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Pastimes : The new NFL -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: calgal who wrote (3175)	1/18/2003 7:32:40 PM
From: calgal	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89754

Raiders vs. Gruden's Bucs a mouth-watering thought By Skip Bayless Mercury News Staff Columnist URL:http://www.bayarea.com/mld/bayarea/sports/football/nfl/oakland_raiders/4977822.htm The most delicious Super Bowl in years sits like a bite of succulent snapper on your fork in a seaside San Diego restaurant. Open wide: The Raiders vs. the ex-coach who slipped out the back door last year without saying goodbye to the players he ``loved.'' The Silver and Black vs. Agent Orange, Tampa Bay's Jon Gruden. Bill Callahan, the NFL's most underrated coach, vs. Gruden, the most overrated. Al Davis, whose ``Chucky'' doll turned on him, vs. the Bucs owners who foolishly overpaid for Gruden. But ``foolishly overpaid'' is the first reason this dreamy food for thought slips off your fork and stains your Rich Gannon jersey. Don't be misled by what Gruden's Bucs did to Steve Mariucci's 49ers on Sunday. They're no better than Tony Dungy's Bucs were last year. Gruden's team lost 20-10 at Philadelphia this season, and my better judgment tells me Sunday's NFC championship game will be even worse. This is where Gruden could make the difference and where, I fear, he'll be exposed. But am I ever rooting against my better judgment. The Raiders have a far easier road to San Diego. But with the Raiders suddenly turning from last week's Rested Home Team Most Likely to Lose to this week's Super Bowl Shoo-In, my better judgment starts tapping on my salivary glands. Is this too much of a foregone conclusion? I can't remember people thinking a 12-5 team had a bigger advantage over a 12-5 team that won 11 of its last 12. This looks so easy that I'm feeling uneasy. The more you analyze, the more Sunday's game should resemble Raiders 52, Titans 25, on Sept. 29 at Network Associates Coliseum. Not only are the Raiders more talented at every position, but many Titans also paid a heavy physical price for winning Saturday's overtime knock-down-drag-out with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even I -- who picked the Raiders to get to the Super Bowl -- couldn't have imagined what appears to be more of an AFC championship mismatch. But now so many skeptical analysts have humbly proclaimed the Raiders Super Bowl favorites that they can no longer pour the usual ``get no respect'' lighter fluid on smoldering coals. It's over, guys. You have won America's respect. Yet I have far more respect for Tennessee's intangibles than most analysts do. The Titans are driven by a team-wide Pro Bowl snub. You've seen better-looking receivers on pay phones. They ranked 25th in pass defense. Warhorse Eddie George, who suffered a concussion Saturday, looks like he's one hit away from the broadcast booth. About the only thing this team could inspire is Raiders overconfidence. Former 49ers trash-talker and Titans safety Lance Schulters tried to help by saying Raiders receiver Tim Brown is a crybaby. But do you honestly believe this infuriated the Raiders anywhere near as much as last week's national fawning over the New York Jets? No, defensive tackle Sam Adams basically said: ``Who the hell is Lance Schulters?'' What a sweet spot for a tough-minded, soundly coached, no-respect team that knows how to win. What a nothing-to-lose stage for an underappreciated quarterback, Steve McNair, who just keeps making the plays that win games. OK, maybe I'm just trying to rattle the Raiders' cages. Maybe I'm just trying to unjinx my Super Bowl pick against a construction crew that obviously believes it's this year's Team of Destiny. Please don't tell me Tennessee is Cinderella disguised as the ugly stepsisters. If only the Raiders were playing Gruden's team this week. If only they had the built-in motivation of wreaking revenge on Agent Orange. Watching this week's ``Inside the NFL'' on HBO, some Raiders surely rolled their eyes at a postgame speech they heard many times. After Tampa Bay shoveled dirt on Mariucci, Gruden told his Bucs: ``I love you guys, man. This isn't about anyone but us.'' Yet after ``Gru's'' Raiders helped make him famous enough to land his dream job, he bolted without thanking one of them. The first time Gannon heard from the coach he considered almost a brother was after Gannon won the MVP award. Yet Callahan proved to be more creative, aggressive and real. Gruden's one true strength is playing the part of ``Chucky,'' whose crinkled brow and hoarse bellow can fire up a team and town. If the Bucs win the Super Bowl, this enthusiasm alone will have been worth the two first-round picks, two seconds and $8 million the Glazer family paid Davis for Gruden. But the sand-and-surf Bucs won't survive the final Eagles game at the meat locker that is Veterans Stadium. The Eagles will successfully do what Mariucci should have: Blitz and bash the immobile Brad Johnson, whose plodding receivers need time to get open. Gruden's offense can be as predictable as Mariucci's was. Again, the Bucs won't score an offensive touchdown. And again the Eagles will pound away at Tampa Bay's undersized front, controlling the clock and scoreboard. Please tell me I'm wrong: Philly 24, Chucky 6. And please tell my better judgment that Tennessee has no more chance than Davy Crockett at the Alamo. I still believe the Raiders will prevail -- but only 30-27, on a late Sebastian Janikowski field goal. The consequences of a Titanic loss are worse than bites of dead fish. Either ``Chucky'' has the last laugh or -- even worse -- an all-time great Super Bowl turns into an all-time letdown. Tennessee-Philadelphia. Aaahhh!