. Manning may have to put an extra 10 points on the scoreboard to make up for Freeney's absence - which he's capable of doing.

Like you, I'm not prone to sentimentalizing the Saints' quest. Don't buy the notion that a Saints' victory will improve the taste of the gumbo in New Orleans. Besides, what's wrong with rooting for Peyton? With another Super Bowl victory, the poor guy may finally land some commercial endorsements.

But if the Saints are to win, who is going to have to stand out on offense - besides Drew Brees? Reggie Bush needs to channel some of his Southern Cal magic if New Orleans is going to outscore Indy, don't you think?

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From: Robinson

To: Molinaro

Subject: The Super Bowl

Bush. Jeremy Shockey. Nobody talks much about Robert Meachem - 20 percent of his 45 regular-season catches were TDs. That's a big number. The Saints will do some damage, I don't question that. I'll tell you what I do question: The Who at halftime? Really? "Won't Get Fooled Again?" Fooled about what? Come on, man, enough with the geriatrics - and I say that having spent real money for a Springsteen concert last year. Next year, Beyonce, or whatever Lady Gaga is. Fresh legs, Super Bowl, let's go.

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From: Molinaro

To: Robinson

Subject: The Super Bowl

So I gather that you don't think the AARP crowd rocks. After booking Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and now The Who, I think the NFL will be looking to bring in Chuck Berry for the next Super Bowl. He's still alive, isn't he? Apparently, rock 'n' roll no longer is. The Who was once edgy. Now they're considered a "safe" act. And people say Brett Favre has stuck around too long.

But back to football. When it comes to analyzing the game, the media experts - especially TV's talking heads - have it all figured out once again. In order to win, a team must: tackle well. Prevent the big play. Create third-and-long situations for the opposition. And score when it gets in the red zone. Tom, can you think of anything else - even more obvious - that a team needs to do to win?

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From: Robinson

To: Molinaro

Subject: The Super Bowl

Um, finish with more points than the other team? Do I win a prize? The Colts will - score more and win a prize, I mean. Guess I'm "disrespecting" them, God forbid, but the Saints have played one solid game since mid-December, the 45-14 playoff thrashing of Arizona. I say Indianapolis wins 34-24.

As you were...

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From: Molinaro

To: Robinson

Subject: The Super Bowl

I like the Colts, too, and I don't think it will come down to a missed field goal like so many other postseason games have. Make it 31-24.

A Saints victory would be a minor upset. The biggest upset would be anyone other than Manning or Brees, for better or worse, attracting most of the attention - between commercials, of course.

Bob Molinaro, (757) 446-2373, bob.molinaro@pilotonline.com

Tom Robinson, (757) 446-2518, tom.robinson@pilotonline.com