The best Super Bowls ever

Sunday's Super Bowl is shaping up to be one heck of a game on paper. The storylines are pretty incredible. There's the New England Patriots' amazing 18-0 record, the talent level for both teams is fantastic and the talk between Tom Brady and Plaxico Burress only adds to the excitement.

But will Sunday's game go down in history as one of the best Super Bowls in history? Only time will tell, but first, you have to rank the best of the past. Here are my criteria: Scoring, storylines, excitement, historic value, game play and interest.

5. Super Bowl XXXVIII: Patriots 32, Panthers 29
This one makes the list for more than the infamous "wardrobe malfunction" at halftime. The Panthers went 1-15 just one season prior to reaching the ultimate game while Brady led the Pats to wins in their final 12 games of the season during his first full year as a starter. Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri nailed the game-winning field goal with four seconds left to give New England the win, but there was a whole lot more scoring than that. The two teams combined for 37 points in the fourth quarter, providing a huge amount of excitement that culminated with Vinatieri's field goal. As far as game play, it's tough to beat this one.

4. Super Bowl XXXII: Broncos 31, Packers 24
The images from this game are timeless. The pictures of John Elway twirling in the air as he attempted a gutsy rush for a first down late in the game are unmistakable. Everyone also remembers this one as the day Terrell Davis sucked it up through a near-blinding migraine headache to become the game's MVP. And, come on, does it really get any better than Elway vs. Brett Favre? This game lived up to all expectations and provided quite the feel-good moment when Elway, who had lost three previous Super Bowls, pumped the Vince Lombardi trophy high in the air with a toothy smile.

3. Super Bowl III: Jets 16, Colts 7
For some reason, every athlete facing ridiculous odds thinks they can make a guarantee to win nowadays. Those athletes, however, are not Joe Namath. Namath, the quarterback for the 18-point underdogs, guaranteed victory against Johnny Unitas' Baltimore Colts and ending up being exactly right, although he failed to throw a touchdown pass in the game. For sheer upset value, this game was the best.

2. Super Bowl XXXIV: Rams 23, Titans 16
Historically, this game proved to be a big one as it pretty much guaranteed that Atlanta would never host a Super Bowl ever again. Apparently Super Bowl organizers and advertisers don't like it when it snows and sleets amid freezing temperatures the day of the game. Oh, well. At least the action inside was hot. The game was infamous for Mike Jones' tackle of Tennessee receiver Kevin Dyson at the 1-yard line on the final play, keeping the Titans from putting up the game-tying score. Coming in, the Titans were considered a Cinderella team after beating the Buffalo Bills with the "Music City Miracle," aka Forward Pass, while the Rams were like today's Patriots. Just the fact that the Titans hung with the Rams was shocking, but the ending was even more extraordinary.

1. Super Bowl XXV: Giants 20, Bills 19
When you say "Wide right," people know exactly what you're talking about. Scott Norwood's failed field goal, which would have given Buffalo it's first and only Super Bowl win, is the stuff of legend. It's not often a character in a movie is based on a member of a Super Bowl team, but Norwood was obviously the inspiration behind the Ray Finkle character in "Ace Ventura." This game was also played during the height of the Persian Gulf conflict, and the fact that both teams' colors were red, white and blue was poetic. Whitney Houston's stirring version of the "Star Spangled Banner" (which, sorry folks, was taped and lip-synched) is one of the most identifiable renditions ever. The bulk of the game was certainly not a disappointment, even though Giants quarterback Phil Simms had been knocked out due to injury a week before the game. Otis Anderson, a virtual unknown, became the hero as he slashed through Buffalo's touted defense to become the game's MVP. The Giants' win paved the way for both Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin -- both members of the Giants' staff and opposing coaches in this weekend's game -- to eventually become head coaches. From the pageantry to the game to the historical significance to the plethora of memorable moments, this game is everything you could ever ask for in a Super Bowl.

So what's your top five?

Official January Mock Draft

1. Miami Dolphins: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
I still think the Dolphins take a QB here and forgo picking Glenn Dorsey.

2. St. Louis Rams: Chris Long, DE, Virginia
The Rams really need help on defense, and end is a huge concern.

***Picks 3-5 will be determined by a coin flip at the combine***

3. Atlanta Falcons: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and new head coach Mike Smith like to run the ball. Mr. McFadden, welcome to Atlanta.

4. Oakland Raiders: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
The Raiders don't get the running back they've needed for, oh, the past 15 years, but Dorsey falls right into their laps to replace the retired Warren Sapp.

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Jake Long, OT, Michigan
The Chiefs could go with a QB here, but Jake Long is far better than any QB left, even after only four picks.

6. New York Jets: Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State
With Gholston and Jonathan Vilma sitting on the other side of the ball, not too many offenses are going to be looking forward to facing the Jets.

7. New England Patriots (From San Francisco): Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
With Asante Samuel likely to make some team willing to spend a lot of money very happy, Jenkins seems like the perfect fit here.

8. Baltimore Ravens: Andre Woodson, QB, Kentucky
Some have Brian Brohm going here, but I think Baltimore's current offensive weapons would be so much better with a mobile quarterback.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Sedrick Ellis, DT, Southern Cal
The Bengals' front four need a lot of help.

10. New Orleans Saints: Kenny Phillips, FS, Miami
The Saints secondary was pitiful last year, and Phillips is just what the unit needs.

11. Buffalo Bills: Dan Connor, LB, Penn State
The Bills could really use a big No. 2 receiver, but this draft class is so deep with WRs that they can get a decent one at the top of the second.

12. Denver Broncos: Keith Rivers, LB, Southern Cal
The Broncos could use just about anyone here. Rivers is a darn good "anyone."

13. Carolina Panthers: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
Carolina desperately needs some help up front.

14. Chicago Bears: Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
If the Bears don't solve the QB problem through free agency, they should consider themselves lucky that Brohm is still hanging around at this point.

15. Detroit Lions: Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
It's about time the Lions decide not to draft a WR early.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
A good running back to compliment Edgerrin James is one of only a few missing pieces here.

17. Minnesota Vikings: DeSean Jackson, WR, California
The Vikes can get a QB in the later rounds. Look for them to grab a real weapon first.

18. Houston Texans: Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
The Texans could use a reliable running back.

19. Philadelphia Eagles: Sam Baker, OT, Southern Cal
The Eagles need receivers in the worst way, but the draft is deep with them. Look for Philly to make a smart move with some aging tackles on the roster.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
The Bucs would probably be looking for a QB here, but there are none to be found. Malcolm Kelly, instead, will be a huge pickup here.

21. Washington Redskins: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
I almost lean toward Quentin Groves here, but Campbell is the better DE right now. The combine could change that. Either way, the Skins need a pass rusher.

22. Dallas Cowboys: Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
It's unclear how many more years TO has, but Sweed will be great opposite him for however long Owens decides to stick around.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
Well, Otah wouldn't have to move far, and he'd be pretty much guaranteed to see a lot of playing time right away.

24. Tennessee Titans: Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
McKelvin could climb the board a bit, but he's a safe bet for the Titans if he's still hanging around.

25. Seattle Seahawks: Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan
The Seahawks are known for their wide array of receivers, but some are broken down, others are headed elsewhere. Manningham will provide some freshness for Matt Hasselbeck.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn
Groves will likely climb into the first round, and the Jags will be there to snag him, especially with Paul Spicer probably headed to the land of free agency.

27. San Diego Chargers: Frank Okam, DT, Texas
The Chargers need some depth inside, but an offensive playmaker could be taken here, too.

28. Dallas Cowboys: Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia
The Cowboys will likely need a running back by the time the draft rolls around, and why wait until the second round when first round talent is still available?

29. San Francisco 49ers (From Indianapolis): Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
The offensive line was a gigantic problem for the Niners. They're stuck with Alex Smtih for a while, so they may as well find a way to protect him.

30. Green Bay Packers: Reggie Smith, CB/S, Oklahoma
The Packers need to get a little younger in the secondary.

31. New York Giants: Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona
The Giants, too, need to get a little younger in the secondary.

Smith gets stamp of approval

It's finally over. After more than a month of speculation and wonder concerning the Falcons head coaching position, Mike Smith was named officially to the helm Thursday afternoon during a news conference.

For those who haven't seen video of Mike's conference, he was incredibly impressive for the approximately 45 minutes he talked in front of the Atlanta media. He was engaging, he was straight-forward, he was intelligent and, yes, even funny. Imagine that: an Atlanta head coach with more emotion than the usual bewilderment we were used to before, ahem, the hog was called.

I admit that I doubted Smith when word began to spread that he was the man, but his demeanor Thursday changed my mind for the time being. I refuse to buy into anything until I see results come from this franchise, but the hiring of Smith might prove to be a great start. Seeing Michael Boley and John Abraham there was fantastic, and it has to be great for Smith to know that he has the full support of two of the most influential veterans on the team. Now he just needs to get to Alge Crumpler and D. Hall and he'll be all set.

I don't know if I buy into the coordinators Smith is bringing aboard. Brian VanGorder will be the defensive coordinator and Mike Mularkey is likely to make his being the offensive coordinator official some time Friday. VanGorder, while great at Georgia, is an anomaly. I just don't get him. He was at GSU, then with the Falcons, then with USC - where he says, "I'm a college guy" - then he comes back to the Falcons. I don't know how much you can believe or trust him. But I guess none of that matters if he puts together a great scheme that puts the Atlanta D back on the map. Mularkey has a lot to prove after a poor stint with Buffalo as head coach and a so-so time with Pittsburgh as offensive coordinator. The offense needs a lot of work, so it's nice to see a guy come in with a lot of experience. I just don't know how well Mularkey's philosophy is going to mesh with the talent currently on the roster.

By the way, Mularkey likes to run the ball with talented running backs. Darren McFadden anyone?

Frazier rumored to be in Mobile with Falcons

The rumors have fluttered around all day that the Atlanta Falcons have taken head coaching candidate and Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier to Mobile, Ala., for Senior Bowl practices.

One of our sources in Mobile talked with a member of the Falcons' staff and a highly-recognized ESPN personality, and both said they, too, had heard Frazier was in town with the Falcons organization. We have yet to hear anything about Frazier actually being spotted by anyone we have talked to. A Mobile radio station reported the information earlier, but it appears to be backed up by more than just hearsay.

There is nothing official now, and phone calls placed with other members of the Falcons' staff closer to the situation did not answer.

Check back later for possible updates.

Falcons candidates

****ALERT: The previously planned series on Falcons head coaching candidates has been canceled****

The reason I have decided to forgo the series is simple: Things are just far too confusing right now. Each week a new candidate enters and another falls out. It's like the presidential election.

Another reason a long, drawn-out series is worthless at this point is because - and I have nothing to base this on - I think the Falcons are going to make a move within the next few days. Don't get all crazy on me here and say, 'Oh, Jay Adams' sources say the Falcons are ready to move.' That's not true. All I'm saying is that I have a gut feeling that something is going to happen soon.

The reason I say that is because two teams - the Cowboys and the Colts - that have the best candidates are now out of the playoffs, which means the Falcons can really start getting down to the nitty gritty with a few candidates. Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is being brought back for a second interview Tuesday and Indy coordinator Jim Caldwell is likely to be contacted soon after.

With general manager Thomas Dimitroff finally aboard, the Falcons can move full-steam ahead with their decision. While I think Dimitroff is going to have a couple extra guys on his wish list, I think the Falcons are going to go with one of three candidates at this point: Garrett, Caldwell or Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan.

Garrett is an anomoly. No one really knows what his deal is. Before the season, we heard he was being groomed to take over for Wade Phillips in Dallas whenever he stepped aside. Next thing we know he's interviewing all over the league. It's being reported that Garrett is interviewing in Baltimore before Atlanta, which could mean the Falcons are out of luck if the Ravens decide to get aggressive with him. In my opinion, that would be just fine. I'm not buying into Garrett's hype. He got lucky with Tony Romo and had a great receiver in Terrell Owens. Two players do not make a great coordinator. Besides, Garrett is green as far as responsibility goes. He may have what it takes to clean the team up offensively, but it's the off-field stuff that's the problem. In that category, someone as young and inexperienced as Garrett would be in over his head.

Caldwell would be a fantastic choice here. If you read my column in Monday's paper, you read how I felt Dimitroff is just another example of what being associated with Bill Belichick can do for you. The fact that he was on the Patriots' staff means nothing and, in my eyes, he hasn't proven anything. Anyway, if there's a stable you really want to invade, it's Tony Dungy's. Lovie Smith, Rod Marinelli, Marvin Lewis: need I say more? Caldwell has been around the league long enough to know exactly how to handle the Falcons' off-field and locker-room problems, and he has seen enough on-field success to know what needs to be done to the team. He's absolutely perfect! But... there's a catch. Dungy is in the midst of deciding whether or not he wants to continue coaching. If Dungy steps away from the game, suddenly Caldwell becomes the top candidate for the Colts' position. And if you're a candidate, which team would you rather choose: the one that's one year removed from a Super Bowl title or the one that you're surprised didn't disband by Week 6?

That leaves Rex Ryan. Who? Exactly. Don't expect the really sexy pick we thought Arthur Blank would make for the head coaching position. Ryan is a virtual unknown in the world of assistants and it's tough to say exactly why. He has been responsible for a lot of Baltimore's defensive success over the years and it looks like he's ready to step into a role with more responsibility. There is one problem I see with that: The Falcons do not need defensive help more than they need offensive help. That's what makes Ryan's candidacy so puzzling. The only explanation would be that Blank is impressed with the name he submitted for offensive coordinator should he be hired. For some, there is the problem that very few of us know who Ryan is. To that I say: No one knew who Mike Tomlin was, either; Marvin Lewis was an unknown at one point; Love Smith couldn't get a head job to save his life for awhile. Maybe Ryan will fall into line with the success those coaches have seen despite flying under the radar for so long.

The moral of the story is this: The Falcons will make a move relatively soon and it probably won't be who you want it to be. Sound discouraging? It probably won't be...

Falcons hire new GM

***We interrupt our series on head coaching candidates to bring you this***

The Falcons have all but officially hired New England Patriots director of college scouting as the new general manager Saturday night. Thomas Dimitroff takes over for recently demoted (?) GM Rich McKay, who signed an extension to say with the team as president.

On paper, Dimitroff looks like a good hire. For starters, he's in that Bill Belichick circle, which automatically makes him a sexy hire. His role with the team as basically the guy who really calls the shots on draft day only adds to the optimism this hire should inspire. When you think about it, Dimitroff is partially responsible for the obnoxious state of the Patriots right now, depending on your view of the team (from Hades).

Dimitroff's hiring all but throws the possibility of hiring USC head coach Pete Carroll out the window, which is disappointing but not too surprising. Dimitroff comes in at a crucial time with the Falcons yet to make a decision on who will take the head coaching position. The Falcons have already interviewed several prominent candidates for the position, but there are still some interesting names left on the table. Dimitroff's expertise in judging talent might be exactly what the Falcons need.